154 
ORNITHOLOGIST 
[Vol. 11-No. 10 


While doing this it is constantly uttering a sharp 
note, quickly repeated, also the same note when 
disturbed or alarmed. Have seen it far up the 
mountains, and it no doubt breeds up to timber 
line, or as high as it finds flowers. 
Violet-green Swallow, (7. thalassina), Our 
most common Swallow; breeds in communities 
in the tops of dead pines, in corners and copings 
of buildings, and, in fact, anywhere it can find a 
knot-hole to enter. A very beautiful Swallow. 
Purple Martin, (P. sudis). Not as common as 
the last; breeds in hollow trees or in any suitable 
place. Seen in greatest numbers just before and 
after a shower when they collect in flocks to feed 
upon the numerous insects. 
Northern Towhee, (P. maculatus artica), Com- 
mon; breeds. Also another Towhee which I 
have not identified. The fact is, these birds 
seem to be of every conceivable variety, shading 
one into another, and as it is the breeding season 
I have not shot sufficient specimens to study them 
properly. I expect to obtain information which 
will bear me out in some suspicions I have enter- 
tained for the past few years, but have never had 
an opportuuity to prove. 
Wood Pewee, (C. richardsoni). Rather com- 
mon. The nest is generally placed on a lower 
limb of a pine tree and near some dry water 
course, about fifteen feet from the ground, which 
by the way, is as low as you will find limbs on 
the pines in this country. Of more solitary habits 
than the eastern bird. Nest and eggs the same. 
Long-tailed Titmouse, (P. atricapillus septra- 
onalis). Common; breeds in holes in pine trees. 
Its note is simply the finale of the eastern bird. 
Have never heard only the sylables dee-dee-dee. 
It is darker than its relative, having no white ex- 
cept on the belly, the rest being hoary. 
Arctic Bluebird, (8S. artica). Very common; 
breeds anywhere. Six pairs built under the eaves 
of my porch, the nest being a loose bundle of dry 
grass without any feathers. Their constant chat- 
tering at daylight always assures me an early 
start afield. It has only an imitation of the beau- 
tiful warble of sialis, and although only an at- 
tempt, it is rather pleasing to the ear, even if not 
very musical. It, however, makes up for its 
want of song by the brilliant plumage, the male 
having much more blue than satis, with no red 
on the breast, the female having blue in propor- 
tion. 
House Wren, (7. @don parkmann ¢). Very com- 
mon; breeds everywhere, in holes and between 
the bark of trees, principally in pines and cotton- 
woods. Two broods are raised, and often three. 
In fact, I believe they breed right through the 
season. Recently I found a tree with three nests; 
the first in a woodpecker’s hole, having already 
been used. Three feet above this was number 
two with three young, which flew when I got up 
to it; the male from number three at the same 
time, which was placed inside a loose piece of 
bark and was just finished. 
Red-naped Woodpecker, (S. varius nuchalis). 
Common; breeds. One nest found contained one 
young, one egg through which the chick was ap- 
pearing, and one fresh egg, which is in my cabi- 
net, together with the old birds, the young and 
the stub of cottonwood containing the nest. 
Lewis’ Woodpecker, (M. torquatus). Common 
upon the mountains and wherever there is pine 
timber. It is very shy and hard to secure, at 
least through the breeding season, flying high and 
only alighting upon the highest tree tops. From 
its flight it would be easily be mistaken for a 
Purple Grackle. A very handsome bird. Have 
found it up to 12,000 feet. 
a 
Nesting of the Swallow-tailed Kite. 

BY J. A. SINGLEY, GIDDINGS, LEE CO., TEXAS. 

Having been so fortunate as to take two more 
sets ofthe Swallow-tailed Kite (Hlanoides forficatus) 
during the past season, I can add more evidence 
as to the number of eggs in a set laid by this 
species. 
The first set was taken on the 11th of April. 
The nest, as usual, was placed at the extremity 
of a limb, almost at the top of a majestic cotton- 
wood tree, and directly on the bank of a small 
stream. The eggs, two in number, were of a 
reddish tint. No. 1 measured 1.82x1.48; No. 2, 
1.78x1.46. No. 1 was finely marked; the larger 
end being entirely covered with a rich brown, 
concealing the ground color and running up in 
irregular points past the larger part of the egg. 
No. 2 was ordinary, being marked with a few 
small blotches of an umber color and large shell 
markings of an obscure lilac. It can be best 
described as purple, brushed over with a thin 
coat of whiting. As the nest could not be ap- 
proached within ten feet, and the eggs had to be 
“scooped” out with a minature insect net at the 
end of a pole, I cannot give dimensions of nest, 
which was built of sticks and the usual compli- 
ment of green moss. The young chick was full 
formed in the egg, though soft—proving that the 
set was complete. 
The second set was brought me by one of my 
collectors, on April 27th. His notes read: ‘“‘Nest 
in a large pin-oak tree at extremity of a nearly 
horizontal limb, about sixty feet up and twenty- 
five feet from top of the tree. Built of Spanish 
