m. 3.] 



SENNETT ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TEXAS. 



64. Icterus aitduboni Giraud. — Auduhoii's Oriole. 



Found this less abimdant than any other species of Oriole at Lomita, 

 but in the denser timber a few always to be seen. It is exceedin.uly 

 shy, and rcanains in the seclusion of the forest during- the breedin-^ 

 season. In my former notes I gave the proportions in which I found the 

 different species of Orioles represented at Hidalgo. At Lomita, though 

 distant from Hidalgo but a few miles, the proportions were somewhat 

 different, being as follows : twenty cucuUatus (Hooded), to twelve nfniis 

 (Texan Orchard), to five hullocki (Bullock's), to three auduboni (xS.udu- 

 bon's). 



This year I was fortunate in obtaining, within our limits, nests and 

 eggs of this large Oriole. Two incomplete sets were found early in May, 

 which enable me to identify a complete set of four obtained last year. 

 The latter set was taken at Hidalgo, Texas ; the two former, at Lomita. 

 The three nests were found in heavy timber, some ten or twelve feet 

 from the ground, are half-pensile, something like those of the Orchard 

 and Bullock's Orioles, and attached to upright terminal branches. They 

 are comijosed of dried grasses woven among the growing twig& and 

 leaves, so as to form a matting light and firm. They measure on the 

 inside some three inches in depth and rather more in width. 



The eggs are peculiar, resembling those of no other species found in 

 that region. The ground-color is white, covered with fine flecks of 

 brown, giving the egg the api)earance of being covered with dust. 

 Over these flecks, and principally at the larger end, are irregular stains 

 and splashes of deeper brown, sometimes mixed with lilac, on which are 

 coarse dark brown or black hieroglyphics. Some have more and larger 

 splashes than others, but none are free from the dark, grotesque lines 

 peculiar to the family. In shape they are less pointed, and in size 

 smaller in proportion to size of bird, than those of other Orioles. The 

 shells are very tender. The nine eggs before me average in size .97 by 

 .71, the largest being 1.00 by .72, and the smallest .96 by .67. 



Lomita. 

 ....do .. 

 ....do .. 

 ....do .. 

 ....do .. 

 ....do .. 

 ....do .. 



April 11 

 April 11 

 May 7 

 :\InV 7 

 May 9 

 May 11 

 May 13 



9.75 

 9. 75 



9.75 

 9.75 

 10. EO 

 9.£0 

 9.50 



12.75 

 12. 75 

 13. 00 

 13. 00 

 12. 75 



12. 50 



13. 00 



4.00 

 4.12 

 4. 05 

 4.18 

 4.00 

 4.00 

 4.12 



4.00 

 4.12 

 4.12 

 4.00 

 4.37 

 3. 90 

 4.12 



65. ScoLECOPHAGLTS cyanocephallts (Wagl.) Cab. — Breicer^s Black- 

 bird. 

 Common at Lomita during April, but not noticed late in May. I 

 found no evidence of its breeding there. 



283 i Lomita May 1 



Will"- 5. 20. Tail 4. 20. 



