ings, before the dew condensed on the roofs of the city buildings has been dissipated by the sun, I have observed them searching for the minute insects that the moisture held confined.
Meadowlarks (Sturnella) are fairly numerous during the warm season, and very abundant in Winter months. During the cold season, both Western (S. neglecta) and the Texan (S. magna hoopesi) Meadowlarks occur in large flocks, but as a rule, the species remain separate. Most of the Western Meadowlarks disappear in April, as also does a good percentage of the Texan variety, but the individuals of the latter species that remain outnumber the other twenty to one. Three or four crippled Meadowlarks, that were taken last winter all showed a condition of semi-melanism.
An intense interest is aroused in studying the giant flycatcher of our North American list, the Derby (Pitangus sulphuratus derbianus)—firstly because it is a really imposing bird, and brightly adorned for a flycatcher; and secondly, a bird possessing a large degree of individuality. While not ultra-pugnacious like the Kingbird, still they do not particularly prize a peaceful atmosphere, sometimes taking the offensive for the sole pleasure of it. They rarely quarrel among themselves, but maybe this is only on account of their being too thinly dispersed within our territory to impinge upon each other's rights. On one occasion this year, a Derby Flycatcher was noticed far from timber, pursuing insects from a fence running parallel with the public road—but such instances are rare. Apparently it is the only flycatcher that breeds in heavy brush or timber within this Valley, unless certain of the Empidonaces are found to be local breeders. Preliminary attempts at nest-building consume a month in time before the real work begins; which must nearly exhaust their energies, judging from the size of nest they build. The Derby Flycatcher is another of our perennially mated species, noisy during the breeding season, but rather quiet thereafter. Generally speaking, whenever I have come upon them it was to find them with head feathers erected. They appear no more suspicious of man's presence than the smaller tyrants; and when disturbed are likely to seek a new perch but a few feet distant from their former position.
I have found only three species of flycatchers here during the winter months, the Derby Flycatcher, the eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phœbe) and its western congenor the Say Phoebe (Sayornis saya). Both species arrive almost simultaneously during the last days of October; and each tak6 to their particular type of hunting ground—the Say Phoebe to the open semi-arid tracts, while the common Phoebe hovers about edges of copses and gardens. The Say Phoebe while here proves the shyer of the two species, and is also ?the least numerous. Both leave quite early, the departing dates this year being February 19 for the Say, and March 29 for the eastern species. It is possible that the Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubineus mexicanus) and Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) may also be found in winter, especially the last named bird, as a record exists of its having been taken a÷t Point Isabel on February 7, 1880. But my careful search for it as such has as yet proved fruitless; in fact I find the genus entirely unrepresented here for more than six months of the year. The Green-crested Flycatcher (E. virescens) the first representative to appear in spring, did not appear this year until May 7. The Valley is a meeting ground for both Pewees (Myiochanes) but the eastern species (M. virens) is the prevailing type, and the only one to breed, I believe. M. virens appeared this year on April 8. Pewees, however, are seemingly not numerous at any time, outside of a few weeks in April. One of the tardiest migrants this past spring was the Olive-sided Flycatcher (Nuttallornis borealis) which crost the Rio Grande into our country on May 12. The number of them was consider-
