8 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



to every "norther", until they fall to pieces from decay. The only 

 locality in which we found their nests was open chaparral, on that high 

 ground where the cactus and a thorny, leafless bush, the junco, abound, 

 and where are scattered at intervals clumps of trees of respectable 

 growth, among which is the dark green ebony. The birds, though oc- 

 casionally seen, are by no means abundant. The shape of the single 

 egg secured is pointed at one end, rounded at the other , the greatest 

 diameter being nearer one end. It is pale blue, speckled very thickly 

 at the large end with reddish-brown, but sparsely elsewhere. It measures 

 0.63 by 0.44 of an inch. 



376— ^ —4.12 X 6.75 x 1.56 x 1.75. May 6, Hidalgo. 

 415— (? —4.62 X 6.75 x 2.05 x 2.00. May 10, Hidalgo. 



TEOGLODYTIDiE. 



Thryothorus LUDOViciANUS BERLANDiERi,* {GoucJi) Gs. — Berlandier^s 

 Wren. 



Common on the Lower Rio Grande, frequentinguninhabited places 

 near woodland, more especially the dead trees bordering the timber and 

 lagoons. I found, however, one brood of young, just off the nest, in the 

 dense woods near a bridle-path. I did not secure many specimens, for 

 the reason that, at the time, I supposed them all ludovicianus. Had 

 I suspected that they would prove to be herlandleri, I should have 

 taken a larger number. Many were shot, but, as they showed no varia- 

 tion from those retained, and as I had many recognized rare birds to 

 take care of, they were not preserved. My experience with the Wrens 

 about Hidalgo is, that hewicki and this variety are the ones found 

 breeding commonly. This bird breeds near the ground, seldom higher 

 than five feet, in hollow trees, stubs, and even dead limbs lying on the 

 gromnd. By the first of May, the young were about with the parents ; 

 at the same time perfectly fresh eggs were taken. Three sets of fresh 

 eggs were secured, all from the same locality, where there seemed to be 

 quite a colony of these birds breeding, many having families of young. 

 Two of the sets were alike in color and markings. Of these, one (a set 

 of five) was taken May 1st from an opening four feet from the ground, in 

 a hollow tree, and given, less one egg. Which was broken, to Dr. Merrill; 

 the other (a set of four) was taken May 7th from a rotten tree lying on 

 the ground, the nest being only two feet from the ground; this was 

 given to Dr. Brewer. Dr. Brewer writes me in regard to his set, that 

 '• they differ from my four sets of ludovicianus in being smaller, in hav- 

 ing ground-color clear white instead of pink, the spots larger and less 



* [The specimens are rather puzzling, being intermediate between ludovicianus proper 

 and the full development of berlandieri. Some of them, however, exhibit unmistakably 

 he dark-barred flanks, longer bill, and other characters dwelt on by Baird in his diag- 

 nosis of herlandieri, to which form it may be proper to refer the whole lot, especially 

 as Mr. Sennett's field observations do not indicate any differences among the larger 

 Wrens of this locality. — E. C] 



