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



Their usual note is a loud, not un melodious whistle; but they 

 have also a guttural note/which I can only compare to the sound 

 caused by drawing a stick sharply across the quills of a dried 

 goose- wing. When emitting this sound, they stretch their necks, 

 erecting the feathers on the neck, spreading the tail, and half 

 opening and shaking the wings. 



The plumage of the young bird is of a dingy brown colour, 

 exactly the same shade as that of the young bird of Sturnus 

 vulgaris. 



QuiscALUS MAJOR, Vicillot. Boat-tailed Grackle. 

 When at Houston and Galveston, in May and June 1864, I 

 noticed several of thse birds. 



? CoRVUS CARNivoRUS, Bartram. American Raven. 



A Raven smaller in size than, but otherwise resembling the 

 bird I have noticed in New Brunswick, was common at San 

 Antonio during the winter, frequenting the slaughter-houses. 

 When in the Bandera Hills, in November 1863, several came 

 to our camp to feast on the offal of the deer we killed. I shot 

 one, which I now have in my collection. It may be Corvus 

 cacalotl, if not C. carnivoj'us ; but never having seen a specimen 

 of the former bird, I am unable to decide with any degree of 

 certainty. 



Corvus cryptoleucus. Couch. White-necked Crow. 

 This bird came under my notice on two occasions at Eagle 

 Pass, in March 1864. 



Corvus americanus, Audubon. Amei-ican Crow. 

 Very common in North-eastern Texas during the whole year, 

 but not common between San Antonio and the Mexican frontier. 



? Cyanurus CRiSTATUs (Linnseus) . Blue Jay. 



I was told by several hunters that the Blue Jay is found near 

 San Antonio, but I never succeeded in seeing one during my 

 wanderings. Some blue-coloured Jay is certainly found near 

 there, but is rare. When on Buffalo Bayou, near Houston, I 

 saw several Jays, in a grove of magnolias, which seemed to be 

 dark ash-coloured on the back, with the head and neck, wings, 

 and tail blue and black. They were, however, so shy that I 

 could not succeed in shooting one. 



