SENNETT ON BIEjOS OF THE RIO GRANDE OF TEXAS, 39 



Centueus aurifrons, (Wagl) Gray. — Yellow-faced Woodpeclcer. 



Abundant everywhere in timber on the Eio Grande, and not very shy. 

 I had ample opportunity to observe this species. It is rather more quiet 

 than its near relative of the Ii^orth. It builds its nest at all heights 

 (sometimes so low a man can reach it from the ground), in any sort of 

 tree, whether dead or alive. The square government telegraph poles are 

 its favoritenesting-place. There is hardly a pole free from their holes, 

 and in one I counted ten ; probably some were made by their only relative 

 of that section, Ficus scalaris, Texas Woodpecker. They build much in 

 live trees, dead timber being very scarce, but in them their holes could 

 not be so readily seen. About May 1st, they had but fairly begun to lay, 

 so that we were not long enough among their favorite resorts to secure 

 many eggs. On May 3d, I secured a set of three fresh eggs, about ten 

 feet from the ground, in an old dead tree, and shot the bird. On the same 

 day, I secured another set of four from a nest only seven feet from the 

 ground, in a hollow stub of a live tree. On May 8th, I was shown a hole 

 about twenty feet from the ground in the crotch of a tree at the camp. 

 In it I was told there were six or seven eggs. I could not take time 

 then to get them, and did not go there again before leaving. The birds 

 had been watched since they had taken possession of the tree, and were 

 fully identified. Eggs are oblong-oval and clear glassy- white. They 

 vary little in size, averaging 1.02 by 0.76. 



64— ^ —10.00 X 17.00 X 5.25 x 3.75. Mar. 24, Brownsville. 



76— ^ —10.00 X 17.00 X 5.25 x 3.25. Mar. 25, Brownsville. 



77— ^ —10.50 X 17.50 x 5.50 x 3.40. Mar. 25, Brownsville. 

 94— <^— 9.75 X 17.50 x 5.50 x 3.50. Mar. 27, Brownsville. 



149—^—10.00x17.50x5.25x3.50. Apr. 3, BrownsviUe. 



216— ^— 9.75 X 17.50 x 5.50 x 3..50. Apr. 17, Hidalgo. 



217— <? —10.25 X 17.50 x 5.25 x 3.25. Apr. 17, Hidalgo. 

 354— $ — 9.50 X 16.25 x 4.90 x 3.15. May 3, Hidalgo. 



STEIGID^. 

 Strix flammea AMERICANA, {Aud.) Coues. — Barn Owl. 



The only opportunity I had of observing these birds in a state of free- 

 dom was while on the steamer going up aud down the river. Their holes in 

 the banks were seen frequently, aud occasionally a bird would be sitting 

 in one of them. At Brownsville I was told that they occupied the bel- 

 fry of the hospital, also the attic of one of the society halls in the city. 

 Two birds were brought alive to me just before leaving for home. No 

 eggs were secured. 



Bubo virginianus, (Gm.) Bp. — Great Horned Owl. 



In the latter part of April, Mr. Webster gave chase to a pair of these 

 birds, but did not succeed in securing them. 



? Scops asio maccalli, {Cass.) Coues. — McCalVs Owl. 

 On April 23d, while on the side of a gully in the edge of a woods, I 



