398 



BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOaiCAL SUEVEY. 



[Yol. V. 



150a 



457 

 498 



Lomita 

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63. ICTEE.IJS ciTCTJLLATUS Sw. — Soodecl OHole. 



Most abundant of all the Orioles on the Lower Eio Grande. At Lomita 

 Eanch, the edges of forests and groves, hung with pendent trasses of 

 Spanish moss, aiford excellent places for nesting. They were continually 

 peering about the thatched roof of our house and the arbors adjoining 

 for insects. They were more familiar than any of the other Orioles about 

 the ranch. 



There is little to add to my former observations. One nest was dis- 

 covered, in a corn-field, made of Spanish moss, which was interwoven 

 with a couple of leaves of two corn-stalks, which it thus bound together; 

 another was found in a truss of Spanish moss, having dried grasses for 

 lining, instead of the usual dead and black hair-like moss. In several 

 nests were horsehair and tufts of goats' wool. April 25, first set of four 

 fresh eggs was taken ; by the middle of May, a majority of the birds 

 were through their first laying ; May 25 many eggs were found hard sat 

 upon. 



The eggs of this species, like those of most Icteridw, vary greatly 

 in their markings. The larger end is never free from markings, and 

 frequently is covered by them, but more commonly displays them in the 

 form of a band ; very rarely is the egg completely covered ; occasionally 

 some are devoid of spots on the middle and smaller end. The pencillings 

 and hieroglyphics peculiar to this family are less frequent in this than in 

 the other species. Usually the markings are brown, but, when profuse, 

 black and lilac shades appear. The ground-color also varies, occasion- 

 ally a blue tinge appearing, though more frequently a buif shade is 

 added to the white. 



Found a greater number of eggs of this species this year than the 

 previous year, and, from a large series of sets before me, would increase 

 the average length a little from the former notes, giving it now as .86 

 by .60. One set of three I found of such extreme lengths, averaging .99, 

 that it is not taken into account in my measurements, since it occurs so 

 seldom. 



Lomit£ 

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