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



Catherpes mexicanus (Swainson). "White-throated Wren- 



Not uncommon near San Antonio^ remaining there to breed. 

 One of these birds frequented the printing-office at San Antonio, 

 an old, half-ruined building, where its familiar habits made it a 

 great favourite with the workmen. They told me that the pre- 

 vious spring it had built a nest and reared its young in an old 

 wall close by. 



In the following spring (1864) I went again to look for it, 

 but was told that it had disappeared, having probably met the 

 fate tbat generally befalls favourites — that of death from the 

 claws of a cat — as it had beeome very tame. 



At Dr. Heermann's rancho on the Medina we procured the 

 eggs both of this and the two following species [Thryothorus 

 ludovicianus and T. bewicki) ; and as Dr. Heermann amused him- 

 self by nailing up small cigar-boxes, having a hole cut in front, 

 in every place where these birds were likely to build, we had 

 ample means of watching them. Indeed we had only to lift up 

 the lid in order to see the progress they had made ; for these 

 birds do not (so far as my experience goes) build a covered nest; 

 and when we wished to take one we took box and all, thus having 

 the nest ready packed ! 



Thryothorus ludovicianus (Lichtenstein) . Great Carolina 

 Wren. 



Not uncommon near San Antonio, remaining there throughi- 

 out the year. We procured the first eggs of this bird on the 

 20th April, out of a nest in one of Dr. Heermann's cigar-boxes; 

 but on the 27th April I found a nest containing young birds in 

 a similar receptacle, which had been put away under the eaves 

 of a house near San Antonio. 



Male. Bill dark brown ; base of lower mandible light brown ; 

 legs light flesh-brown ; iris brown, 



Thryothorus BEWICKI (Audubon). Bewick's Wren. 



Not so common as the preceding species, but by no means 

 rare near San Antonio. On the 1st April we procured three 

 eggs from a nest built in one of the cigar-boxes. The eggs of 

 this bird much resemble those of T. ludovicianus, but are some- 

 what smaller in size. 



Male. Bill light brown ; base of lower mandible lighter ; legs 

 purplish- grey ; iris brown. 



