SENNETT ON BIRDS OF THE RIO GRANDE OF TEXAS. 31 



chaparral, and the pastures, with scattered clumps of bushes and trees, 

 iu the vicinity of the town, are admirably adapted to the wants of the 

 "Scissor- tails". I found them as abundant as the Kingbirds, T. caroU- 

 nensis, on the borders of the great lakes. Both sexes are alike, excepting 

 that the female has much the shorter tail. We saw very few indeed at 

 Hidalgo, owing to the great abundance of woods and chaparral ; conse- 

 quently we missed collecting their eggs. From a set and nest given me 

 by Dr. Merrill I give the following description : — The nest was taken in 

 a tree in front of the hospital at Fort Brown. It is composed of weeds, 

 rags, and strings, in layers, and lined with a few rootlets and wool. 

 Outside it is four and a half inches wide by two and three-fourths inches 

 deep ; inside, two and three-fourths inches wide by two inches deep. 

 The five eggs are pure white, with a few large blotches over the larger 

 half. They average 0.86 by 0.68. 



67— $ —14.25 X 15.00 x 5.00 x 9.50. Mar. 24, Brownsville. 



, 68— ^ —14.25 X 15.50 x 5.12 x 9.50. Mar. 24, Browusville. 



69— S —13.50 X 15.50 x 5.00 x 8.75. Mar. 24, Brownsville. 



73— <? —14.50 X 15.50 x 4.85 x 9.50. Mar. 25, Brownsville. 



78— ^ —1 3.50 X 15.50 x 4.75 x 8.50, Mar. 25, Brownsville. 



79— 5 —12.00 X 14.75 x 4.50 x 7.00. Mar. 25, Brownsville. 



80— 9 —11.25 X 14.75 x 4.50 x 6.00. Mar. 25, Brownsville. 

 125—^—14.50 X 15.75 x 5.00 x 9.00. Mar. 31, Brownsville. 

 150—^—14.00x15.75x4.90x8.75. Apr. 3, Brownsville. 

 191— 5 —11.75 X 15.00 X 4.65 x 6.50. Apr. 9, Brownsville. 

 215— 9 —11.00 X 14.50 X 4.75 x 5.75. Apr. 17, Hidalgo. 

 374— 9 —11.50 X 15.00 x 4.65 x 6.75. May 5, Hidalgo. 



Tyrannus carolinensis, {L.) Bd. — Kingbird. 



On the 8th of May, at Lomita Eanche, a few miles from Hidalgo, I 

 shot the only one of this species seen. It was iu company with Couch's 

 Flycatchers, Tyrannus couchi, on the topmost branches of the tall ebony- 

 trees near the buildings of the ranche. 



401— ^ —9.00 X 15.10 X 4.50 x 3.50. May 8, Hidalgo. 



Tyrannus melancholicus couchi, (Bd.) Coues— Couch'' s Flycatcher. 



On May 8th, I saw a number of this species at Lomita Eanche, on the 

 ebony-trees. Three were shot, but only one secured, the others being 

 lost in the tall grass and thickets. At this point is the finest grove of 

 ebonies I saw on the river. On the hillside, back of the buildings, they 

 overlook the large resaca, then filled with tasselled corn. It was the 

 tops of these grand old trees that these Flycatchers loved, and so 

 persistent were they in staying there that I thought they were going 

 to settle in the neighborhood for the season. There was a company of 

 some six or eight scattered about. I did not find them shy, for after our 

 firing they would almost immediately return to the same trees. It was 

 readily distinguishable from T. carolinensis, which was shot iu their 

 company. Their greater size and bright yellow under parts can be seen 

 at gunshot range. 



393— $ —9.75 X 15.65 x 4.50 x 3.75. May 8, Hidalgo. 



