42 THE CONDOR Vol. XX 



Lake, where they nest in large numbers in the reeds and small willows, from early May 

 through July. 



Icterus bullocki. Bullock Oriole. Fairly common, but seemingly restricted to the 

 mesquite portions of the county. At least ninety per cent of the nests located are along 

 the roadside, and one is rarely found in the thicker mesquite. The nests offer a marked 

 contrast to those of the Orchard Oriole, as they are always formed of horse-hair, twine or 

 raw cotton, while the material used by the latter is chiefly dried grasses. Nests in April 

 and May. 



Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. Bronzed Grackle. This species arrives here in great 

 numbers in the early spring, but gradually disappears, leaving only a few to nest in the 

 trees along the various streams. The eggs are laid in May and June. 



Megaquiscalus major macrourus. Great-tailed Grackle. Common in all portions of 

 the county, many of them nesting along streets in the city of San Antonio. In 1916 num- 

 bers of them settled on Mitchell's Lake, where they nested in large colonies in the reeds. 

 They breed from the latter part of May to the middle of July. 



Passer domesticus. English Sparrow. A great pest over the entire county. 



Ammodramus savannarum bimaculatus. Western Grasshopper Sparrow. One 

 nest of this species containing three heavily incubated eggs was located in June, 1913, in 

 a large meadow about eight miles south of San Antonio, which forms our only record. 



Chondestes grammacus strigatus. Western Lark Sparrow. Abundant over the en- 

 tire county, nesting more plentifully in the mesquite and chaparral areas. Nests in May 

 and June. 



Amphispiza bilineata bilineata. Black-throated Sparrow. Fairly common over the 

 entire county, but nesting only where an abundance of prickly pear offers its favorite 

 nesting site. This species is one which suffers heavily from the persecutions of the 

 Dwarf Cowbird. Nests from the latter part of April through June. 



Aimophila ruficeps eremoeca. Rock Sparrow. We have found this species only 

 in the hilly portions, where it nests in bunches of grass growing among the tumbled 

 rocks cf the worn limestone cliffs. Nests are extremely hard to locate and one is sure 

 of plenty of excitement, as our famous Texas rattler delights to sun himself among these 

 same rocks. Nests in the latter part of May and in June. 



Peucaea cassini. Cassin Sparrow. In the latter part of May, 1915, we located a 

 nest containing four fresh eggs, which forms our only record of this species. 



Cardinalis cardinalis canicaudus. Gray-tailed Cardinal. Common along the river 

 bottoms, but by no means plentiful in any section of the county. Nests in May and in 

 June. 



Pyrrhuloxia sinuata texana. Texas Pyrrimloxia. Fairly plentiful in the mesquite 

 area, where it nests in the thickest brush. While the nests are practically the same as 

 those cf the Cardinal, the eggs show a marked difference. Those of the Pyrrhuloxia are 

 smaller and do not have the gloss of the Cardinal eggs. Another peculiar feature is that 

 the eggs of a set are rarely evenly marked, but shade from light to heavy markings, each 

 egg showing a decided individuality. Nests from the latter part of April through June. 



Cyanospiza ciris. Painted Bunting. Fairly common in all portions of the county, 

 nesting from June to the middle of July. 



Spiza americana. Dickcissel. In 1913 we were able to locate but two nests con- 

 taining eggs of this species, while in 1914 the woods and fields were fairly alive with the 

 birds, and their nests were on every hand. In 1915 we found them in only a few locali- 

 ties, and in 1916 they were by no means plentiful in any portion of the county. They 

 nest in May and June. 



Piranga rubra rubra. Summer Tanager. A nest containing three fresh eggs, found 

 on May 14, 1916, forms our only record of this species. 



Progne subis subis. Purple Martin. Common over the entire county, nesting in 

 the many boxes erected for them, in the eaves of buildings in San Antonio, and in aban- 

 doned woodpecker holes in telephone poles along some of the railroad tracks. Nests in 

 May and June. 



Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons. Cliff Swallow. This species is found in small 

 colonies in many portions of the hill area, where the overhanging limestone cliffs offer 

 ideal nesting sites. Nests in May and June. 



Iridoprocne bicolor. Tree Swallow. We have found this species only at Mitchell's 

 Lake, where the birds nest in cavities in the dead trees standing in the shallow water. 



