660 



BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



they showed but little sigas of uneasiness, and allowed one to approach 

 and pass unnoticed. Que day, during a halt, the column happened to 

 stop within a few yards of a bird upon her eggs, who, after flying to and 

 fro in great solicitude, soon boldly approached, and resumed her place 

 upon her nest with full confidence. The escort was directed to change 

 its course to prevent riding over her, she meanwhile remaining as quiet 

 as if she knew we were friends. 



"With the whole surface of the plain unbroken in its clothing of short 

 grass, and little to vary its monotonous vegetation save the Prickly- 

 pear Cactus {Opuntia missouriensis) and Spanish Bayonet or "Soap- 

 weed" {Yucca angustifoUa), the bird was limited in its nestiug mate- 

 rials to the slender gramma-grass alone, of which its nest was built, 

 concealed in a clump of unusual growth, the largest to be found, or 

 beneath the shelter of a " Soap- weed/'. The usual number of eggs 

 was five. 



SYLVICOLID^. 



Peotonotaria cite.^a, (Bodd.) Bd. — Prothonotary Warbler. 



Frequenting Wolf Creek and the Canadian. 

 Helmitherus VBEMIVOEUS, (Gm.) Bp. — Wormeating Warbler. 



Occasionally noted near the crossing of the Canadian. 

 Dendrceca estiva, (Gm.) Bd. — Golden or Summer Warbler. 



This bright, active songster was very common among the groves 

 occurring near the upper part of Eed Eiver and heads of its tributaries, 

 darting through the shrubbery, uttering its cheerful notes without cessa- 

 tion. The birds were nestiug, and exhibited little or no shyness. 



