Mr. H. E. Dresser on the Birds of Southern Texas, 481 



ViREO BELLI (Audubon) . Bell's Vireo. 



Not uncommon during the summer near San Antonio, and 

 remaining there to breed. I found a nest on the 2nd July, in 

 a wesatche bush near the San Pedro, containing three eggs of 

 this species and one of the Cow-Bunting [Molothrus pecoris) ; 

 but being anxious to procure the bird also, I left it, and on my 

 return some days later I found the foster-parent there, but the 

 nest was torn down, and the eggs on the ground, all smashed, 

 excepting that of the Molothrus, which I now have, together 

 with the bird, which I shot. Dr. Heermann found a nest on the 

 Medina about the same time. The nest of this species is beau- 

 tifully formed of jfine grass, and hung from the small twigs of 

 some tree. The eggs, three to four in number, are very small, 

 white, with an occasional reddish dot on the larger end. The 

 nest that Dr. Heermann took was attached to the pendent twigs 

 of a willow tree. 



Male. Upper mandible dark brown; lower mandible light 

 brownish blue; iris brown. Stomach containing small green 

 caterpillars. 



Vireo noveboracensis (Gmeliu). White-eyed Vireo. 

 Common near San Antonio during the summer, and remain- 

 ing there to breed. 



Vireo solitarius (Wilson) . Blue-headed Vireo. 



I noticed and shot several of these birds near San Antonio 

 late in the autumn and early in the spring, but do not think 

 any remain there to breed. 



MiMUS POLYGLOTTUS (Liuuseus). Mocking-bird. 



This unrivalled songster is one of the commonest birds 

 throughout the country. In July 1863, on my arrival at Ma- 

 tamoras, I found lots of young birds offered for sale in the 

 market-place, at a picayune (three pence) each, and bought 

 several, but was unable to rear them, as they required so much 

 of my time. I even found a nest, containing fresh eggs, as late 

 as that. 



Near San Antonio they are also very common, and are very 

 early breeders, as I found their eggs and those of the Cardinal 

 [Cardinalis virginianus) some time before I found any of the 



