93. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus Cab. Brewer’s Blackbird.—During winter the most common of the family Icteridæ. They are very abundant in Houston from the early part of November to April, when they disappear for the north; by the end of that month only a few remain to breed in suitable localities. I found several nests May 5, 1881, in thick, small oaks near the Rose Hill Post Office in the northern part of Harris County. They were built in the tops of young post oaks (Quercus obtusiloba), about twelve to fifteen feet from the ground, and contained from two to five eggs each. The nests were composed exteriorly of strong slender plant stems and coarse grasses, and were lined with fine grasses. These birds are very unsuspicious and bold during winter, running about in even the most crowded city streets, and also frequenting door-yards. On cold days they are easily caught. I had a pair over a year in a cage; they soon became reconciled to confinement, and were lively, interesting pets.
94. Quiscalus purpureus æneus Ridgw. Bronzed Grackle.—The most abundant of all the Blackbirds during the breeding season, arriving from their more southern winter quarters early in March. None remain, so far as my observations go, during winter. They breed abundantly in the larger gardens of Houston, especially in the mountain cedars (Juniperus occidentalis texana), and the live and water oaks (Quercus virens et Q. aquatica). In the thick young oak grove near Rose Hill Post Office I found a large colony of about two hundred pairs breeding and in their company also the Boat-tailed Grackles (Quiscalus major) and Brewer’s Blackbirds (Scolecophagus cyanocephalus), but each species had its own limited nesting range. Every nest was built in the top of a slender oak and all the nests examined were neat, strong, and large structures; they were constructed of plant stems, slender grasses, fragments of corn-husks, intermingled with sheep’s wool, and lined with finer grasses. In some nests a layer of mud was also to be found.
95. Quiscalus major Vieill. Boat-tailed Grackle.—Quite regularly distributed over the coast region of Texas. I found the birds breeding in the colonies of the Little Blue Heron (Florida cærulea) and the Snowy Heron (Garzetta candidissima), on the button bushes (Cephalanthus occidentalis) standing in the water. May 6, 1881, I observed a colony of about twenty pairs near Rose Hill Post Office. They were all busily engaged in building their nests in the tops of young oaks. Only a few nests were finished, and only one contained eggs, four in number. Nest composed of weed-stalks, grasses and sheep’s wool, lined with finer grasses; cavity very shallow if compared with nests of Quiscalus purpureus æneus and Scolecophagus cyanocephalus. The male has a few very fine songlike notes, different from those of every other Blackbird.
96. Corvus frugivorus Bartr. Common Crow.—In winter numbers are to be observed on Galveston Bay, near bayous, and on the sugar cane fields near the Brazos. In spring they scatter over the country, breeding in all suitable localities, but they are then nowhere common in the coast region.
97. Cyanocitta cristata Strickl. Blue Jay.—A very common resident; breeds abundantly in all woody localities; also often in gardens on mountain cedars and sometimes on the beautiful Japan medlars (Eriobotrya japonica). Very bold and tame when well treated, coming then into door-yards and even into houses.
98. Milvulus forficatus Sw. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher; “Texan Bird of Paradise”; “Fork-tail.”—Very common summer sojourner; breeds frequently in the “bosquets” on the prairies, on the borders of woods, on isolated trees in the fields, and even in gardens. As the nest in this part of Texas is in most cases placed in trees, densely covered with Tillandsia, it is almost impossible to discover it. These beautiful birds are not at all retiring in their habits; in many instances they are so tame as to breed in close proximity to dwellings. They arrive from their winter quarters late in March, sometimes in the first days of April. Very often two broods are raised yearly. I found fresh eggs as late as July 4. The nests in the coast region are built partly of grasses but especially of gray Spanish moss. In September, after the breeding season, they gather in large flocks, visiting the cotton fields, where multitudes of cotton worms (Aletia argillacea) and their moths abound, on which they, with many other small birds, eagerly feed; early in October they depart for the South.
99. Tyrannus carolinensis Temm. Kingbird.—Common summer resident. Arrives from the South late in March or early in April, when the beautiful native yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) fills the air with its pleasant odor. Nests commonly in the honey locust (Gleditschia triacanthos) and also in the common locust (Robinia pseudacacia). In many cases two broods are raised yearly.
100. Myiarchus crinitus Cab. Great-crested Flycatcher.—Common summer sojourner, even in Houston, where it sometimes breeds in bird-boxes, but more commonly in knot-holes of the cedar and sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and in old Woodpeckers’ holes. Their loud whistling cries are almost always to be heard from early April till the latter part of August; departs for winter quarters early in October. It is not a shy bird, but knows well how to escape danger. They are, with Kingbirds and other species, very busy during the time the Magnolia grandiflora is in bloom, about which millions of various insects abound.
101. Sayornis fuscus Bd. Phoebe Bird; Pewee.—Common in winter, from December to March, especially in the gardens of Houston. The common notes I heard were quite different from their familiar pewee, sounding like tsip, tsip, tsip, zewee. None remain to breed.
102. Sayornis sayus Brd. Say’s Pewee.—This Pewee I have observed only in April, on the borders of thickets and in the shrubbery near woods, and always singly.