Nehrling on Birds of Southeastern Texas. 7 
3. Turdus fuscescens, Stefih. Wilson’s Thrush. — Only a few ob- 
served during the fall migration. 
4. Turdus swainsoni, Cab. Olive-backed Thrush. — Not rare 
during the migrations. 
5. Mimus polyglottus, Boie. Mockingbird. — A very abundant 
resident. Only a few remain to winter, in protected localities ; the ma- 
jority migrate further south. They arrive from their winter quarters 
early in March and are by the end of that month again common. Nest- 
building commences usually in the middle of April. Many are killed by 
farmers and gardeners on account of their fondness for ripe figs and grapes. 
Besides insects, they feed eagerly on the berries of the poke (. Phytolacca 
decandra), the elder ( Sambucus canadensis) , and the Mexican mulberry 
( Callicarfia americana ). In winter the berries of the myrtle-holly ( Ore - 
ofihila myrtifolia ) and those of the mistletoe ( Phoradendron flavescens) 
are their principal food. 
6. Mimus carolinensis, Gray. Catbird. — I first observed a single 
specimen of this bird April 25,' 1879. It was then my opinion that this 
bird must be a very rare migrant, as I did not meet with another that 
year. It was this year (1881), May 5, when I wandered through the thick 
underbrush in the woods on Spring Creek that I heard the peculiar cry 
of the Catbird, and a few minutes after I discovered the nest, which was 
built in a young oak sapling, about ten feet above the ground. They are 
not the familiar and confident birds of the Northern States, but extremely 
shy and retiring in their habits. They kept a good distance from me when 
I took the nest. 
7. Harporhynchus rufus, Cab. Brown Thrush. — Common during 
the winter months in the thick underbrush of the woods near Spring 
Creek, in the northern part of Harris County. Very silent and extremely 
shy. 
8. Sialia sialis, Hald. Bluebird. — A very abundant winter so- 
journer and a common summer resident; but not so abundant as in the 
Northern States, and not so familiar. Commences to breed as early as 
February 15. I found a nest March 6, which contained newly hatched 
young. A nest discovered April 29 contained four pure white eggs. 
9. Regulus calendula, Licht. Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and 
10. Regulus satrapa, Licht. American Golden-crested Kinglet. 
— Both are common during the winter months, when, in company with 
Titmice, they inhabit the pine woods near Houston. Are to be observed 
during the whole winter in the mountain cedars ( Juniperus occidentalis 
texanus ), which are common in the gardens of the city. 
11. Polioptila caerulea, Sclat. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. — Com- 
mon in the heavy wooded bottom lands on the Brazos, Spring Creek, and 
San Jacinto, and especially abundant on Buffalo Bayou when the mag- 
nificent Magnolia grandiflora is in bloom. Almost with the agility and 
grace of a Hummingbird, it flies around the showy flowers in pursuit of 
insects. Nest-building commences early in May. This beautiful /little 
domicile is built very high, in small branches of elms, swamp-oaks 
(Quercus j) alustris ) and other densely leaved forest trees. 
