48 MR. GAMBEL ON THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. 



STURNELLA, Vieill 



78. S. NEGLECTA, Aud. Western Meadow Lark. 



This nearly allied species, we found abundant on the prairies, in New Mexico, Rio 

 Colorado, and California. In the spring around the Pueblo de los Angeles its delicate 

 and melodious song was everywhere to be heard. About Monterey, in the winter, it 

 kept in and along the margins of the pine woods. 



ICTERUS, Briss. 



79. I. BULLOCKii, Swains. Bullock's Oriole. 



The males of this beautiful bird arrive at their summer quarters about the Pueblo 

 de los Angeles and Santa Barbara, in California, about the first week in April, and 

 the female in a week or so afterwards. They resort to the retired hedges of vineyards 

 and orchards, and occasionally are seen among the trees in the town. Its song during 

 this joyful season is uttered in a loud clear tone, and sometimes varied, but generally 

 weh te teh tshe-o tshe-o tshe-o, wek te tek isJie-o. This is continued at intervals while 

 flittino- through the budding trees in search of their insect fare. When it observes 

 any object of suspicion, it utters a few guttural creaking scolding notes, and conceals 

 itself among the leafy boughs. 



About the middle of April I saw them commencing to hang their nests in the 

 manner of our golden robin, on the pendulous branches of the willow and other trees 

 surrounding the vineyards, and as far as I remained to see them completed, they 

 were made with the same ingenious interweaving of delicate materials to form a 

 pouch. 



AGELAIUS, Vieill. 



80. A. XA-NTHROCEPHALUS, (Bouap.) Swaius. Yellow-headed Blackbird. 

 Abundant in California. 



81. A. PHCENiCEUS, (Linn.) Vieill. Red-winged Blackbird. 

 Abundant in New Mexico and California. 



82. A. TRICOLOR, (Aud.) Bonap. Three-coloured Blackbird. 



This handsome species, discovered by Mr. Nuttall, and sent to Audubon with the 

 above name, is abundant in California, going in small flocks in company with the 

 other species. Its notes are very different from those of the red-wing, with which it 

 associates, being a kind of guttural squeaking, like that made by a dying animal. 

 The red of the wing cannot be seen when they are closed, looking as if it only had a 

 white band. 



83. A. GUBERNATOR, (Wagler) Bonap. Two-coloured Blackbird. 



This pretty species is abundant, also, in California, and along the western coast 

 of Mexico. It is often found in company with the phoeniceus, which it so much 

 resembles, together keeping about corrals and places where cattle have been. 



