408 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. ITol. Y. 



great beauty; and as it honors the Lower Eio Grande with its first 

 appearance, I have chosen to give it the above name, in preference to 

 the misnomer " Bull-headed." 



On April 23 a male and female of this species were shot at Lake 

 San Jose, a few miles from Lomita. Both were shot about four feet up on 

 the trunks of small retama-trees standing in the water, and were cling- 

 ing to them and working their way down to the water, possibly to drink. 

 They were not particularly shy. On May 3 another female was shot in 

 trees bordering the lake, yet not over the water. One or two more 

 were observed in timber about water-holes. In flight this Flycatcher 

 resembles the Kingfisher. Dissection indicated the approach of the 

 breeding season, and it undoubtedly nests in the large trees of the 

 locality. The only account of the habits of this bird of which I am 

 aware is Col. Grayson's notes, which I quote in fall from Mr. Law- 

 rence's " Memoirs of the Birds of Western and Korth- western Mexico " 

 (page 286). 



'' This is a common and abundant species, inhabiting the western and 

 northwestern parts of Mexico. I found it equally as common in 

 Tehuantepec, as in the region of Mazatlan, where its loud shrill notes 

 of hip-se dee, hip-se-dee, may be heard at all seasons of the year, but 

 more particularly during the breeding season, when it is excessively 

 garrulous. It is more frequently met with in the neighborhood of 

 fresh- water streams and lagoons, and I have often observed them dart 

 into the water after water-insects and minnows that were swimming 

 near the surface, not unlike the Kingfisher ; but they usually pursue 

 and capture on the wing the larger kinds of Coleoptera and Neuroptera, 

 swallowing its prey entire after first beating it a few times against its 

 perch. They are usually in pairs, but I have also seen as many as 

 twenty about a stagnant jiool, watching its turbid waters for insects and 

 small fish, for which they seem to have a great partiality." 



" The nest of this species is very large, and its construction differs 

 from all the Tyrannidte of which I have any knoAvledge, except M. iex- 

 ensis. It is dome-shaped or covered, with the entrance on the side, 

 whilst the other species build a nest saucer- shaped. The nest of the 

 Bull-headed Flycatcher is usually placed in the forks of the branches of 

 very thorny trees, twenty-five or thirty feet from the ground; it is com- 

 posed of very coarse material of either straw or lichens, sometimes of 

 both ; the lining, however, is of firmer and more elastic fibres. Other 

 birds sometimes make their nests in the same or nearest tree; such as 

 M. texensiSj C. melanicterus, and I. pustulatus.''^ 



" The eggs of this Flycatcher are usually five in number ; they are of 

 moderate size, rather lengthened, of a light cream color, with a small 

 reddish speck ; the shell is delicate and easily broken." 



176 ! ? 

 177. i <? 



295 i $ 



Lomita ? April 23 



,...do I April 23 



„..do I May 3 



