Aug. 1887.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



123 



Nesting Habits of Texas Birds. 



BY IIAKKY P. ATWATKll, LONDON, ONTAIMO, 

 CANADA. 



(Continued from ptigo 105.) 



Clitt' Swallow, (Petrochelidon luiiifrotis) . Nest 

 under oveih;ingiiig blufts of the river. Com- 

 mon. 



Slimmer IJedbird, {I'ljnuuja <i.-stioa). A few 

 nests found on the edge of the opeh sundy black 

 ouk country, on the lower horizontal limbs of 

 oak trees. 



I^ark Finch, {Ghomlestes (jrammica). Very 

 common ; build a bulky nest on lower horizon- 

 tal limbs in mesquite trees, generally among 

 bunches of mistletoe. First eggs taken May 

 1st, 1884, fresh. One nest in 1885 found in a 

 tuft of grass on the ground, in a small open 

 clearing among mesquite trees. I'erhaps more 

 would build on the ground if it was not for the 

 numerous snakes; the eggs in the one mention- 

 ed l)eing gone on my second visit, and several 

 snakes seen in the vicinity at different times. 



Black-throated Sparrow, {Amphispiza bil- 

 ineata). Abundant, and one of the first birds 

 to build. Eggs four, pure white, but when 

 blown have a decidedly bluish tinge. Nests of 

 grass and weed stems, lined with a few horse 

 hairs ; securely placed in low thick bushes or 

 cactus, generally three feet from the ground. 

 Have never found one higher than four and a 

 half feet. First nest taken March 2l}th, 1884, 

 contained four eggs, incubation advanced. 

 Probably raise two broods, as I have taken fresh 

 eggs in the end of May both seasons. 



Cassin's Sparrow, (Peuaea cassini). Com- 

 mon. One nest found May 2nd, 1884, contained 

 four eggs, hard set. The nest was very similar 

 to the lilack-throated Sparrow, but placed on 

 the ground among the roots of an evergreen 

 slirub. Two other nests found in 1885 in simi- 

 lar iiositions, contained respectively four eggs 

 and four young. The eggs are decidedly larger 

 than the Black-throated Sparrow's ; of a pure, 

 smooth, glassy white and both ends rounded 

 alike. These birds frequent the small open 

 spots in the higher parts of the thorny brush 

 and cactus country, and like the Black-throated 

 Sparrow were never seen in open or timber 

 country. 



They are easily distinguished from other spe- 

 cies by the curious mode they have of suddenly 

 flying straight up in the air for about ten feet 

 and slowly fluttering down in a straight line 

 again, at the same time making a twittering 



noise, which I am unable to describe, but which 

 1 believe they only make while taking these 

 short flights and which is unlike the usual 

 chirp made by the same birds while hopping 

 about in the usual way among bushes and on 

 the ground. 



Cardinal Grosbeak, (Canlinalis vm/inianus). 

 Abundant. Fresh eggs taken April 1st, 1884. 

 1 fancy they raise two broods in a season, as I 

 have found fresh eggs in June. 



Texas Cardinal, (ryrrhidoxia stniuUu). Not 

 as common as Viryiiiiunus and much more shy. 

 Nests very much smaller than Viryinianus and 

 built of finer material. Begin to build two 

 weeks later than Viryinianus , Size and color 

 of eggs of both species very similar, but as a 

 rule the markings on the Texas Cardinal eggs 

 are much clearer and darker, and much thicker 

 at the large end, sometimes forming a ring and 

 often covering the futire end. 



Blue Grosbeak, {Ihiiraca cuirulea). A few 

 pairs noticed both years, and one nest taken 

 end of May, 1885, in a low spot from the lowei- 

 limb of a pecan tree in a vegetable garden on 

 the ranche. This nest is composed of corn 

 husks and weeds lined with fine rootlets and 

 contained four fresh eggs. 



Painted Bunting, (^Passerina ciris). Very 

 common and many nests found in the cactus 

 and thorny regions away from tall timber. 

 Eggs four; nest generally placed in a low, 

 thick thorn bush about three feet from the 

 ground, composed of weed stems and grass, lined 

 with a few horse hairs, very similar to Black- 

 throated Sparrow's nest. First eggs taken 

 May 12th, 1884. Fresh. 



Black-throated Bunting, (Spiza americana). 

 Very common ; hundreds of flocks passed north 

 during the migrations and many stopped to 

 breed. They prefer the lower and damper 

 parts and build in the highest limb or top of an 

 evergreen bush that is found in the low spots 

 of this region. On the 15th of May, 1884, I 

 visited one of these spots and found about 

 twenty nests nearly all completed and some 

 containing four fresh eggs. Nests about five 

 feet from the ground and quite bulky, com- 

 pared with those of other birds of the same 

 size. These birds seem to pass most of their 

 time sitting on the top of these bushes and tall 

 weeds, and keep up an incessant chirping from 

 the time they arrive in the country. 



Dwarf Covvbird, {Mvlotlirus (iter obscurus). 

 Rather common, and only found their eggs in 

 the nests of Bell's Vireo. 



Orchard Oriole, {Icterus spurius) . Hang their 

 nests on the extremities of top limbs of mes- 



