ZOOLOGY-BIRDS. 
53 
must be built of the lightest material, so as not to be prostrated by the strong winds which 
sometimes prevail in that section of the country. The eggs, four in number, are pale ashy 
green, thickly covered and minutely dotted with points and spots of light umber brown. The 
egg of this species forms a remarkable exception to the rest of its genus, its coloring and 
markings resembling those of our towhee bunting, (Pipilo erythrophthalmus.) While passing a 
few days at Fort Inge, Texas, I was much astonished one day to find the parade ground, the 
horse and cattle yards, covered with immense flocks of these birds, having remarked but a few 
stray ones previous to this period. One of the officers informed me of a like occurrence the 
year before, and that they then had disappeared as suddenly as they came. 
AGELAIUS TRICOLOR, A u d .—Red and White-winged Blackbird. 
Agdaius tricolor, Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. IV, p. 27, pi. 214.— Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 530. 
Abundant. During the winter of 1852, while hunting in the marshes of Suisun valley, I 
have often, on hearing a dull, rushing, roaring noise, looked upwards and found it was produced 
by a single flock of these birds, numbering so many thousands as to darken the sky for some 
distance by their masses. In the northern part of California I found a breeding place of this 
species occupying several acres covered with elder bushes and willow, and in the immediate 
vicinity of water. I was led to this retreat by following the direction taken by many small 
flocks on their return from the surrounding country over which they scattered for miles in quest 
of food for their young. The nests, often four or five on the same bush, were composed of mud 
and straw and lined with fine grasses. The eggs are light blue, marked with lines and spots of 
dark umber and a few light purple dashes. I fell in with several other breeding places at 
different times, but, though situated in the same kind of locality as the above one, they were 
abandoned ; thus rendering it probable that every year different grounds are resorted to for the 
purposes of incubation. 
AGELAIUS GUBERNATOR, Wagler.—Red and Black-winged Blackbird. 
Agelaius gubernalor, Add. B. of A. Oct. vol. IV, p. 29, pi. 215.— Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 529. 
Abundant, and found in the fall season associating with the two preceding sj>ecies. Its nest 
is built in the willow bushes and tussocks of grass, above the level of the water, in the marshes, 
and but a few pairs together, differing in this respect from the preceding species, which prefers 
dry situations near water, and congregates by thousands while breeding. The nest is composed 
of mud and roots, and lined with fine grasses. The eggs, four in number, are pale blue, dashed 
with spots and lines of black. 
SCOLECOPIIAGUS CYANOCEPIIALUS, Wagler.—Mexican Grakle. 
Scolecophagus mexicanus, Swains. Two Cent, and a Quart. 
Quiscalus brewerii, Add. B. of A. Oct. vol. VII, p. 315, pi. 492. 
Scolecophagus cganocephalus, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 552. 
This abundant and beautiful species is scattered over the whole surface of California, and is 
also very common in New Mexico and Texas, though not a resident of the two last, leaving 
before the season of incubation. During the fall it frequents the cattle yards and outskirts of 
towns, where it obtains a plentiful supply of food. It appears very familiar, alighting on the 
houses and in the streets, having but little cause of fear from man. Its note, before taking 
