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



other smaller birds breeding. They build a somewhat bulky nest 

 of prickly sticks, lined with fine roots and grass, and lay from 

 three to five eggs. As cage-birds they are held in high esteem, 

 and to my knowledge a Mexican at Matamoras refused forty 

 dollars for one that had been in his possession for a couple of 

 years. It had become very tame, and was a perfect adept at 

 mimicking the notes of many birds occurring there, and even 

 the cries of other animals. They are very difficult to rear, but 

 in this respect the Mexicans are more successful than strangers; 

 which fact may be attributed partly to the patience with which 

 they constantly attend to them, and partly to the food they give 

 them, which is a sort of paste composed chiefly of maize-meal 

 and Chili Colorado (red pepper). 



Oreoscoptes montanus (Townsend) . Mountain Mocking- 

 bird. 



Not uncommon near San Antonio during the winter months, 

 and very common near Eagle Pass, where they are found on the 

 plains near the town. When disturbed they run and dodge 

 through the cactuses and mezquite bushes, seldom taking wing 

 unless driven to an open place. They seem to prefer the flat 

 bush-covered plains, and I seldom saw one on a tree. A lad, 

 who was collecting for me, procured a couple of the eggs of this 

 bird in the middle of May, during my absence at Houston. 

 These are now in Dr. Heermann's possession. As a general 

 thing, however, I do not think they breed in that part of the 

 country, since I never noticed any there during the summer. 



Male. Legs light brown; bill blackish-brown; iris bright 

 yellow. Stomach containing small insects. 



Harporhynchus curvirostris (Swainson). Curve-billed 

 Thrush. 



At Matamoras I found this bird very common during the 

 summer months, but did not notice any nearer San Antonio than 

 the Rio Nueces. During my stay at Eagle Pass in February 

 and March I found them abundant, and was told by the Mexi- 

 cans that they remain there to breed. On my journey towards 

 Matamoras, in July 1864, I found many nests, but all either 

 empty or with young, except one near Roma, which contained 



