88 
BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL 
I 
NOTES ON TEXAN BIRDS. 
BY J. C. MERRILL, M. D., ASSISTANT SURGEON, U. S. A. 
I. Five Species of Birds new to the Fauna of the United States. 
I have recently obtained the following species, new to the fauna 
of the United States, in the vicinity of Fort Brown, Texas : — 
1. Molothrus aeneus, Wagler. This species, next to Quiscalus major 
var. macrurus, is the most abundant of the family here during the summer 
months, and it is strange it was not obtained by earlier collectors. Pro- 
fessor Baird informs me that specimens forwarded to him may constitute a 
variety. 
2. Nyctidromus albicollis, Sclater. In Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway’s 
“Birds of North America” (Vol. II, p. 399), mention is made of the pos- 
sible occurrence of this species within our limits. My first specimen was 
taken within Fort Brown on the 1st of April of this year. On May 2, 
while in camp some sixty-five miles up the river (Rio Grande), I obtained 
a female as she flew up from her two eggs ; and on the 15th of the same 
month a second set of eggs was found near the place where the first were 
obtained. The characteristic notes heard every evening showed that this 
species w^as by no means rare. 
3. Pyrrhophaena riefferi, Bourc. This Mexican and Guatemalan 
-species of Hummer is identified by Mr. Ridgway from my description of a 
specimen taken here last June by a soldier. He wished to keep it, but it 
escaped in a day or two. A second specimen was shot here a few weeks 
later, determined by Mr. Ridgway to be this species. 
4. Parra gymnostoma, Wagler. Early in August I saw a pair of 
water-birds quite new to me on the borders of a lagoon near Fort Brown. 
I was on horseback at the time, and did not have my gun, but had a good 
opportunity to observe them carefully. The next day I winged one of 
them, but it fell into a dense bed of water-plants, and could not be found, 
and the survivor disappeared. Respecting a letter describing the bird as 
seen, Mr. Ridgway writes : “ The bird you describe is undoubtedly Parra 
gymnostoma ; .... the chestnut back and yellow (greenish-yellow) wings 
settle the species beyond a doubt.” 
5. Podiceps dominicus, Lath. This species was first obtained early 
in March, three specimens being killed at one shot. I have also seen them 
in April, May, and August, in the shallow lagoons about here. 
