LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED AT HOUSTON, HARRIS CO., TEXAS, AND IN THE COUNTIES MONTGOMERY, GALVESTON AND FORD BEND.
BY H. NEHRLING.
(concluded from p. [175].)
152. Ægialites vociferus Bonap. Killdeer Plover.[[101]]—Common resident throughout the year, but most abundant during the spring and fall migrations.
153. Ægialites semipalmatus Bonap. Semipalmated or Ring Plover.—Rare and only observed during migrations.
154. Ægialites wilsonius Ord. Wilson’s Plover.—Common during the breeding season, but I did not succeed in finding a nest.
155. Strepsilas interpres Illig. Turnstone.—Seen on Galveston Bay and on the Gulf Coast.
156. Recurvirostra americana Gmel. Avocet.—Winters, but not noticed in summer.
157. Gallinago wilsoni Bonap. Wilson’s Snipe.—Common during migrations; arriving from the north usually in the middle of October, sometimes earlier, sometimes later. I think none remain here to breed, and all go farther south to winter. The time of arrival from their winter quarters is unknown to me.
158. Tringa maculata Vieill. Jack Snipe; Grass Snipe.—Common in September and again in April. None remain to winter or to breed.
159. Tringa minutilla Vieill. Least Sandpiper.—Not uncommon in winter.
160. Actiturus bartramius Bonap. Bartramian Sandpiper; Upland Plover.—Abundant on the prairies during March and April and again in October. None remain to breed or to winter.
161. Limosa fœda Ord. Marbled Godwit.—Rare; seen only in March and October.
162. Totanus semipalmatus Temm. Willet; Tattler.—This well-known bird is also common in this region in all suitable localities. Resident throughout the year; breeds.
163. Numenius longirostris Wils. Long-billed Curlew.—Common during migrations; occasionally seen during the breeding season.
164. Tantalus loculator Linn. Wood Ibis.—This bird is common in all marshy localities near the Gulf Coast. I have seen it frequently in the marshes and ponds near Spring Creek and the Brazos, in company with Herons and other water fowl.
165. Platalea ajaja Linn. Roseate Spoon-bill.—Common in the breeding season. Never seen in companies, but always singly, associated with Herons, Ducks, etc. Particularly common on the prairie ponds in the northern part of Harris County, Texas.
166. Ardea herodias Linn. Great Blue Heron.—Quite regularly distributed, but nowhere common; breeds on trees near ponds in the woods.
167. Herodias egretta Gray. White Heron; Great White Egret.—Abundant summer resident; breeds. This beautiful bird is to be observed in numbers in all the prairie ponds. They breed in communities on bushes in swamps. The nests are bulky, built of sticks; the nesting cavity is very flat; eggs three or four in number. The birds begin to breed in the latter part of April.
168. Garzetta candidissima Bonap. Snowy Heron; Little White Heron.—Exceedingly abundant during a large part of the year. I have seen these birds by thousands in the marshes near the Brazos River and on the Gulf Coast. Large colonies breed in the marshes near Spring Creek, where they build their nests on bushes, or, more frequently, in the lower horizontal branches of forest trees, bordering ponds and marshes. None remain to winter.
169. Florida cœrulea Bd. Little Blue Heron.—This beautiful bird is exceedingly abundant in all suitable localities. Many are resident throughout the year, but most migrate further south in winter. They nest in large colonies in swamps and marshes overgrown thickly with bushes. I have always found the nest in the top of button-bushes (Cephalanthus occidentalis). Eggs three or four, in one case five, in number. I have seen hundreds of nests in one pond. They are built entirely of sticks without any lining. In the second week of May many eggs were already hatched.
170. Butorides virescens Bonap. Green Heron.—Common summer resident; breeds; never observed in flocks, but always in pairs or singly.
171. Hydranassa tricolor ludoviciana Ridgw. Louisiana Heron.—One specimen, shot May, 1880, on Spring Creek. Seems to be not very common. Breeds in the swampy woods.
172. Nyctiardea grisea nævia Allen. Black-crowned Night Heron.—Not common and very shy. Breeds in the swamps where other Herons have their nests.
173. Botaurus lentiginosus Steph. American Bittern.—Occurs during migrations; none observed in the breeding season or in winter.
174. Ardetta exilis Gray. Least Bittern.—Common during migrations; rare in summer; breeds in the marshes of tule reeds and water shrubs, such as Cephalanthus occidentalis and Pinckneya pubescens, in company with Herons and other water fowl.
175. Grus americana Temm. Whooping Crane.—From November to the end of March these beautiful birds are exceedingly abundant on all the low prairies in the vicinity of Houston. Very shy.
176. Grus canadensis Temm. Sandhill Crane.—Even more abundant than the preceding. Observed flocks of many hundreds on the low prairies in the western and northern parts of Harris County. Very shy.
177. Porzana carolina Bd. Carolina Rail; Sora.—Seen in summer, breeds. but I have not discovered the nest.
178. Porzana noveboracensis Cass. Little Yellow Rail.—Very rare during migrations.
179. Porzana jamaicensis Cass. Little Black Rail.—One taken April 29, 1879.
180. Gallinula galeata Bonap. Florida Gallinule.—Common during the breeding season in all marshes where reeds and bushes grow, but especially so where the magnificent Nymphæa odorata (Water-Lily) opens its fragrant flowers, and where Nuphar advena (Yellow Pond Lily) and another beautiful aquatic, Nelumbium luteum (Water Chinquepin), are found; over the broad leaves of which plants the little Florida Gallinule runs with exceeding quickness, searching for water insects and other food.
181. Fulica americana Gmel. American Coot; Mud Hen.—Decidedly more numerous than the preceding. Especially common in the large prairie swamps.
182. Cygnus buccinator Rich. Trumpeter Swan.—Every winter there are large numbers on Galveston Bay and on the Gulf of Mexico near the coast.
183. Cygnus americanus Sharp. American or Whistling Swan.—Sometimes these birds winter abundantly on Galveston Bay.
184. Anser hyperboreus Pall. Snow Goose; White Brant.—Exceedingly abundant on Galveston Bay, also on the rivers and bayous near the Gulf Coast in winter.
185. Anser albifrons gambeli Coues. American White-fronted Goose.—This is the first Goose to arrive from the north in autumn, but they all migrate farther south.
186. Bernicla canadensis Boie. Canada Goose.—Exceedingly abundant during winter. Large flocks are to be observed on the wet prairies in company with Cranes.
187. Anas boscas Linn. Mallard.—Very common during migrations and in winter.
188. Anas obscura Gmel. Black Duck; Dusky Duck.—Common during the breeding season. A pair of these Ducks are seen in almost every pond among Herons, Roseate Spoonbills, Anhingas, Gallinules, and Blackbirds (Agelæus phœniceus).
189. Dafila acuta Bonap. Pintail Duck.—Common during migrations.
190. Chaulelasmus streperus Gray. Gadwall.—Exceedingly abundant during winter.
191. Mareca americana Steph. American Widgeon.—Common during migrations.
192. Querquedula carolinensis Steph. Green-winged Teal.—Very common in autumn and spring, rather rare in winter.
193. Querquedula discors Steph. Blue-winged Teal.—Very common during migrations but all pass further south.
194. Querquedula cyanoptera Cass. Cinnamon Teal.—Not common during migrations; none remain to winter.
195. Spatula clypeata Boie. Shoveller; Spoon-bill Duck.—Abundant in winter.
196. Aix sponsa Boie. Wood Duck; Summer Duck.—Common during migrations; some remain to breed.
197. Fulix marila Bd. Scaup Duck.—Common in winter on Galveston Bay.
198. Fulix affinis Bd. Little Black-head.—Very common in winter.
199. Aythya vallisneria Boie. Canvas-back.—Abundant in winter on Galveston Bay and on all marshy districts near the Gulf Coast.
200. Bucephala albeola Bd. Butter-ball; Buffle-head.—Abundant in winter near the coast.
201. Erismatura rubida Bonap. Ruddy Duck.—Very common during migrations; none remain to winter, but many breed.
202. Pelecanus erythrorhynchus Gmel. American White Pelican.—Common during winter, especially near the coast.
203. Pelecanus fuscus Linn. Brown Pelican.—Common during the breeding season on all the rivers, creeks, and bayous near the coast.
204. Plotus anhinga Linn. American Anhinga; Snake-Bird; “Water Turkey.”—Breeds in all marshy localities and is very common.
205. Larus atricilla Linn. Laughing Gull.—Abundant near the Gulf Coast; breeds on the small sand islands in Galveston Bay.
206. Sterna anglica Montag. Gull-billed Tern.—Breeds abundantly on the islands of Galveston Bay.
207. Sterna regia Gambel. Royal Tern.—Breeds in considerable numbers on the islands of Galveston Bay.
208. Sterna cantiaca acuflavida Ridgw. Cabot’s Tern, and—
209. Sterna forsteri Nutt. Forster’s Tern.—These and a few other Terns breed in abundance on the islands near the coast, especially on the sand-bars of Galveston Bay, where they lay their eggs on the bare sand. It was impossible for me to distinguish the eggs, as the birds all leave the nests as soon as they are approached.