Sept, 1913 
FROM FIELD AND STUDY 
183 
fortunate enough to observe them; so I presume their normal southern extension in Texas 
must find its limit somewhere between the Los Olmos and the Rio Grande. 
Icterus melanoceplialus auduboni. Fully as abundant resident here as in the Lower 
Rio Grande Valley, and observed frequently throughout my stay. The Los Olmos creek 
bottom was a favorite locality with them, where I would sometimes come across six or 
more in a single tramp. 
Eitphagus cyanocephalus. The prevailing “blackbird” during the winter months 
here. About Brownsville its numbers are insignificant at any season compared to the next 
species, Cowbirds or Red-winged Blackbirds. 
Megaqiiiscahis major macrourus. Although this locality is fully forty miles inland, 
the Great-tailed Grackle proves not uncommon ; how'ever, it is seldom that I observed more 
than one pair at a time. 
Passerhcrhuhis Iccontei. Noted only between December 5 and 14. During this 
period it was not uncommon in the only place I w'as able to find it in — a low damp spot 
of perhaps two acres extent, in a large meadow. This same locality was largely resorted 
to by Savannah and Grasshopper Sparrows, making it somewhat difficult to determine the 
particular species as a bird flushed. However, the Leconte Sparrow is the weakest on 
the wing of any of the forms referred to ; also when flushed in the late afternoon it w'ould 
occasionally alight in one of the dwarf retamas (Parkinsonia aculcata) that fringed the 
wet area, when it could be easily distinguished by the rufous-brown nape. I was never able 
to record this bird from the Lower Rio Grande Valley, although this record points to 
the probability that the species is only a transient near Falfurrias. 
Spizella piisilla arcnacea. The Western Field Sparrow is a most abundant winter 
visitant about Falfurrias, being present in numbers when I arrived, and not disappearing 
until after March 15. It resorted to fence rows, weed grown roadways and gardens, as- 
sociating with the numerous species of sparrows found here at that season, including the 
Clay-colored Sparrow. 
Peucaea cassini. Found in limited numbers, usually confining its activities to the 
immediate vicinity of groups of pad-cactus that grow along the roadways, from which it 
was flushed with great difficulty. 
Arremonops rntivirgatiis. Confined to underbrush growung along the Los Olmos 
creek, where individuals were now and then to be seen, usually in the act of disappearing 
into the dense tangles of clematis. 
Pyrrhitloxia sinnata texaua. Is a common resident of this region, largely replacing 
the Gray-tailed Cardinal, the latter being mostly confined to the vicinity of the Los Olmos 
creek. With the advent of the nesting season the Texas P'yrrhuloxia loses much of its shy- 
ness and resorts to the neighborhood of human habitations, where along with the Western 
Mockingbird and Curve-billed Thrasher its song is a most striking feature in the advent 
of spring. 
Calamospisa melanocorys. Winters in enormous numbers. Was still present in 
small flocks as late as April 8, when many of the males had assumed the nuptial plumage. 
Vireo grisetis micrus. The only vireo noted here. Quite abundant along the Los Ol- 
mos creek throughout the period of my stay. 
Venuh'ora ntdcapilla ritiicapiUa. One record: A bird taken December 19, near the 
Los Olmos creek. Was in the company of numerous Ruby-crowned Kinglets. 
Oreoscoptes montanus. A lone bird, shot as it perched on a pad-cactus growing along 
a roadway was the only record. It was seemingly some distance from its normal habitat, 
as no sage brush is found in this section. 
Toxostoma longirostre sennetti. Strictly confined to tlie vicinity of Los Olmos creek 
in this part of Brooks County, where specimens were secured on December 1 and others 
observed at various later dates. — Austin Paul Smith. 
Mourning Dove in the Lower Yakima Valley, Washington — In the lower Yakima 
Valley the Mourning Doves (Zenaidura macroura) appear to have made a blunder in 
migrating this year. Doves are more scarce than in the past four seasons, and so far 1 
have located only one nesting pair in this neighborhood. Winter was steady, with the 
ground covered with snow until the last week in January, when the weather moderated. 
During this thaw doves appeared in small flocks. About February 1 winter weather re- 
turned, and no more doves were seen until May 5, since which time they have been seen 
daily, but not as numerously as usual.— Clarence H.amilton Kennedy. 
