May, 1910 MISCELLANEOUS BIRD NOTES FROM THE LOWER RIO GRANDE 
99 
able, every tree with a dead top, quartering one or two for the two days they spent 
with us. The genus Myiarchus opened the present season on March 12, when the 
Great-crested Flycatcher (M. crinitus ) appeared. A single individual was seen, 
that died to verify a record that would otherwise have been open to doubt, owing 
to the Valley also being within the habitat of the Mexican Crested Flycatcher 
(M. in agister nelsoni) . This species was not recorded until April 24, tho there 
appears good reason to suspect that it really was present oefore this, but owing to 
the abundance of Great-crests by that date, was lost sight of. By the first of May 
the prevailing Myiarchus was clearly M. m. nelsoni , tho a few M. crinitus un- 
doubtly remain to breed. Regarding the Couch Kingbird ( Tyrannus melancho- 
licus couch i) I have not much to state. It quite resembles the other western king- 
birds in appearance and habits, tho perhaps is more noisy than either, if that 
be possible. It arrives here before the middle of March and immediately disperses 
over the country, tho generally returning to a somewhat secluded location to build 
its nest. The elegant Scissor-tailed Flycatcher ( Muscivora forficata ) arrives with 
the Couch Kingbird, and thereafter is a most conspicuous object about cultivated 
fields and roadways. It has the somewhat unusual trait, among flycatchers, of 
feeding much on the ground; and in some instances after capturing its prey in the 
air will descend to the ground rather than to a perch to consume it. The plumage is 
renewed in late summer, and early fall specimens are the most perfect of the year. 
Vireos are quite a feature of every grove — that is the Small White-eyed Vireo 
( Vireo gr/seus mi crus ) can claim to be, for it is a permanent resident; and its 
cheery note is a familiar sound in woodland strolls during the winter and spring. 
At least a pair domicile in every grove or group of trees, and nidification starts in 
March; but they do not always succeed in raising progeny on first attempt, as the 
piratical Green Jay seems ever at hand, ready to swoop down on the unguarded 
nest. It seems strange that to date I have taken no examples of the eastern form 
( V. g. griseus) but perhaps this is another instance where a northern and eastern 
species migrates across, rather than around the Gulf. The Solitary Vireo ( Lanivi - 
reo solitarius ) stays with us during the period included between December 1 and 
April 15. Their numbers are limited and never more than three or four are to be 
found at a time. They are most frequent in low brush or on partly cleared land. 
Fast year the autumnal migration reacht a maximum on October 28, after a 
“norther” lasting several days. Both land and water birds seemed to have been 
forced south in a hurry. And that the storm must have been severe, even in cen- 
tral Texas, seems evident by the immense flocks of Texas Pyrrhuloxia ( Pyrrhuloxia 
s.texana ), Gray-tailed Cardinal ( Cardinalis c. canicaudus) ,Cassin Sparrow ( Pcuccea 
cassini) , and even Golden-fronted Woodpecker ( Centurus aurifrons) , — true 
southerners, none of which are common north of Texas, that suddenly appeared. It 
was on that date I secured my only example of the Western Tree Sparrow ( Spizella 
m. arenacea ) feeding among the marsh grass, so abundant near the coast, in com- 
pany with a medley of sparrows. Other noteworthy initial fall records taken at 
Point Isabel were: Belted Piping Plover G tEgialitis in. circumcincta) , Nashville 
Warbler ( Verm iv ora rubricapilla) , Orange-crowned Warbler( Vermivora c. orestera ) 
all on October 28; Hermit Thrush (Hylocichla g. pallasii), Black-throated Green 
Warbler ( Dendroica virens ), and Lark Sparrow ( Chondestes grammacus) , on 
October 29; and Franklin Gull ( Lancs franklini) , during the week beginning 
with October 21. While here this fine species was much in the company of the 
several species of Terns represented, hunting in their company over the coast 
marshes. The Western Sandpiper ( Ereunetes mauri) , and Magnolia Warbler 
( Dendroica maculosa ) were taken on the 22d, the Redstart ( Setophaga rut i cilia) 
