August, 1886.] 
117 


DENDROICA C4ZRULESCENS. 
Black-throated Blue Warbler. 
This species arrived a little in advance of D. 
blackburnie, being first observed in Monroe coun- 
ty April 18th, but in very limited numbers, with 
no perceptible increase until May 3d, when they 
were seen in considerable numbers in the large 
tracts of rhododendron and along the cultivated 
fields and pastures. Their numbers considerably 
lessened, and by May 12th only a few remained. 
A close search could not discover them, but a few 
were found on the mountains at an altitude of 
about 3,500 feet at the edge of the evergreen 
growth. In Roane county, on May 16th, they 
were fairly common on Walden’s ridge, at an alti- 
tude of about 4,800 feet. On May 2ist, the day 
before ascending Great Smoky Mountain, I saw 
a pair in a small grove of red maples (Acer ru- 
brum), and again on May 24th, the same pair 
(presumably) were seen carrying material for a 
nest into a dense laurel thicket. They could not 
be restricted to any faunal limit, the preference, 
if any, being for the intermediate station. I was 
especially fortunate in observing the nidification 
of this species, in a small laurel swamp, which 
with the assistance of three obliging lumbermen, 
I thoroughly searched on May 29th. Three nests 
were found, but many were overlooked as the 
swamp was alive with these warblers. The first 
was placed in a laurel bush about a foot from the 
ground. It was similar in appearance to that of 
the Maryland Yellow-throat, but considerable 
cotton entered into its composition. It was 
empty, the birds evidently had just completed it. 
The second nest was in a similar position to the 
first, being a little higher from the ground. Its 
structure was more ornamental, a great deal of a 
flaxy material being woven into the outside. 
This nest contained four fresh eggs, pinkish-white 
marked with a few reddish-brown spots; one egg 
differs from the others in not possessing any 
markings whatever save a few light-brown ones 
on the larger end. Dimensions as follows: .63x.49, 
.63x.50, .61x.48, .62x.49. 
The third nest was also in like situation, but 
built more compactly and neatly than either of 
the preceding. It contained only two eggs, 
which were not taken. 
(To be continued.) 
—<—_>——_—__ 
Baird’s Sparrow in Iowa. 

(Ammodromus bairdit.) 
BY LYNDS JONES, GRINNELL, IOWA. 

I first found this very interesting little bird on 
April 25, 1885, when I shot one and saw four or 
five more. It was very shy and kept so close to 
the ground that a momentary glimpse was al] that 
I could get ofit. This was doubtlessly the latest 
date of its visit with us, as but few if any were 
seen later. It entirely escaped my notice in the 
fall, but on March 24, 1886, three or four were seen 
in company with the Savanna Sparrow. I noticed 
that it often perched rather higher than I had 
ever seen the Savanna Sparrow, but I never heard 
its song, although I watched and waited many 
long hours for that purpose. Its diet seems to be 
the same as that of the Savanna, as is its manner 
of feeding. Although the van appeared so early, 
it was not seen again until March 29th, and no 
perceptible increase in numbers until April 8th, 
when as many as fifty were found in amile drive. 
After April 10th few were seen until the 21st, 
when none could be found, and not one since, so 
I consider April 20th the date of “last individual 
seen.” Whether or not it returns south of this 
route will be determined this fall. 

Notes on Some Birds of the United 
States which Occur in the Mexi- 
can Fauna. 
\ 
BY JUAN RENARDO, 


{Translated from the Author’s MSS., by F. H. Carpenter.] 
[It might be proper to explain the circumstances 
of this list and those to follow. The au- 
thor has been collecting a series of Mexican 
birds (of U. S. fauna,) for the writer, and at our 
request notes of each species collected were to 
be given, of its status, as observed by the col- 
lector, in the Mexican fauna. The birds were 
received a short time ago, each species accompa- 
nied by notes regarding its distribution, etc. 
These notes have been arranged in order and 
translated, we inserting the specific as well as the 
English names. All the specimens on which 
notes are given were taken and sent to us, there- 
fore fully authenticating the statements of occur- 
rence. Additional species may be obtained and 
will be noticed in these columns. The chief 
value of these notes consist in the pointing out of 
some of the places in the “indefinite south” to 
which our summer birds go.—F. H. C.] 
Harporhynchus longirostris, (Long-billed Thrash- 
er). Common near Tampico. Saw one specimen 
as far south on the Gulf as Campeche. Breeds 
mainly in northern part. Nest found at Linares 
contained three eggs, which is the usual number. 
Nest a flimsy affair of fine bark and leaves placed 
on the ground at foot of a mesquite. { 
Harporhynchus curvirostris,Curve-billed Thrash- 
er). A common species; observed on both coasts. 
