m'CAULEY on birds of the red river of TEXAS. 667 



1CTER1D.E. 



MOLOTHRUS ATER, (Bodd.) Gray.[*] — CoicMrd. 



A frequent visitor at our camps, especially when they partook of a 

 permanent nature, or remained, as occurred in two cases, at the same 

 place for five days or a week. Daring a day's march ov^er the plain, a 

 good-sized flock, perceiving our wagon-train, flew up to and followed it, 

 keeping in rear of the last wagon, for a distance of eleven miles, when 

 camp was reached. An egg of this species was found in a nest of a 

 Lark Finch {Ghondestes grammaca), obtained at White Fish Creek. 



Agel^us phceniceus, (L.) V. — Bed-tcinged Blackbird. 



This handsome member of the Blackbird family, though not infrequent, 

 was not as common as M. atet\ and, very seusiJDly, it evidently pre- 

 ferred the vicinity of ranches or an Army post to seeking a precarious 

 existence in the wake of a buffalo herd on the Staked Plain. It was 

 seen in largest flocks along the Sweetwater and other beautifully 

 wooded creeks. In December and January last, I found this species 

 wintering at Fort Garland, Colo., whose elevation is over 8,000 feet, and 

 winter climate severe, with frequent cold and piercing winds blowing 

 for days without cessation. Along the Saugre de Cristo Creek, flowing 

 by the post, were flocks numbering hundreds. 



Xanthocbphalus icterocephalus, (Bp.) Bd. — Yellow headed Blach- 

 hird. 



This uninvited visitor to the vicinity of the picket-line, generally in 

 bands of which half were Cowbirds, was only observed at a few places. 

 They seemed, like A. phoeiiiceus, to frequent bat a few wooded creeks. 

 Possessing habits that cause it to frequent the residence or surround- 

 ings of man and bring it under observation, it seems at times strange 

 how long a journey may be made through a region which is part of its 

 habitat without its being observed. While traveling last February over 

 .500 miles with a portion of the Eighth Cavalry through the whole of 

 ]S^ew Mexico, en route from Fort Garland, Colo., to Texas, there was 

 but a single point where this species, popularly called in the regiment 

 the " Ninth Cavalry Birds," was observed or to be seen. In the plaza 

 of the Mexican town of Socorro, N. Mex., hundreds had chosen for their 

 rendezvous some old shade trees on the side of the square, and had 

 frequented them for many years, according to the traditions of the ever- 

 lasting loafers and cigarette smokers that lounged around on every side. 



[* Tbis species is so much better known as M. pecoris (Gm.) Sw., that it seems desira- 

 ble to call special attention to the fact that the change in nomenclature is necessary. 

 I have noted the case in my Checklist (p. 415), and in the B. N. W. (p. 180); but orni- 

 thologists seem slow to recognize its reqnirenients. In as far as my writings have any 

 influence, I am myself to blame for this, for I think I have not hitherto followed Gray 

 in formally recognizing Boddajrt's unquestionable and legitimate priority. — Ed.] 



