268 HEERMANN'S NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. 



Agelaius xanthocephalus, Bonap. Abundant; breeding during the summer 

 season on the marshes that border the Sacramento river. I saw this species at 

 Mazatlan, Mexico, in large numbers, and also on the Platte river, Missouri territory. 

 The nest is attached to the upright stalks of the reeds, and formed of coarse marsh 

 grasses, vi^hich are wove round them, forming a very compact mass. The eggs, four 

 in number, are pale ashy green, thickly covered and minutely dotted with points and 

 spots of light reddish umber brown. 



Agelaius tricolor, Aud. This species collects in flocks of thousands in the fall 

 season, and is shot in large numbers for the market. I once found one of their 

 breeding places in the northern part of California, near Shasta city. They had 

 chosen a space of several acres, covered with thickets of alder and willow bushes, in 

 the immediate vicinity of a stream of water. The nests were placed so closely to 

 each other that I could often, without advancing, put my hand in six or eight nests. 

 They were built of mud and straw, and lined with fine grasses. The eggs, four in 

 number, were of a light-bluish cast, marked with spots and lines of dark umber, and 

 a few light purple dashes. When I discovered this breeding place the young were 

 nearly all hatched, and nightly the wolves and foxes came to devour those which had 

 fallen from their nests during the day. I camped alone one night, in the vicinity of 

 this place, hoping to obtain some of these depredators, but, although they would not 

 permit me to sleep, on account of their bowlings, they were cunning enough to keep 

 out of my sight. 



Agelaius GUBERNATOR, Wagler. Abundant; and in the fall season is found in 

 company with the two preceding species. It builds its nest in the willow bushes 

 and tussocks of grass, and only a few pair together ; whereas the preceding species 

 prefers dry land in the vicinity of water, and congregates by hundreds for the pur- 

 poses of incubation. The nest is composed of mud and roots, and lined with fine 

 marsh grasses. The eggs, four in number, are pale blue, dashed with spots and 

 lines of black. 



Xanthornis Bullockii, (Swains.) Common, and migratory. This bird breeds, 

 in large numbers, in tlie vicinity of Sacramento city, and builds a nest, pendant like 

 that of our Yphantes Baltimore, and composed of some of the same materials ; but in 

 some parts of the country, away from civilization, not being able to obtain strings, 

 tow, rags, etc., it builds its nest, for the greater part, of flexible grasses, as does our 

 Xanthornis spurins, thereby showing how much circumstances may influence and 

 regulate the materials of which birds compose their nests. The eggs, four to six in 

 number, are ashy white, veined at the larger end with numerous lines of black, and 

 of reddish umber. 



QuiscALus MEXic.\NUS, Svvaius. Q. Brewerii. Aud., is abundant, and in the fall 

 season is scattered throughout the country, in small flocks of ten to twenty indi- 

 viduals. Some few pairs breed in the stunted oaks which are found on the sand 

 hills near San Francisco, but I could not discover their nests. 



