100 THE CONDOR VOL. XlI and Snowy Plover (?4?gialitis'nivosa) on the 24th, the Red-backt Sandpiper (Pel[dna a. sakhalina) and Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiler velox) on November 3, the Chestnut-collared Long-spur (Calcarius ornalus), on November 6, the Sprague Pipit (Anlhus 'slSraguei), and Nighthawk (Chordeiles virginianus) on the 8th; while a flock of about fifty Mountain Plover (Podasocys monlana), the only ones seen during the entire year, was observed on November 11. The Texas Horned Lark (Olocoris a. gitaudi) is a characteristic bird of the coast strip, and very abundant at all seasons of the year around Point Isabel, but I have rarely noted it straying more than half a mile inland. Its usual habitat is a sandy stretch along the bay, of perhaps five hundred feet breadth. They molt in September, and wear the complete new plumage by October 15. No other variety of Horned Lark seems to occur here. Many Black-throated Sparrows (AmlShispiza bilineata) are to be seen within the Lark's restricted range, dwelling contentedly among the Opuntia cactus and marsh-grass. I mention their presence, because some doubt appears to exist relative to their actual presence along the coast, where really they are more numerous than about Brownsville. The Cactus Wren (]-]eleodyles b. couesi) too, adds its presence to this littoral, and is not a well
distributed species outside of it. Most Cactus Wrens had the molt unfinisht, even
at as late a date as December 1. The heavy growth of the marsh-grass near the mouth of the river proves very congenial to the Cassin Sparrow, and it is an ever present species, particularly after September. My previous acquaintance with this species was in Arizona. In that territory they were met with only now and then, when they kept persistently to the high grass in arroyo bottoms. Here tho the grass is high, it is in thinly scattered bunches, allowing a much easier observation of the bird as it passes from one clump to another. Many Grasshopper Sparrows mingle with the species just men- tioned, but are equally as numerous up the Valley. All taken thus far proved to be C. savannarum bimaculalus. In fall many Savannah Sparrows join in pop- ulating these stretches of coast, and of them we have both the eastern(Passerculus s. savanna) and western(P.s.alaudinus),thothelastnamed is the prevailing type. I have looked in vain for the Texas Seaside Sparrow(Ammodramus m. sennelli). Mr. Frank P. Armstrong informs me that it does occur within our scope however, as he found it o.n two or three grass-covered islets near the mouth of the river. This fall how- ever, I am positive none could have existed thereon, as the locality was entirely inundated for some weeks. .No Texas Sparrows (ArremonolSs ruJivirgala) dwell along the coast--none until a point ten miles ifiland is teachr. The superficial resemblance of this species to the Green-tailed Towhee (OreoslSiza chlorura) is particularly noticeable where individuals of the Texas Sparrow are found with the dark-brown stripes of the crown more or less coalescing with the median olive-yellow stripe. In actions too they are much alike. The Texas Sparrow is a quiet bird that passes nearly all its time on the ground, within cover of some sort. The click-like call note resem- bles that of the Cardinal. It is hard to see why the Texas Pyrrhuloxia should be so meagerly represented in the Valley inland, when it is so abundant at the coast. Fifty of these birds may be observed in a morning walk near the Gulf, while it is no unusual occur- renee for two or three days to pass, without seeing one while collecting in the vicin- ity of Brownsville. They are naturally a shyer bird than the Gray-tailed Cardinal, tho more communistic, going about in small flocks, at least during the winter months. The male is the more suspicious; and there seems to be markedly fewer of them than the duller-colored females. They are rather hard to follow up when
