318 Mr. H. E. Dresser on the Birds of Southern Texas. 



vonal^ in company with three others^ getting Deer, Turkeys, 

 Peccaries, and plenty of wild honey, but no additions to my 

 collection, excepting a specimen of Polioptila ccerulea, which I 

 found very abundant. 



At San Antonio I stayed some time, and hoped to have re- 

 mained there during the breeding-season ; but, unfortunately, I 

 had to visit Houston on business, and, availing myself of an 

 offer from Governor Vidaurri and Colonel Dickinson (who were 

 on their way to Houston, the former having been driven from 

 Mexico by Juarez) to join them, I started for that town on 

 the 15th of May. We had to pass through Austin, as the 

 Governor had some business there, which rather lengthened 

 our journey; but as we traversed a lovely country, and had 

 everything we could want with us, I, for one, was not dis- 

 satified with the delay. We travelled slowly, and I had lots of time 

 to shoot and nest, and succeeded in getting a few eggs, amongst 

 others those of Chondestes grammica and Zenaidura cMrolinensis. 

 On arriving at the Colorado, at Bastrop we found Swallow-tailed 

 Kites very common, and Mississippi- Kites almost equally so. 

 Of the former I once saw between forty and fifty at one time. 

 I should much have liked to have remained a week at some plan- 

 tation on the road, and have taken the eggs of these birds with my 

 own hands, but, much to my disgust, was unable to do so ; for, 

 on my arrival at Houston, I found that I should have to spend 

 at least a week in idleness before settling some business I had 

 there. I determined not to remain in the town, as I could get 

 no shooting or egging near it, so started immediately for Gal- 

 veston, and stayed there until I was wanted. On my arrival 

 there I found plenty of birds, but no chance of getting any 

 eggs unless by taking a boat; and, owing to the strict blockade, 

 none were allowed outside. General Hawes, however, kindly 

 gave me the use of a boat, wdth leave to go where I chose, and, 

 furthermore, a pass permitting me to shoot anywhere and to 

 enter any of the fortifications with which the island is studded. 

 I therefore spent much time shooting on the island, and oc- 

 cupied three days (from the 1st to the 3rd of June) outside, 

 with a pilot, on an egging expedition. We had, unluckily, a 

 very small boat, and could not go very far, which was unfor- 



