42 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP 



our knowledge of tbe Arizonian Ornis. I have included no species in the 

 list which has not actually been detected in the Territory, or which must 

 necessarily be found there, from the known range of its habitat ; but frequent 

 reference is made to species, not yet recognized as components of the Arizo- 

 nian Avifauna, which in all probability are hereafter to be detected. In view 

 of the favorable circumstances attending the preparation of the list, I do not 

 think that very many species remain to be added to it. Still, as my opera- 

 tions were conducted at the most imminent personal hazard from the con- 

 tinued presence of hostile Indians, the wily and vindictive Apaches which 

 always cramped, and at times necessitated entire cessation of investigations, 

 it maybe perhaps that some species have been overlooked ; and I have only 

 the same excuse to offer, for some other shortcomings, of which no one can 

 be more fully aware than myself. I have taken care to eliminate the Whip- 

 ple birds, as contradistinguished from all others of the Territory, in order 

 that attention may be drawn to their peculiarities ; considering the Fauna of 

 any natural geographical region as more interesting and instructive than that 

 comprised within arbitrary political boundaries, since the latter almost al- 

 ways include fragments of two or more diverse Faunas ; of which fact the 

 very region now under discussion affords an example. The Whipple species 

 are preceded by an uninclosed number ; all others have their number in pa- 

 renthesis. It has been my aim merely to add to the remarks elucidative of 

 the distribution of the species, such purely technical observations, compari- 

 sons of closely allied forms, descriptions of immature or little known states 

 of plumage, as seemed quite pertinent to the subject. In a few cases syno- 

 nymy is introduced for reasons which will be obvious. Except in a few in- 

 stances of special interest I have nottouched upon the natural history proper of 

 the species, reserving for future elaboration the mass of ornithobiographical 

 notes which I have taken care to accumulate. All remarks are to be under- 

 stood as referring to the species as observed at Fort Whipple, and by myself, 

 except when the contrary is explicitly stated. 



VULTURID.E. 



1. Cathartes aura (L.) Illig. ^ 



Summer resident ; abundant. Arrives last week in March ; remains until 

 latter part of October. Resident in the southern portions of the Territory. 



(2.) Cathartes Californianus (Shaw,) Cuv. 



Resident in Southern Arizona. Individuals observed at Fort Yuma, in 

 September, 1865. 



FALCONWsE. 



3. Falco (Tinnunculus) sparverics L. 



Resident ; very abundant. In highly-plumaged spring birds, the cere, the 

 feet and the edges of the eyelids are bright vermilion, not yellow: the claws 

 and bill bluish black. 



4. Falco (Hypotriorchis) columbarius L. 



Common ; resident. " A specimen taken by me at Fort Mojave is remark- 

 able for its light colors " (Cooper). A light, dull, faded condition of plumage 

 has been already adverted to as characterizing, in many instances, birds from 

 the Gila and Colorado Valleys. 



In the immense series of " Pigeon "-Hawks which I have examined from 

 all parts of the West, I find a few specimens which constantly differ, to a 

 marked degree, from any and all of the exceedingly diverse plumages under 

 which the typical F. columbarius presents itself. These specimens are inva- 

 riably much larger than any others in the series ; are much lighter colored, 

 (yet not dull or faded,) and differ constantly in the increased number of 

 light and dark bars on the tail. Compared with a European specimen of 



[March, 



