42 THE ORNITHOLOGISTS’ AND OOLoGiIsts SEMI-ANNUAL. 
thickest near the large end ; but seldom inclined to form a wreath. I 
have taken sets in which there was one pure white egg. The eggs 
measure .65x.58 to .70x56. 
THE BIRDS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS, 
PAPER No. 1. 
BY JAS. H. RACHFORD, BEAUMONT, TEXAS. 
Every year hundreds of people go to Florida to collect birds and 
birds’ eggs, while Texas, with its birds, is as yet almost unmolested. 
Vet a wider and more diversified field nowhere in the United States 
presents itself to the collector than here in Texas. As yet we know 
little of the birds in this State. Every year some new bird is found 
here which is represented in scientific books as being only the inhab- 
itant of Florida or some other particular locality ; as for example, the 
Florida Barred Owl and Florida Crow are said to be strictly local 
species of Florida, yet they both are abundant, and the most common 
birds of their kind in South-east Texas. Thinking that perhaps a 
detailed description of the birds here will be instrumental in causing 
some one to become interested in the study of our birds, the writer 
will try to describe some of them, and tell something of their habits, 
and the times when they may be found among us. 
During the months of February and March, thousands of little 
winged journeymen stop.to rest among us, and wait for the bright, - 
sunshiny days of spring to chase away the cold of winter before they 
venture further north, where they make their summer home. ‘These 
are known as the American Robin, and can be known as having their 
upper parts of slate color, with a shade of olive ; a black head ; eye- 
lids and spot over the eye white ; eyes dark brown; bill yellow, often 
with a dusky tip ; the throat streaked with white, and the under parts 
chestnut. This bird usually goes to the Northern States to nest, 
building its nest, which is composed largely of mud, upon the hori- 
zontal bough of a tree, depositing from four to six eggs; size, about 
1.18x.80 inches, of a uniform greenish-blue color. 
The next bird, which shall claim our attention, is the Mockingbird, 
