PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 135 



which I do not know) growing to a height of about six feet, a nearly 

 bare stem throwing out two or three irregular masses of leaves at the 

 top; these bunches of dark green leaves conceal the nest admirably j 

 it is constructed of filaments of the hair-like moss just referred to, with 

 a little Spanish moss, wool, or a few feathers for the lining ; they are 

 rather wide and shallow for Orioles 7 nests, and, though strong, they ap- 

 pear thin and delicate. A few pairs build in Spanish bayonets ( Yucca) 

 growing on sand ridges in the salt prairies ; here the nests are built 

 chiefly of the dry, tough fibres of the plant, with a little wool or thistle- 

 down as lining ; they are placed among the dead and depressed leaves, 

 two or three of which are used as supports. A large series of eggs 

 now before me are quite characteristic, and can readily be distinguished 

 from eggs of our other Orioles by the absence of irregular blotches and 

 pen-marks and by the white or very slightly bluish ground-color. The 

 markings are chiefly at the larger end in an irregular ring of spots of 

 varying shades of brown and lilac. Some sets are precisely like large 

 Vireos' eggs. The average size is .82 by .59, with comparatively little 

 variation. — (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 25.) 



93. * Icterus bullocki, Swains. 



Common summer visitant. The breeding habits of this bird are 

 quite unlike those of the Hooded Oriole. Instead of concealing its nest 

 admirably in bunches of leaves or hanging moss, it is conspicuously 

 placed at the extremity of an upper branch of a mesquite or ratama tree, 

 usually at the edge of a prairie or near houses. One set of eggs has 

 the ground color a beautiful pinkish buff. — (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 25.) 



94. Icterus baltimore, (Linn.) 



Two specimens taken in April. I think that Mr. Dresser is in error 

 in stating in the Ibis that this Oriole breeds at Matamoras. — (Dresser, 

 Ibis, 1865, 493.) 



95. * Icterus spurius var. affinis, Lawr. 



This small race of the Orch ard Oriole is found rather plentifully from 

 the latter part of March until August. Nests found here are much 

 smaller than Eastern ones ; in size and shape, they are more like Vireos'. 

 This species and Bullock's are frequently found breeding in small, irregu- 

 lar colonies composed of both species ; the Hooded Oriole does the same, 

 but with individuals of its own species only.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 

 493.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 25.) 



96. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus, (Wagl.) 



Brewer's Blackbird is very abundant from about the first week in 

 October until April.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 493.— Sennett, B. Rio 

 Grande, 27.) 



97. * Quiscalus macrurus, Swains. 



This handsome Grackle is a very common resident, and large numbers 



