26 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



distance, when its buttercup-colored hood contrasts well with its velvet- 

 black mask. The birds are very active, and so full of song that the 

 woods are filled with music all day long. The bills of these birds are 

 more curved and pointed than the others, and admirably adapted for 

 weaving the hair-like moss. Their usual nesting places are the hanging 

 trusses of Spanish moss, everywhere provokingly abundant on the larger 

 growth of trees. I have also found their nests on the lower limbs of 

 trees and the drooping outer branches of undergrowth ; but wherever 

 found, the inevitable Spanish moss enters largely or wholly into their 

 composition. So durable is this moss that it lasts for years, and as a 

 consequence there are everywhere ten old nests to one new one. The 

 heart of the moss when separated from its white covering becomes the 

 " curled hair " of commerce. The Hooded Oriole takes this dry vegeta- 

 ble hair, and ingeniously weaves it into the heart of a living truss of 

 moss, making a secure and handsome home. I took one no higher than 

 my head, and others thirty feet or more from the ground. They make 

 a great ado when their home is invaded. 



Their complement of eggs is four, but sometimes five are found. 

 Color of eggs white, nearly covered with scattered fine brown spots, 

 an(J at large end with larger blotches of the same. Their shape is more 

 pointed at both ends than others of the family. Their average size is 

 0.83 by 0.60. The longest is 0.90 and shortest 0.81, while the breadth 

 shows no variation to speak of. 



62— <?— 8.00 X 10,50 X 3.50 x 3.85. Mar. 24, Brownsville. 



135— <?— 8.25 X 10.50 x 3.25 x 3.75. Apr. 2, Brownsville. 



143— ^—8.00 xl0..50x 3.50x3.75. Apr. 3, Brownsville. 



144—2—8.00x10.25x3.25x3.50. Apr. 3, Brownsville. 



145— 5 —8.00 X 10.00 x 3.25 x 3.50. Apr. 3, Brownsville. 



239— 5— 7.50 X 9.90x3.15x3.00. Apr. 19, Hidalgo. 



256— ,?— 7.75 X 10.50 x 3.25 x 3.25. Apr. 20, Hidalgo. 



257—^—8.00 X 10.75 x 3.40 x 3.50. Apr. 20, Hidalgo. 



288— 5 —7.75 X 10.50 x 3.25 x 3.25. Apr. 28, Hidalgo. 



305—^—8.25x10.50x3.15x3.85. Apr. 30, Hidalgo. 



306— 5 —7.75 X 10.00 x 3.00 x 3.40. Apr. 30, Hidalgo. 



Icterus audubont, Giraud. — Auduhoni's Oriole. 



This large Oriole cannot b8 said to be very abundanf on the Eio 

 Grande, although it is by no means rare. I think it is fey far more retir- 

 ing in its habits than any other of the family. If I were to go in search 

 of it I should seek a dense woods, near an opening, with plenty of. under 

 growth, where also the Eio Grande Jay loves to dwell. It is a sweet 

 singer, never very generous with its music, and only singing when un- 

 disturbed. 



I remember once sitting in the edge of a woods, watching the move- 

 ments of some Wrens just outside, the only sounds to be heard in the 

 woods being the discordant notes of the Rio Grande Jay, when sud- 

 denly, from over my bead, there burst upon my ear a melody so sweet 

 and enchanting that I sat entranced, and, listening, forgot all else. I 



