PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 129 



79. Cyanospiza ciris, (Linn.) 



A Dot uncommon summer visitor. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 491. — Sen- 

 nett, B. Eio Grande, 20.) 



80. * Spermophila moreleti, (Puch.) 



This curious little Sparrow is uot uncommon during the summer 

 months, and I am inclined to think that a few may pass the winter. 

 During the breeding season the male has a very sprightly song, much 

 resembling that of the Indigo-bird, but sweeter ; this it frequently 

 utters while perched on the topmost twig of a bush. They are usually 

 seen in patches of briers and low bushes, at no great distance from 

 water ; they are very tame, and will permit a person to approach very 

 closely. At least two pairs built within Fort Brown during the season 

 of 1877. One of these nests, found nearly finished early in May, was 

 in a bush about three feet from the ground : it was not pensile, but was 

 placed on a small branch between three or four upright twigs, and was 

 entirely composed of a peculiar yellow rootlet: it was destroyed by a 

 violent storm before eggs were deposited. A second nest, found May 

 25, in a young ebony -bush, four feet from the ground, was deserted im- 

 mediately after completion. It is a delicate little nest, supported at the 

 rim and beneath by twigs, and built of a very fine, dried grass, with 

 which a few horse-hairs, a leaf or two, and a small rag are interwoven: 

 it is 1.70 wide by 1.50 in depth. Both these nests are open and trans- 

 parent. It is worthy of remark that none of the males seen or killed 

 here were in the typical adult plumage, but in that described by Mr. 

 Lawrence as S. albogularisi. 



The stomachs of the specimeus killed were filled with small seeds. 



A third nest, found May 5, 1878, was attached to a hanging rim about 

 four feet from the ground. The nest was partly pensile, and was built 

 of delicate rootlets. It contained three young. 



81. Pyrrhuloxia sinuata, Bon. 



Of this species I cannot say much. At times abundant, particularly 

 in the spring, it often escaped observation for months; and though it 

 probably breeds here, I was unable to find any nests. The birds are 

 usually seen in thickets and about brush-fences, and females are more 

 frequently seen than males. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 491. — Sennett, B. 

 Eio Grande, 21.) 



82. *Cardinalis virginianus, (Briss.) 



A common resident. Some summer specimens approach var. coccineas 

 in the almost entire absence of grayish borders to the feathers of the 

 back and rump. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 491. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 

 21.) 



83. Eremophila alpestris var. chrysolaema, (Wagl.) 



Common during the winter months. I am confident that this species 

 breeds rather plentifully on a prairie within ten miles of Fort Brown. 

 Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 9 Sept. 30, 1878. 



