SENNETT ON BIRDS OF THE EIO GRANDE OF TEXAS, 45 



ground, with no sign of nest. The shape is nearly oval, but sometimes 

 one end is more pointed than the other. The color is light drab, spotted 

 and blotched with dark reddish-brown, rather regularly, but not thickly, 

 over the whole egg. One egg has a complete ring of spots very close to 

 one end. They measure 2.70 by 1.80, 2.65 by 1.90, 2.58 by 1.85, and 2.70 

 by 1.90. 



223— ? —26.00 X 66.00 x 20.50 x 10.25 x 10.25. Apr. 17, Hidalgo. 



Cathartes atratus, {Bartr.) Less. — Black Vulture. 



The most abundant of all the carrion-feeding birds on the Lower Eio 

 Grande. I found it much more numerous in the vicinity of Brownsville 

 than on the coast or farther up the river. Nowhere was it frequenting 

 the towns, as it is said to do in other sections, but preferred the country, 

 and especially the river-banks. Wherever there are slaughter-houses 

 or large herds of cattle, it is sure to be. One of the saddest sights of 

 our slow progress up the river was to see the poor cattle that had strayed 

 away from their drinking- fords and were mired in the quicksand. The 

 only interest taken in their fate was manifested by the ever-ready horde 

 of Vultures who were frolicking near, in anticipation of their approaching 

 feast. Two sets of eggs of two each were found in the vicinity of 

 Hidalgo. Both were laid upon the bare ground in the woods, one set 

 being at the root of a mezquite-tree. Tbey are shaped oblong-oval, but 

 one end more pointed than the other, and their ground-color is white, 

 tinged with green. The markings are brown blotches of all sizes and 

 shades of distinctness, and almost entirely confined to the larger end. 

 Oa the brown are a few black spots. The eggs measure 3 by 2.05, 3.10 

 by 2.10, 3.02 by 1.95, and 2.94 by 1.95. 



COLUMBID^. 



CoLUi-iBA FLAViROSTRis, Wagler.— Bed-billed Pigeon, 



I found this fine large Pigeon common in heavy timber, more especially 

 in the tall scattered clumps near the larger tracts. Its appearance is so 

 marked that it can be recognized at all times from other members of the 

 family. Like all the Pigeons, it is fond of the water. Any morning 

 will find numbers of all the different species going to and coming from 

 the sand-bars in the river, where they are in the habit of drinking and 

 bathing. 



The cooing of this bird is clear, short, and rather high-pitched. It is 

 more secluded in its habits than any of the others, except the one I 

 have lately found new to our fauna, ^chmoptila albifrons. In point of 

 numbers it is much less numerous than the Carolina and the White- 

 winged Doves ; still it is quite extensively shot for market. I found it 

 breeding, and secured several sets of nests and eggs. As the accounts 

 given respecting its breeding habits are very meagre, I will give in 

 detail my observations. 



On April 30th, I found my first nest of this bird in the vicinity of Hi- 



