24 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



This fine large Cowbird, so recently added to our fauna, is very abun- 

 dant all along the Lower Rio Grande, and is easily distinguishable from 

 the other members of the genus. . The only Blackbird for which it could 

 be mistaken at gunshot range, and with which it is intimately associated 

 up to about May 1st, is Scolecophagus cyanocephalus, Blue-headed Grackle. 

 In full plumage they are not so much alike as when immature. The iris. 

 of M. ceneus is bright red, and can, upon acquaintance, be readily dis- 

 tinguished from the bright lemon iris of 8. cyanocepMlus at quite a 

 distance. They breed later than most of the family, and in habits are 

 very similar to M. ater, our Common Cowbird. They had only com- 

 menced to lay when I left. For a very complete account of their breed- 

 ing habits I refer to an article by Dr. James C. Merrill, in the Bulletin 

 of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, ii. n. 4, 85, October, 1877. 



115— <? —8.50 X 15.00 X 4.65 x 3.25. Mar. 30, Brownsville. 



116—^—8.25 X 15.00 X 4.75 x 3.50. Mar. 30, Brownsville. 



126—^—9.00 X 15.25 x 4.65 x 3.25. Mar. 31, Brownsville. 



361—^—8.75x15.00x4.75x3.25. May 4, Hidalgo. 



372— <?— 9.00 X 14.75 x 4.40 x 3.00. May 5, Hidalgo. 



AaEL^Us PHGENICEUS, (L.) V. — Eed-winged Blackbird. 



I found this species breeding in great numbers along the Lower Eio 

 Grande. They usually build their nests low, among the rank growth of 

 weeds and willows that spring up in the resaca beds after the annual 

 overflows of the river. One riest, however, I found at least twenty feet 

 high in a mezquite-tree. It was composed of bleached grasses and at- 

 tached to a leaning branch ; was partly pensile, and looked like a large 

 nest of the Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius. I was deceived into climb- 

 ing for it. Hundreds of eggs were examined, and the only difference I 

 could see from those of the North was in size, the Southern eggs being 

 smaller. In a large series of eggs taken, the longest was 0.99 of an inch 

 and the shortest 0.80 ; the broadest 0.72 and the narrowest 0.63. The 

 average length is 0.91 and breadth 0.67. 



Xanthooephalus icterocephalus, {Bp.) Bd. — Yellow headed BlacTc- 

 bird. 



On April 25th, at Hidalgo, we first met these impudent birds, associated 

 with Cowbirds and Blue-headed Grackles, on a fence in the centre of 

 the village. Three specimens were shot, and for a few days thereafter 

 we saw them in the vicinity, flying about with Redwings and Cowbirds, 

 flfter which we saw them no more. I am told they are very abundant 

 during the winter months. 



~75—^— 10.50 X 18.25 x 5.75 x 4.00. Apr. 25, Hidalgo, 

 276—^—10.25 X 17.00 x 5.50 x 4.00. Apr. 25, Hidalgo. 

 277— i —11.00 X 18.00 X 5.75 x 4.35. Apr. 25, Hidalgo. 



Sturnella magna, {L.) Sw. — Field LarJc. 



Common on the prairies, and whenever we drove or rode through them 

 numbers were seen. We did not obtain var. neglecta, although it is 



