ICTEIUD.E — THE ORIOLES. 20'J 



Eagle Pass and at Santa llosalie, where Lieutenant ( 'oucli I'ound tlieni living 

 about tlie nuiclit's anil the cattUvyards. 



^Ir. Divs-ser, on his arrival at Matanioras, in duly, noticed these Mrds in 

 the streets of tliat town, in company with the Lonj^-tailed Orakles Q. nuurn- 

 rufi ami Mo/at/ini^ ^«'co/vk He was told by tlu! Mexicans tliat tliey Inccd 

 there, but it was too late to ])roeure their o,u<;s. In the winter vast Hocks 

 i're(|Uented tlie roads near by, as well as the streel^^s of San Antonio and Ea.ule 

 Pass. They were as tame as European Sjjarrows. Their note, when on the 

 wing, was a low whistle. When c(jngregated in trees, they kejtt up an inces- 

 sant chattering. 



Dr. (,'oues found them ])ennanent residents of Arizona, and exceedingly 

 abundant. It was the typical IJlackbird of Fort "\Vhi})ple, though few proba- 

 bly breed in the immediate vicinity. Towards the end of Septendier they 

 become very numerous, and remain so until ]\Iay, after which few are ob- 

 served till the fall. Tiiey congregate in immen.ic Hocks about the corrals, 

 and are tame and fanuliar. Their note, he says, is a liarsh, rasping sipieak, 

 varied by a melodious, ringing whistle. I am indebted to this observing 

 ornithologist for the following sketch of th'eir jiecuiiar characteristics : — 



"Brewer's Blackl)ird is resident in Arizona, tlie most aljundant bird of its 

 family, and one of the most characteristic species of tlie Teriitory. It ap- 

 pears about Fort Whipide in flocks in Septcml)er; the nundjers are aug- 

 mented during the following month, and there is little or no diminution 

 until May, when the iiocks disperse to l)reed. 



"Tiie nest is placed in the fork of a large bush or tree, sometnnes at the 

 height of twenty or thirty feet, and is a bulky structure, not distantly resem- 

 bling a miniature Crow's nest, but it is comparatixely deeper and more com- 

 pactly built. A great quantity of short, crooked t\\ igs are brought together 

 and interlaced to form the basement and outer wall, and with these is 

 matted a variety of softer uiaterial, as weed-stalks, fibrous roots, and dried 

 grasses. A little nuul may be found nnxed with the other mat(!rial, but it 

 is not plastered on in any quantity, and often seemB to be merely what ad- 

 hered to the roots or plant-stems that were used. The nest Is finished 

 inside with a (juantity of hair. The eggs are altogether diiVerenl from tliose 

 of the (Jin'mdi and A(/c/(ri, and resendde those of the Yellow-headed and 

 liusty CJrakles. Tiiey vary in nundnn- from four to six, and measure barely 

 an inch in length by about three fourths as nuich in breadth. The ground- 

 color is dull olivac(!ous-gray, sometimes a paler, clearer bluish or greenish 

 gray, thickly spattered all over with small spots of lirown, from very dark 

 blackish-lirown or chocolate to light undier. These markings, none of 

 great size, are very irregular in outline, though probably never becoming 

 line-tracery; and they vary indefinitely in nundjer, lieing sometimes so 

 crowded tliat the egg appears of an almost uniform brownish color. 



"In this region the Jilackbirds jday the same part in nature's economy 

 that the Yellow-headed Troupial does in some otlier parts of the West, and 



VOL. II. i7 



