PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 133 



they were probably laid by different birds. Still another egg, and the 

 last, was laid in the same nest within ten days. But the most remark- 

 able instance was a nest of the small Orchard Oriole found June 20, con- 

 taining three eggs of ceneus, while just beneath it was a whole egg of 

 this parasite, also a broken one of this and of the Dwarf Cowbird. Two 

 of the eggs in the nest were rotten ; the third, strange to say. contained 

 a living embryo. As the nest was certainly deserted. I can only account 

 for this by supposing that the two rotten ones were laid about the first 

 week of June, when there was considerable rain, and that the other 

 was deposited soon after, since which time the weather had been clear 

 and very hot. On one occasion I found a female cvneus hanging with a 

 stout thread around her neck to a nest of the Bullock's Oriole. The nest 

 contained one young one of this Cowbird, and it is probable that its pa- 

 rent, after depositing the egg, was entangled in the thread on hurriedly 

 leaving the nest, and then died ; it had apparently been dead about two 

 weeks. This case supports the view that the eggs or young of the 

 owner are thrown out by the young parasite, and not removed by its 

 parent, though I could find no trace of them beneath this nest. 



" Twenty-two eggs of M. ceneus average .90 by .70, the extremes being 

 .95 by .75 and .82 by .65. The color is a greenish white, unspotted, 

 soon fading to a dull opaque white. There is more than the usual vari- 

 ation in shape. Some are almost perfectly elliptical, others are nearly 

 round ; some are quite pointed at the smaller end, while others still 

 are there abruptly truncate. 



"The young, soon after leaving the nest, have the plumage uniform 

 dull black; cheeks and sides of head bare; iris brown."* 



87. * Agelaeus phceniceus, (Linn.) 



A common resident, breeding abundantly. The nests and eggs are 

 smaller thau the average of those found in more Northern States. — 

 (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 492.— Sennett, B. Bio Grande, 24.) 



88. Xanthocephalus icterocephalus, (Bonap.) 



Rather rare during winter, and I do not think that auy breed, in this 

 immediate vicinity at least. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 192. — Sennett, B. 

 Eio Grande, 21.) 



89. "Sturnella magna, (Linn.) 



Common during winter. — (Sennett. B. "Rio Grande. 21.) 



*In the Ibis of January, 1861, pp. 61, 62, are the following notes by R. Owen 

 on the supposed eggs of this species: — " The eggs are pale greenish white, and measure, 

 axis 1 inch, diam. .75. A few eggs of the 'Tordito', taken from the nests of the 

 'Chorcha' (Icterus) and the 'Cien-Sante Mejicano' (Mimus gracilis). The Indians here 

 all identify these eggs as those of the ' Tordito'. However, personally, I have never 

 surprised the bird on the nest of any other species. At ihe same time I may add that 

 I have never seen it either building or occupied in any other domestic occupation what- 

 ever, which somewhat confirms the statement aforesaid. The eggs are f und most 

 commonly in the nests of the ' Choi cha ' and the 1 Ci^u-Saote liejieano and occasion- 

 ally in that of the largest species of ' Cnatillo' (Pitangus derbianus)." — T. If. B. 



