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



protected, and " Martin-houses ^' are set up near almost all the 

 dwellings in the country. At Eagle Pass I noticed the first on 

 the 6th March, and a few days later they were very numerous. 



Ampelis cedrorum (Vieillot). Cedar -bird. 

 Very common during the winter at San Antonio and Eagle 

 Pass, but I noticed none later than the middle of April. 



Phainopepla nitens (Swainson). Crested Black Flycatcher. 



When at Eagle Pass, I had taken up my quarters in the 

 powder magazine at Fort Duncan, and in front of my abode 

 there were a few mezquite trees scattered about. On one of 

 these I had several times observed a bird which, when on the 

 wing, seemed to have pied wings, but when perched seemed of a 

 uniform black colour. I at last succeeded in shooting it, and 

 found it to be an adult male of this species. It had the bill 

 and legs black ; iris blood-red ; and the stomach filled with 

 the berries of a sort of mistletoe that grows abundantly on the 

 mezquite trees. Some days later, when sitting writing near the 

 open door, I saw another of these birds on a tree near. I watched 

 it with an opera-glass for some minutes, and noticed that the 

 crest was carried erect, and was much recurved, like that of our 

 Panes cristatus; then taking up my gun, which was close to 

 me, I shot it from where I sat. These two were the only ex- 

 amples of the species that came under my notice during my 

 stay in the country. 



CoLLYRio LUDOViciANUS (Liunseus). Logger-head Shrike. 

 Common near San Antonio during the summer. 



ViREO OLivACEus (Linuseus). Red-eyed Vireo. 

 Noticed near San Antonio in the spring and autumn. 



ViREO GiLvus (Vieillot). "Warbling Vireo. 



I first noticed this species on the 5th April in a mezquite 

 thicket near San Antonio, where I noticed a pair, but only 

 secured the male bird. The call-note was a long continued 

 hissing or churring sound, and the song very sweet. Dr. Heer- 

 mann has found this bird breeding near the Medina and San 

 Antonio. 



Legs light blue lead-colour ; iris dark brown. 



