66S 



BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



Two months later, oa my return, the birds were there in immense num- 

 bers, as before. Nowhere else up the whole Rio Grande were they visi- 

 ble. A single nest of this species was found in the caiion of the Red 

 River, where the stream, sometimes but a few feet wide, occasionally 

 widens into good-sized marshy pools — the resort of ducks and other 

 water-fowl. A few yards out from the edge, on a clump of thick, rank 

 grass that rose five feet out of water, entwining about them to have 

 them form a firm support, the birds had built their home. Without any 

 mud plaster to hold the strands compactly, they had nicely woven 

 together pieces of coarse, thick grass, and other material of a like nature, 

 in abundance near by. 



Sturnella magna neglecta, (And.) All. — Western Field LarJc. 



This variety of Sturnella was very abundant, except upon the sterile 

 plain itself. Descending thence, however, to the caiion bottoms, or to 

 some wooded stream, the songster is again heard greeting the marching 

 column daily for several hours after the dawn has broken. This region 

 is a part of its habitat, extending west through New Mexico, where I 

 constantly saw it, during the past spring, in February, along the Rio 

 Grande, below Albuquerque, and in April throughout the entire Terri- 

 tory. Whilst frequenting wooded sections, 1 have never observed one 

 alight upon a tree or object higher than a sunflower-stalk or low bush 

 from which to sing. In New Mexico, they prefer the low adobe wall 

 surrounding every house, or a grape-vine in the vineyards, and perch 

 there to send forth those peculiarly exuberant songs, which are for the 

 benefit of early risers alone, and with which, we may readily believe, 

 the natives are unacquainted. 



The nests were built of sage and thick grass, with fine grasses within. 

 The exterior diameter above is 5^ inches, interior diameter 3i inches, 

 and depth 3i inches. The eggs average 1.07 by 0.80 inches, one speci- 

 men being 1.00 by 0.80 inches. The ground-color is creamy-white, with 

 markings of a faint and dark or reddish-brown, largest upon the great 

 end. 



lOTERUS SPURius, (L.) Bp. — Orchard Oriole. 



This beautiful and lovely songster was found frequenting most of the 

 heavily wooded creeks, as Mulberry, McClellan, etc., in Texas, and Wolf 

 Creek above in the Indian Territory. Along the Dry Washita and 

 Canadian, many were also seen and heard. 



