THE OOLOGIST 



28 



ber the 4tli, and staying out in the 

 country, gave me a good opportunity to 

 study the bird life of that part of the 

 state. Quite a few birds came under 

 my observations, particularly the Scis- 

 sor-tail Flycatcher. 



Speaking about the male bird in gen- 

 eral, range in size from 10^/4 to 15 

 inches in length, and its long tail goes 

 to make up half of the birds length. 

 Which in other words the bird is half 

 body, the other tail. 



Now about the color of these beauti- 

 ful "Texas Bird of Paradise" as they 

 are generally known among the people 

 of Texas. The neck and head is graj, 

 also under the throat, fading to a light 

 ash color on down the breast and about 

 half way back under its belly, and 

 from this point back it is a very rich 

 salmon color, fading to a light salmon 

 on past the under tail coverts and back 

 under the main tail feathers for about 

 half way, then from this point to the 

 end of the tail it is a rich black. The 

 sides are also a rich salmon. The 

 wings, rump and upper tail coverts are 

 black with the Secondaries and Ter- 

 tials edged with whitish brown. 



The most striking feature to me out- 

 side of its long scissor shapped tail is, 

 the bright vermilion patches that 

 adorns the bird's shoulders and shows 

 up conspicously. There is also another 

 vermilion patch which is concealed in 

 the crown, but does not show up as 

 much as those on the shoulders. 



The Scissor Tail is quite a tame bird, 

 or it seems that way to me compared 

 with other birds. As for instance 1 

 saw a few of these birds on different 

 occasions sitting on the low telephone 

 wires in the up-town district over the 

 main thoroughfare singing and keeping 

 a close watchout for insects, and was 

 unconcerned as to the noise that was 

 going on down in the street, being 

 made by the street cars, Interurban 

 cars, automobiles and wagons. 



One thing especially I noticed about 

 these birds I couldn't figure out was, 

 that early in the morning great flocks 

 would be seen flying very high in a 

 south-westernly direction high over 

 the city. They would be so high in the 

 air that they seemed to be mere specks 

 up in the clouds. It would take theiu 

 about thirty minutes to pass a given 

 place. When first observed in the 

 morning making this flight it would 

 be about six thirty, then as the last 

 ones passed it would be about seven 

 o'clock. But before the last ones w^ere 

 out of sight, the first part of the (same 

 flock?) would be returning, flying in 

 the same direction they came from or 

 in other words they flew south west, 

 turned around and came back, flying to 

 the north east. This time on their re- 

 turn trip, they would be flying 

 very low down, just over the tree 

 tops, some would light on the telephone 

 wires, some dropped down in the tree 

 tops, while others would fly around in 

 the air in the act of catching insects, 

 which comprises their daily bill of fare, 

 and at the same time quarrelling and 

 fussing at each other, in the same 

 manner as do the King birds. 



The note of the Scissor Tail is simi- 

 lar to that of a Robin, which is a 

 chirping sound. 



They fly slowly and in a direct line, 

 that is when they are flying from one 

 place to another. But when they are 

 in search of food, they fly zig zag, 

 around in a circle, dart down towards 

 the ground or fly straight up. They 

 may be seen flying along like a Blue 

 Jay flies, then suddenly he will check 

 his speed, his tail will open up like a 

 pair of scissors in operation, which 

 means that one more unfortunate in- 

 sect has gone to the far beyond. 



Earl E. Moffat. 

 Marshall, Texas. 



