﻿130 FIELD AND FOREST. 



common everywhere from Heme to Galveston. I saw one flock near 

 Hempstead that must have. contained near five-hundred birds. They 

 also appeared in considerable numbers near Galveston. In the same 

 enclosure with the crane, was a young Cygnus buccinnator, and speci- 

 mens of Branta canadensis and hutchinsi ; did not have an opportu- 

 nity to inquire minutely the difference in the habits of these two species 

 during confinement, but I am entirely convinced that they are distinct. 

 I venture the theory that when ornithologists have studied them more 

 critcally in the field, something of the same difference that is so appre- 

 ciable in the notes and flight of Sturnella magna and S. neglecta, will 

 be found to exist here. Also that hutchinsi has a more northern range 

 than canadensis. I am willing to admit that in a large series of spec- 

 imens they grade into each other, as regards size, but never yet have I 

 seen a lot where the hutchinsi did not retain their fourteen or sixteen 

 instead of eighteen tail' feathers and "butter ball" like bill, even 

 though the size might approach that of a small canadensis. 



A few Lophodytes cuceulatus and Fulix affinis were seen in Arkansas 

 near Fort Gibson, Indian Territory. In Waller County, Texas, the 

 ducks coming under my observation, were, Aix sponsa and Anas bos- 

 chas, — common. A few specimens of Dafila acuta, Mareca ameri- 

 cana, Botaurus minor and Ardea virescens, Clear Creek, Waller 

 County. Ardea herodias common along the railroad in Harris and 

 Brazoria Counties. Ardea egretta and candidissima in Galveston Bay. 

 In my note book the following species are enumerated from the vi- 

 cinity of Clear and Pond Creeks and Piney Island Branch (tributary 

 Brazos near Hempstead.) Most of the species were procured, many 

 in such a tattered coudition, however, that any attempt to restore 

 them to a presentable skin by the art of taxidermy was impossible. 

 Molothrus pecoris, associated with Scolocophagns ferrogenius in loose 

 straggling flocks. Agelceus phamiceus in abundance. A few speci- 

 mens of Icterus baltimore. Cardinalis virginianus in the low thickets 

 along streams, very common and in company with Pipilo erythroph- 

 thalmus, Zonotrichia albicollis and leucophrys, Melospiza melodia, 

 Hurporhynchus rufus, Galeoscoptes carolinensis, and an occasional 

 Tardus pallasi. Saw but few Turdus migratorius or Cyanurus cris- 

 tatus. An occasional Sialia sialis and a superabundance of Mimus 

 polyglottus, Sayornis fuse-is and Contopus rirens. Troglodytes aedon 

 and Thyothorus bewicki (too specimens preserved) " the opposite ex- 



