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



been able to spare the time to hunt after them. The birds were 

 not shy, frequently remaining on the nest until I had climbed 

 the tree, and, when leaving the nest, seldom going far away. 

 I do not think the Black-billed Cuckoo {Coccyzus erythroph- 

 thalmus) is found in Southern or Western Texas, as neither 

 Dr. Heermann nor I have ever noticed it. 



Campephilus principalis (Linnseus). Ivory-billed Wood- 

 pecker. 



This bird is found on the Brazos River, where the timber is 

 large ; and a planter living on the Trinity River told me that it 

 is not uncommon there. A friend of mine on the Brazos pro- 

 mised to procure the eggs for me, but wrote to me, in May 1864, 

 saying that he had been to the nest and found it to contain 

 young ones. He said that these birds are by no means rare on 

 the Upper Brazos. 



Picus PUBESCENS, Linuseus. Downy Woodpecker. 



Occasionally found about San Antonio, but it is a rare visitor 

 there. I shot one near that town on the 1st April, 1864 ; and 

 Dr. Heermann procured one on the Medina several years ago. 



Picus scalaris, Wagler. Texan Sapsucker. 



Eesident and very common throughout all Texas and North- 

 eastern Mexico, it being, by the way, the only Woodpecker I 

 shot near Matamoras. It breeds abundantly about San Antonio, 

 boring into any tree it finds most suitable. 



Male. Iris dark hazel ; beak dark horn-blue ; legs greenish 

 grey. 



PiCOIDES ? 



I noticed a yellow-crowned Woodpecker near Matamoras in 

 July 1863, but, though I followed it for some distance, I was un- 

 able to shoot it. 



Sphyrapicus varius (Linnseus). Yellow-bellied Wood- 

 pecker. 



Found near San Antonio at all seasons of the year, but rather 

 rare than otherwise. I shot a couple near the Medina Biver, 

 and Dr. Heermann procured the eggs there some years ago. 



Beak dark horn-blue ; iris dark brown ; legs greenish grey. 



