62 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



saw them in company with Coots on the river. When gathering Ibis 

 and Heron eggs, I heard constantly the notes of this bird and FuUca 

 americana, and found its nest quite common in the same rushes. Its 

 nest is built of dead rushes, and floats upon the water, moored to the 

 stalks of growing reeds. I took one clutch of fourteen, another of nine, 

 and another of seven, on May 16th, perfectly fresh. In color and mark- 

 ings I see no variation from Florida specimens. They average 1.77 by 

 1.25. 



447— $ —14.00 X 22.25 x 6.75 x 2,75. May 16, Brownsville. 



448— 9 —14.50 X 23.00 x 6.75 x 2.75, May 16, Brownsville. 



FuLiCA AMERICANA, Gm. — American Coot. 



Very abundant on the river between Brownsville and Hidalgo ; and 

 as our steamer came upon them, instead of flying they would generally 

 paddle to the shore, run up the banks, and hide behind clumps of earth 

 or roots. I found it breeding in about equal numbers with Gallinula 

 galeata in the marshes below Brownsville. Sets of thirteen, eleven, 

 and so on down, of fresh eggs were taken. The nests were made of 

 rushes, fastened to the reeds in the densest parts, and floated on the 

 water. The markings of the eggs are no different from Northwestern 

 specimens. They average 1.94 by 1.30. 



ANATID^. 



Anser hyperboreus, Pall. — Snow Goose. 



Ou March 29th, while near the Eio Grande, about half-way between its 

 mouth and Brownsville, I saw large numbers of this species, and shot 

 one. The were feeding on the immense mud-flats of the marshes, and 

 by the time I reached my bird it was covered with mud. I saw none 

 later than this, although on the coast, earlier, it was frequently observed 

 about the lagoons and marshes. 



Dendrocygna autumnalis, (i.) Eyton. — Autumnal Tree Duck. 



This fine Goose-like Duck is not uncommon in suitable places along the 

 Lower Rio Grande. By the inhabitants it is called " Corn-field Duck", 

 from its habit of frequenting corn-fields for the grain, at which times it 

 is a common market bird. At the time of my observations, it was busj' 

 breeding, and the few seen were very shy. In going up the river from 

 Brownsville, April 15th, single birds and groups of two or three were met 

 very frequently ; but coming down, May 12th, they were much more 

 abundant, gathered in flocks of ten or twelve on the sand-bars. At this 

 time, I think the females were busy sitting on their eggs. I shot but 

 one, and it was lost in the river. I did not come across its nest. Since 

 my return, I received a letter from Dr. Finley, stationed at camp near 

 Hidalgo, stating that he obtained a set of their eggs soon after I left, 

 and that they are extremely difficult to find. He gave no further par- 

 ticulars. He also secured a fine bird for me. 



