SENNETT ON BIEDS OF THE EIO GRANDE OF TEXAS. 13 



Dendrceca coronata, (L.) Gr. — Yellow-rumped Warbler. 



On tbe northern end of Padre Island, in the middle of March, I saw 

 more of the migration of our northern birds than during the remainder 

 of my stay in Texas, although 1 was on the island but three or four days. 

 All of the resijectable growth of vegetation upon the island consisted 

 of a few bushes and small trees, in which was located the camp of the 

 Coast Survey. Conspicuous among the birds seen at this time was the 

 Yellowrumped Warbler. I saw a few also about Brownsville up to about 

 April 15. I am told that some remain all summer on the southern bor- 

 der, but I saw no signs of it. 

 Dendrceca dominica albilora, {L.)Bidgw. — Yellow-throated Warbler. 



This specimen has the entire superciliary line white.* The only one 

 seen ; shot in the open chaparral among mezquite and cactus. 



84— S —5.37 X 8.50 x 2r5 x 2.00 Mar. 26, Brownsville. 

 SiURUS MOTACiLLA,t ( F.) Bp. — Large-billed Water Thrush. 



Shot near Brownsville in a mezquite grove on the border of a lagoon, 

 some fifty feet from the water's edge. It was seen flitting through the 

 branches near the ground, and never at rest. This is the only one 

 recognized, and, as I was often in favorable places for them, I cannot 

 think them abundant. 



119— 5 —6.00 X 10.00 X 3.00 x 2.00. Mar. 31, Brownsville. 

 IcTERiA viRENS, (L.) Bd. — Yellow-breasted Chat. 



This bird is quite common in suitable places, although, as everywhere 

 else, more frequently heard than seen. Its first choice is a thick brush- 

 fence. At Brownsville, we were quite surprised to have a bird-woman 

 offer us a pair in a cage, and I bargained with her to keep them for us 

 until our return from up the river, but we never heard from them again. 



At Hidalgo, nearly every night, when through our work, we went to 

 the river to bathe, and never did we fail to hear the sweet melody of the 

 Chats, in a thicket and brush-fence across the river. No matter at what 

 time we might wake on a still night we could hear "our Chats", as we 

 familiarly called them. I think them by far the finest singers of all our 

 birds. I did not come upon their nests. I am indebted to Dr. Merrill 

 for a set of four eggs and nest, taken near Brownsville while I was up 

 the river. The nest is composed of weeds and a few leaves laid around 

 in layers, and lined with a few rootlets. Outside, it is 4^ inches in 

 diameter by 2^ deep ; inside, 2^ diameter by 2 inches deep. The eggs 

 are white, speckled thickly at the larger end and sparsely at the smaller 

 with reddish-brown. Largest egg of the four, 0.92 by 0.71 j smallest, 

 0.85 by 0.69 ; average size, 0.89 by 0.70. 



182— <?— 7.12 X 9.75x3.13x3.12. Apr. 8, Brownsville. 



280— ^ —8.00 X 10.25 x 3.13 x 3.50. Apr. 26, Hidalgo _^__ 



* [Typically representing Mr. Eidgway's subspecies, which seems to prevail, if it be not 

 the only form, in the Mississippi Basin and Texas. — E. C] 



t [See my " Corrections of Nomenclature in the Genus SUirus ". <^Ball. Nuttall Club, 

 il. 1877,33.— E. C] 



