m. 3.] 



SENNETT ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TEXAS. 



383 



10. Thryothorus ludovicianus berlandieei (Couch) Cones.— Ber- 

 landier^s Wren. 



There is little to be said about this variety, for in every respect its habits 

 are similar to those of the Carolina Wren. I paid considerable attention 

 to this species on this trip, owing to the forms obtained the year before 

 being so faintly marked and therefore puzzUng. The result is, a large 

 series of well-marked specimens, and a confirmation of my former state- 

 ment that herlandieri is the only form of this species resident on the Eio 

 Grande. 



The eggs of this Wren vary in color and marking from those of the 

 Great Carolina Wren to Bewick's Wren, but in size come nearer to the 

 former. Those obtained on this trip average .73 by .57. 



Lomita 

 ....do . 

 ....do . 

 ....do . 

 ....do . 

 ....do . 

 ....do . 

 ....do . 



do . 



....do . 

 ....do . 



11. Thryothoeus BEWiCKi LEUCOGASTER Baird. — White-helUed Wren. 



I wish to reverse the opinion given in my former notes* in regard to 

 this bird, and would call this variety the only form resident on the 

 Lower Eio Grande. I did not take a true hetcicM during the trip. I saw 

 no difference, in habits, between the White-bellied Wren and its East- 

 ern relative. 



A fine set of four fresh eggs was taken April 18 in a brush fence at 

 Lomita Eanch. The nest was quite simple, being but a handful of hair, 

 leaves, feathers, cotton, and fine bark matted together. This bird builds 

 its nest in a great variety of places, and is much more domestic in its 

 habits than herlandieri. A pair of them built their nest between the 

 ridge-pole and thatching of the roof of a corn-crib which we occupied in 

 preparing our specimens, and almost over our heads. They Avere so 

 tame as to hop about among the cotton, tow, papers, «S:c., on our benches, 

 within a few feet of us, and to take whatever pleased them. The nest 

 had an outside bulky structure, made up of twigs, corn-husks, &c., and 

 was lined with a matting like the one described. Unfortunately, just as 

 it was completed, the female was shot by a Mexican. The accident gave 

 us much regret, since we enjoyed their companionship and the privilege 

 of so close observation. The eggs have a ground-color of white, c overed 



* Bull. Geol. and Geogi-. Siu-vey of the Territories, vol. iv, No. 1, p. 9. 



[Eespectiiig the use of the name leucogaster by Gould for a species of Uropsila Scl. 

 & Salv., and its subsequent employ by Balrd for a variety of Thryothonm bcwklci, 

 see Birds Col. Vail., 1878, p. 170.— E. C] 



