2 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



the fleas. The wood-ticks we could pick off or dig out, but the abom- 

 iuablc "red-bugs", as they are called, too small to be seen, worked 

 themselves through the clothes and into the skiu, making one almost 

 wild with intense itching. We only obtained partial relief by giving 

 ourselves, from head to foot, before going to bed, a bath of ammonia, 

 and a daily bath of kerosene oil before going into the brush. Under 

 such circumstances it requires courage and enthusiasm to persevere in 

 any pursuit. 



The result of the trip was the securing of some five hundred birds, 

 three of which are new to our fauna and one new to science ; about a 

 thousand eggs, many of which are new or rare ; a few mammals, nearly 

 all of which proved interesting ; a number of alcoholic preparations of 

 birds, mammals, and reptiles; and quite a collection of insects, prin- 

 cipally Lepidoptera. The birds and mammals you have inspected ; the 

 rarer eggs have been exchanged with Dr. T. M. Brewer, Capt. C. Ben- 

 dire, Dr. J. C. Merrill, Mr. E. Dickinson, Mr. Webster, and others. The 

 alcoholic specimens have been sent to Prof. B. G. Wilder, of Cornell 

 University, and the Lepidoptera to Mr. J. A. Lintner, of Albany, N. T. 



In nomenclature and classification of the birds herein treated, I 

 have followed your "Key to North American Birds", subject, however, 

 to your present revision. I have endeavored to avoid repetition of 

 matters already published in other works, although I may have failed 

 in this in some cases, as my facilities for examining the literature of the 

 subject have been limited. 



To the following persons who have extended kindnesses to me, with 

 ready cooperation in my labors during the trip, I present acknowledg- 

 ments : To Mr. Webster, for his industry and valued assistance. To 

 Lieutenant Davis, in charge of Coast Survey at Galveston, for courtesies 

 shown and assistance rendered in getting to and from points about the 

 bay ; and also to Major Lane, in charge of government works at Bolivar 

 Point, for hospitalities freely extended. To Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Halter, 

 of the Coast Survey, at Padre Island, for most opportune hospitality 

 when weather-bound for several days on that desert spot. To Mr. 

 Dean, collector of customs, and Mr. Leo, sheriff of Hidalgo County, 

 both at Hidalgo ; to Dr. Finley, acting assistant surgeon U. S. A., in 

 camp near Hidalgo; and to Mr. Bourbois, at Lomita ranche, a few 

 miles above Hidalgo, for assistance and numerous courtesies. To Dr. 

 J. C. Merrill, U. S. A., post-surgeon at Fort Brown, for his very valuable 

 assistance and hearty cooperation in my work. 



And now. Sir, to you I owe, most of all, my hearty acknowledgments 

 for your kindness in identifying the collection of birds and mammals, 

 and in editing these notes, and for other courtesies rendered. 

 Very truly yours, 



GEO. B. SENNETT. 



Dr. Elliott Coues. U. S. A., 



Secretary United States Geological and GeograpMcal Survey. 



