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May, 1910 NOTES ON THE NORTHWESTERN CROSSBILL 93 these lines are a few tear shaped dots of black. In all these sets there is a resem- blance to eggs of the Orchard Oriole. In several eggs there is a faint flush of sub- dued purplish stain. The flight is swift and strong, accomplisht with quick beating of the wings, there being a peculiar, pent-up energy in their movements. They will start from a perch with an almost bullet-like swiftness. Their sociable nature is markt. They even feed together during the nesting season, there seemingly being no ill will among them. The scattered breeding colonies extend far into the wilderness. The past season I located three colonies which were nesting, and they did not vary in the time chosen nor in the selection of a nesting site; always in wild, mountain places, and the nests well hidden in the high brandhes of'pine trees. The nest-building began about the 10th of July and finisht about the 20th. In their late nesting they resemble the goldfinch which postpones the nesting duties until July and August. One might believe that this was simply a second nesting, but the large flocks do not break up until late in June, no young birds can be found until late in summer, there are no young birds in the summer colo- nies where they nest, and that they do not settle to work until July, has been my observation. I have worn out more than one pair of "mountain" shoes looking for February and March nests in ?this country, but have learned to stay away dur- ing that portion of the year. Another peculiarity of the Crossbill is its propensity for changing its place of abode. Where they are abundant one season they may be entirely wanting the next. While my climber was at one of the nests the mother bird tried a number of times to come back onto her eggs, even venturing within two feet of him. The male came very close also. There were several pairs near about, which did not scold as many birds do, but seemed almost stupid. The birds of this region seem to be quite constant in size and in the brighter coloration, being larger than the eastern' race and of brighter plumage. Adult males are bright enough to pass as "red birds", by which name they are known. As we came from the place when the twilight glow was fading and dim shadows shrouded the mountain world, we could hear the gentle twittering from the nests far above us. MISCELLANEOUS BIRD NOTES FROM THE LOWER RIO GRANDE By AUSTIN PAUL SMITH HIRTY years can bring as many changes in a bird community as into one composed of men. You can have an instance of this by perusing the pub- lisht observations of Merrill or Sennett, appearing approximately that num- ber of years ago--and then visiting the lower Rio Grande Valley. Today you will find it necessary to make some careful search to locate the Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula maccalli) near Brownsville, while it would be hopeless to expect to discover a Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopava intermedia), or a Fulvous Tree-duck (Den- drocygna fulva). However it shouRt be balm for regret, to realize that while these several species have gone, or are disappearing from the Valley's avifauna, at least a corresponding number of forms, have appeared. To this latter class belongs the Chestnut-bellied Scaled Quail (Calh)3epla squamata caslanogaslris) that now roams within a few miles of town. Along with this instance could be cited the