37. Dendrœca pinus, Bd. Pine Warbler.—Winters in small companies in the woods in the northern part of Harris County, near Spring Creek.
I did not find so many Warblers as I expected, although I kept a diligent lookout. I did not observe D. palmarum, D. canadensis, D. discolor, or D. cærulea.
38. Siurus auricapillus, Sw. Golden-crowned Thrush.—Transient and not common.
39. Siurus nævius, Coues. Water Thrush.—Not uncommon in suitable localities during migrations.
40. Oporornis formosa, Bd. Kentucky Warbler.—A common summer resident; exceeding in numbers even the Maryland Yellow-throat, with which it occupies the same localities. Common in wet fields with patches of low bushes, and in the dense undergrowth near water. Visits frequently the country gardens. Very abundant on Spring Creek, in the northern part of Harris County, and in Montgomery County. Arrives about April 21. Commences nest-building early in May. Nest very difficult to find.
41. Geothlypis trichas, Cab. Maryland Yellow-throat.—Arrives about April 15, from its winter quarters. A common summer sojourner. Like the preceding species, most common in grassy localities with thickets interspersed. On a farm near Houston is a wet piece of land containing about two acres, where I found three pairs breeding. Through this runs a ditch and the whole ground is covered with high broom-grass (Andropogon macrurus) with briar patches, thickets of water oak. Viburnum dentatum, black haw (V. pruneifolium), etc. The field is surrounded by an almost impenetrable hedge of Cherokee roses (Rosa lævigata). Here the Yellow-throats occur with Kentucky Warblers, White-eyed Vireos, Yellow-throated Vireos, Painted Finches, and Blue Grosbeaks, all living in harmony. Two broods are raised yearly in this latitude. In almost every nest of this bird, and also of the Kentucky Warbler, eggs of the Cow Bird are to be found.
42. Geothlypis philadelphia, Bd. Mourning Warbler.—Transient and rather rare.
43. Icteria virens, Bd. Yellow-breasted Chat.—A common summer resident, arriving from its winter quarters about April 15. Many winter in sheltered places. Its most favorable resorts are brier-patches in fields, thickets on the edge of woods, myrtle-holly thickets overgrown with tangled Smilax laurifolia, and similar localities. Nest in the interior of thickets near the ground; it has some resemblance to the Catbird’s, and is built of nearly the same material.
44. Myiodioctes mitratus, Aud. Hooded Warbler.—This beautiful species is common during migrations. Arrives from the South in the last part of April, when the host of Warblers migrate northward. I never observed the bird during the summer months and do not think that any remain to breed.
45. Myiodioctes canadensis, Aud. Canadian Flycatching Warbler.—Not very common during the spring migration.