A Catalogue of Birds obtained in Navarro County, Texas. 243 



Rhyacophilus solitarius (Wils). Solitary Sandpi'per.—A 

 scarce migrant through our district, occurring singly during 

 April by prairie pools and tanks, and again returning during 

 August and September, frequenting similar localities and feeding 

 on small crayfish, shells, and insects. They show the greatest 

 aversion to the presence of any individual, whether of their own 

 or an allied species. They have the same habit of tilting the 

 body observable in the two preceding species. Though carefully 

 sought for by woodland ponds and streams, I never met with this 

 species except upon the open prairie. 



Stmphemia semipalmata (Gmel.) Willet. — A very scarce 

 visitor at both migrations, passing northward during March, 

 when I saw two specimens at different times in company with 

 flocks of Nur]%enius horealis, while but one came under my notice 

 during the following October, when I shot it from a pool of rain 

 water in a prairie creek. 



Bartramia longicauda (Bechst.) Field Plover. — An abun- 

 dant summer visitor, arriving during the last week in March, and 

 remaining with us until the middle of September. An occasional 

 straggler may, however, be found, even as late as the third week 

 of October. For about a month after their arrival, they frequent 

 the higher parts of the prairie, but towards the end of April those 

 that remain with us, having paired, retire to the shelter of hay and 

 corn fields, where they may with the greater security bring out 

 their brood. About the beginning of July, the family parties, 

 consisting of two old and four young birds, begin to appear upon 

 the prairie, frequenting, during the heat of the day, the edges of 

 dry watercourses and disused roads, along which the growth of 

 tall weeds shelters them from the sun ; thence, towards evening, 

 they spread themselves over the adjoining prairie, more often by 

 running than flying. In August small migratory flocks begin to 

 appear, and as the season advances these increase in numbers, so 

 that during the first week in September they sometimes number 

 thousands. They are partial to those parts of the prairie which 

 have been freshly burned, and resort thither in large numbers, 

 not, however, feeding together, but each one according to its indi- 

 vidual fancy ; nor do they associate, either on the ground or in 

 flight, with other species. At this season they give excellent 

 sport, rising at a distance of from ten to twenty-five yards, and 



