42 THE CONDOR Vol. XX Lake, where they nest in large numbers in the reeds and small willows, from early May through July. Icterus b-llockh Bullock Oriole. Fairly common, but seemingly restricted to the mesquite portions of the county. At least ninety per .cent of the nests located are along the roadside, and one is rarely found in the thicker mesquite. The nests offer a marked contrast to those of the Orchard Oriole, as they are always formed of horse-hair, twine or raw cotton, while the material used by the latter is chiefly dried grasses. Nests in April and May. Quiscalus quiscula .aeneus. Bronzed Grackle. This species arrives here in ?reat numbers in the early spring, but gradually disappears, leaving only a few to nest in the trees along the various streams. The eggs are laid in May and Ju?. Me9?quiscalus major macr?urus. Great-tailed Grackle. Common in all portions of the county, many of them nesting along streets in the city of San Antonio. In 1915 num- bers of them settled on Mitchell's Lake, where they nested in large colonies in the reeds. hey breed from the latter part of May to the middle of July. Passer dornesticus. English Sparrow. A great pest over the entire county. Arnmodrarnus savannarum birnaculatus. Western Grasshopper Sparrow. One nest of this species containing three heavily incubated eggs was located in June, 1913, in a large meadow about eight miles south of San Antonio, wl?lch forms our only record. Chondestes grarrnrnacus strigatus. Western Lark Sparrow. Abundant over the en- tire county, nesting more plentifully in the mesquite and chaparral areas. Nests in May and June. Amphisplza billneats bilineata. Black-throated Sparrow. Fairly common over the entire county, but nesting only where an abundance of prickly pear eliors its ?avorite nesting site. This species is one which suffers heavily from the persecutions of the Dwarf Cowbird. Nests from the latter part of April through June. Airnophila ruflceps erernoeca. Rock Sparrow. We have found this species only in 'the hilly portions, where it nests in bunches of grass growing .amo?ig the tumbled rocks of the worn limestone cliffs. Nests are extremely hard to locate and one is sure of plenty of excitement, as our famous Texas rattler delights to sun himself among these same rocks. Nests in the latter part of May .and in June. Peucaea cassini. Cassin Sparrow. In the latter part of May, 1915, we located a nest containing four fresh eggs, which forms our only record of this species. CardinalIs cardinalIs ,canicaudua. Gray-ta!ied Cardinal. COmmon along'the river bottoms, but by no means plentiful in any section of the county. Nests in May and in June. P)?rrhuloxla sihuata texans. Texas Pyrrl?uloxia. Fairly plentiful in the mesquite area, where it nests in the thickest brush. 'While the nests are .practically the same as those cf the Cardinal, the .eggs show a marked difference. Those of the Pyrrhuloxia are smaller and do not have the gloss of the Cardinal eggs. Another peculiar feature is that the eggs of a set are rarely evenly marked, but shade from light to heavy markings, each egg showing a decided individuality. Nests from the latter part of April through June. Cyanospiza clris. Painted Bunting. Fairly common in all portions of the county, uesting from June to the middle of July. Splza americana. Dickcissel. In 1913 we were able to locate but two nests con- taining eggs of this species, while in 1914 the woods and fields were fairly alive with the birds, and their nests were on every hand. In 1915 we found them' it/ only a few locali- ties, and in 1916 they were by no means plentiful in any pert/on of the county. They nest in May and June. Piranga rubra rubra. Summer Tanager. A nest containing three fresh eggs, found on May 14, 1916, forms our only record of this species.
Progne subIs subis. Purple Martin..Common over the 'entire county, nesting in
the many boxes erected for them, in the eaves of buildings in San Antonio, and in aban- doned woodpecker holes in telephone poles along some of the railroad tracks. Nests in May and June. Petrochell.don lunlirons luniirons. Cliff S,?-allow. This species is found in small colonies in many portions of the hill area, where the overhanging limestone cliffs offer ideal nesting sites. Nests in May and June. INdoprocne bicolor. Tree Swallow. We have found this species only at Mitchell's Lake, where the birds nest in cavities in the dead tress standing in 'the shallow water.
