Page:Condor7(2).djvu/17

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March, ?9o5 I BIRDS OF PAPAGO INDIAN RESERVATION, ARIZONA 49 while we took the eggs, and both gave continual utterance to a loud, sharp, chip. Guiraca c. lazula. Western Blue Grosbeak. Fairly common about the culti- vated fields and pastures of the Indians. One or two broods of young were seen flying about. Piranga r. cooperi. Cooper Tanager. Fairly common, and breeding every- where in the mesquite forest, but very shy and hard to approach. Progne s. hesperia. Western Martin. While working in the giant cactus on the hill before described, a number of purple martins were observed flying about, and many of them were seen entering holes near the tops of the tallest plants. Several of the birds were shot, but they had evidently not yet begun to lay, though from their actions I think there is no doubt that they intended to occupy the holes in the cactus later on. Though most of the species found breeding at this spot were near the base of the hill, the martins stayed near the summit for the most part, and the holes they were seen flying in and out of were near the tops of the tallest of the cactuses. A little later we saw the birds as far up the Santa Cruz River as we went, about forty miles, while on our return from the Santa Rita Mountains at the end of June, they could still be seen flying about the summit of this little hill. Riparia riparia. Bank Swallow. One or two seen along the banks of the Santa Cruz River. They probably bred there though no nests were found. Phainopepla nitens. Phainopepla. Very common, and breeding everywhere in the mesquites. Lanius 1. excubitorides. White-rumped Shrike. A few seen on the open mesa. Not very common. Vireo pusillus. Least Vireo. Found breeding in abundance all through tile mesquites, just as in the willow bottoms in California. Helminthophila lucia?. Lucy Warbler. Exceedingly common, and breeding everywhere in the mesquites. Nests were found in old woodpecker holes, in natural erevices and behind loose bark, even in old verdin's nests, in fact in almost any place that would support the structure. As a rule they were built rather low down, from three to fifteen feet above the ground. Several broods are probably raised, as unfinished nests and incomplete sets were found at the same time that broods of young as large as the adults were seen flying about. Dendroica a?. sonorana. Sonora Yellow Warbler. A few were seen in the cottonwood trees near the Indiau agent's house. Just a single bird was seen in the mesquites, and I doubt very much if any breed there. Icteria v. longicauda. Long-tailed Chat. Very common. The varied notes of this bird could be heard on all sides from morning till night. Among his other vocal accomplishments tile chat seems to be a pretty g?od mimic at times. I went in pursuit of one near camp several times under the impression that it was an olive-sided flycatcher, wondering what that bird could be doing here at this time of the year. I could hardly believe it was a chat, even when I saw the bird, so good was the imitation. Mintus p. leucopterus. Western Mockingbird. Quite eomm{m in the mesquites. Toxostoma c. paltoefl. Palmer Thrasher. Seen occasionally in the mes- quites, but much mote abundantout on the mesa, where it breeds in large numbers. Toxostonta benditel. Bendire Thrasher. Quite common on the mesa. I do not recall seeing any in the mesquite forest. Toxostoma crissale. Crissal Thrasher. Breeds in the mesquites but not in any numbers. They were shy and retiring in their habits, and though fre- quently heard singing, when approached they became silent, slipping away into