A Catalogue of Birds obtained in Navarro County, Texas. 209 



lieartrending cries. Tliey are more infested with small ticks than 

 any other of our resident) species. 



GuiRACA CiEEULEA (Linn.) Blue Grosbeak — The blue grosbeak, 

 nowhere a common bird in our district, is a summer visitor, 

 arriving about the middle of April, when it may often be found 

 along the fences of prairie farms, and leaving us during August, 

 They resort in summer to outlying copses and the terminations of 

 wooded creeks, and build their nests on thick bushes from four to 

 six feet above the ground ; these are placed in a fork of the main 

 stem, upon a basis of withered leaves and wool, the side being- 

 formed of coarse grass and weeds, and the interior thickly lined 

 with fine roots ; they are ingeniously fastened to the supporting- 

 boughs by the wool, which is always present. During the fall 

 they resort to beds of tall weeds on neglected farms, and feed 

 greedily on the seeds of the sunflower, knot grass, and other 

 noxious plants. 



Passeeina amcena (Say). Lazuli Bunting. — I obtained a bird 

 on September 17th, which, on account of the faint indications of 

 bands upon the wings, I considered to belong to the above species. 

 It was a young male — a wretched, specimen — with the feathers 

 much abraded and dirty. 



Passeeina cieis (Linn.) Painted Bunting. — This active and 

 pleasing little finch is an abundant summer visitor to all the 

 prairie districts, where it makes its appearance during the last 

 week of April, the males preceding their partners by a few days; 

 they quickly become a conspicuous object from their gay colours 

 and sprightly song, which is poured forth perseveringly, from the 

 first glimpse of dawn to long after sunset, from the summit of a 

 low bush, weed, or stake in a fence. They commence to nest 

 immediately on the arrival of the females, and the full comple- 

 ment of five eggs is often deposited by the third week of May. 

 The nests are placed in a low bush or weed, about three or four 

 feet from the ground, and are always lined with hair ; one built 

 in a sunflower but a few yards from the house door was formed 

 of weeds and cotton plaited carefully together, and was laid on a 

 basis of withered leaves and pieces of newspaper. Fragments of 

 the cast skins of snakes are frequently interlaced with the fabric. 

 They breed twice in the season, the young of the flrst brood being 

 tended by the male, while his mate is incubating the second. As 



