SENNETT ON BIRDS OF THE EIO GRANDE OF TEXAS. 43 



tained several of this species. They are sluggish carrion-feediog birds, 

 but withal pretty shy. At a distance, they look black, and are easily 

 recognized from any others of the family. They build in various places, 

 from an eight-foot Spanish bayonet, or small tree, to a crotch forty feet 

 high. The nests are composed of sticks and leaves, and are quite bulky. . 

 I was with Dr. Merrill when he examined two nests. One was on a 

 Spanish bayonet, some eight or nine feet high, and the other in a tree 

 about fifteen feet above the ground. At Hidalgo, I secured two sets of 

 two eggs each. One set was taken April 29th from a nest ten feet from 

 the ground in a mezquite-tree, surrounded by small trees. One egg 

 contained a peeping chick, and the other was addled. The other set 

 was taken May 1st by Mr. Barton from a tall ebony-tree. The eggs were 

 fresh. The shape of the egg is nearly double-rounded, but slightly 

 tending to point at one end. The color is pure dead white. The sizes 

 are as follows :— 2.10 by 1.70, 2.05 by 1.70, 2.10 by 1.70, and 2.08 by 1.69, 

 averaging 2.08 by 1.70. 



1.03— ^—20.00 X 41.00 X 12.25 X 8.75. Mar. 27, Brownsville. 



1.55—^—22.00x48.00x15.00x10.00. Apr. 3, Brownsville. 



1.56— ?— 20.00 x 46.00 x 14.00 x 9.00. Apr. 3, Brownsville. 



3.65— ?— 22.50 X 47.00 X 14.50 X 9.50. May 4, Hidalgo. 



3.90— ^—20.00 X 44.00 X 13.00 X 8.75. May 7, Hidalgo. 



BuTEO PENNSYLVANicus, ( Wils.) Bp. — Broad-winged Buzzard. 



The single one was shot on MSy 7th in a dense woods. It was mistaken 

 for an Owl, when, at my approach, it flew from one tree to another, and 

 I was quite surprised when I picked it up. 



3.88— $ —15.50 X 36.00 x 11.25 x 6.50. May 7, Hidalgo. 



Archibuteo ferrtjgineus, (Licht) Or. — Ferrugineous' Buzzard. 



On May 16th I found an immense nest on the top of a large Spanish 

 bayonet, and some twelve feet from the ground. There was no bird near, 

 and I knew not whether it was occupied or not. By cutting off the 

 needle-points of the leaves, my Mexican guide, with considerable help, 

 was able to scale it, and, to my surprise, brought down two large eggs.. 

 While I was trying to identify them, on came the owners, a pair of this 

 species, circling and screaming above our heads, but not near enough 

 for a sure shot. Caught in the act as we were, with nothing for cover 

 better than a Spanish bayonet or a low cactus, and being in the very 

 home of six-foot rattlesnakes, I saw no practicable way of securing the 

 birds. Later on the same day we came upon another nest, and a pair 

 of the same species. This time they were within easy range as they 

 flew over our heads ; but our wagon was covered, and before we could 

 get out of the awkward thing to shoot they were out of range. This 

 nest was empty, but had the appearance of being new ; was very bulky, 

 similar to the former one, and, like it, situated on a Spanish bayonet, 

 about eight feet from the ground. Dr. Merrill was with me. We both 

 had a fine view of the birds, and their identification was complete. The 



