Page:Condor12(3).djvu/17

May, 1910 MISCELLANEOUS BIRD NOTES FROM THE LOWER RIO GRANDE 99 able, every tree..wl.th a dead top, quartering one or two for the two days they spent with us. The geiius gryiarchus opened the present season on March 12, when the Great-crested Flycatcher (3//. crinilus) 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 (g/[. ma?isler ne/soni). This species was not recorded until April 24, tho there appears good reason to suspect that it really was present before this, but owing to the abundance of Great-crests by that date, was lost sight of. By the first of May the prevailing gryiarchus was clearly gr. m. nelson/, tho a few gr. crinilus un- doubtly remain to breed. Regarding the Couch Kingbird (Tyrannus melancho- licus couch/) 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 possib'le. 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 (A/[uscivoraforficala) 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 (l?'reo g?riseus micrus)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 nidifieation 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?. g?riseus) but perhaps this is another instance where a northern and eastern species migrates across, rather than around the Gulf. The Solitary Vireo (Lanivi- reo solilarius) 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. Last year the autumnal migration reaeht 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 (Pyrrhulox/a s.texana ) , Gray-tailed Cardinal (Cardinalis c. canicaudus ) , Cassin Sparrow ( Peuccea cassini), and even Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Cenlurus aurtfrons),--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 (?Eg?ialilis m. circumcincla), Nashville Warbler ( Vermivora rubricapilla ) , Orange-crowned Warbler( Vermivora c. oreslera ) all on October 28; Hermit Thrush (trlylocichla g?. pallasii), Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica Virens), and Lark ,Sparrow (Chondesles g?rammacus), on October 29; and Franklin Gull (Larus franklin/), 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 (Ereuneles mauri), and Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica maculosa) were taken on the 22d, the Redstart (Selophag?a rulicilla)