36 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



tlie culmen, sweeping obliquely across the basal part of the nasal scale, and forming at 

 the angle of the mouth a deep reentrance with those of the chin, which reach much 

 farther forward on the interramal space. Size large; length 4-J; extent Sf; wingSJ-; 

 tail H, forked about i ; bill f.— E. C] 



This is the second specimen of this species obtained within our limits, 

 the first having been taken the previous year by Dr. Merrill.* This 

 one was shot while hovering over wild flowers near the ground, among 

 cactus and low bushes, not far from Brownsville. I saw a number of 

 Hummers differing from these, but I could not get them, and did not 

 make them out. It is difficult in this country to follow and secure large 

 birds, much more these tiny creatures. 



89— ^ —4.50 X 5.65 x 2.35 x 1.50. Mar. 27, Brownsville. 



ALCEDmiD^. 



Ceetle alcton, (X.) Boie. — Belted Kingfisher. 



While at Brownsville, I saw several of this species about the lagoons 

 a few miles back from the river. They are by no means abundant. 



CUCULID^. 



Geococcyx califoenianus, {Less.) Bd. — Chaparral Cock. 



I saw this singular bird for the first time at Corpus Ohristi, but after- 

 ward found it common on the Rio Grande. At first I was unable to 

 shoot them ; but as I became more familiar with them I had no difficulty 

 in securing all 1 wished. They are not wholly a ground bird, as has 

 been said. They take to wing when alarmed, and frequently of their 

 own accord. 1 have seen a pair fly from the edge of water to the woods, 

 a distance of over a hundred yards, where they had an equal chance of 

 getting out of sight by running. I saw two fly into a mezquite-tree, 

 and shot one of them when it was at least ten feet from the ground. 

 They invariably breed in trees or bushes. That they are good runners 

 there is no doubt; but their powers in this direction, I think, have been 

 overestimated. An examination of the feet of a large number of birds 

 will show that they are used much more on the ground than in perch- 

 ing, yet it seems quite an effort for them to curl up the ends of the 

 toes. The only sound I ever heard this bird make was what I supposed 

 to be a call for its mate. 1 happened once to hear one around tlie bend 

 of an unfrequented road in the woods in which I was strolling. I stood 

 perfectly still, and it soon made its appearance, coming toward me, but 

 still a long way off. It would run a few yards, calling at the same time, 

 stop, listen for a few seconds, holding up its head in a very conceited 

 way, and then start on again, calling. It seemed unconscious of my 

 presence, and came so near to me that I could easily have shot it with 

 the smallest charge, but I did not, as I wished to see if its mate would 

 come. However, she did not. These birds are very fond of lizards, so 

 common to this region. I have seen one jumj) several feet to catch a 



*See Bulletin of Nuttall Orn. Club, ii. n. 1, 26, Jan. 1877. 



