1887.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 551 



NOTES ON A COLLECTION OF BIRDS' NESTS AND EGGS FROM 

 SOUTHERN ARIZONA TERRITORY. 



By C'APT. t HAW. E. ItKNOIKE, V. S. A. 



This collection was made by Lieut. Tlany C. Benson, Fourth Cavalry^ 

 U. S. Army, near Fort Huachuca, Ariz., and generously donated by him 

 to the National Museum. 



Fort Huachuca is situated in the southeastern portion of the Terri- 

 tory, about 18 miles from the Mexican boundary-line, and about 25 

 miles southwest from Tombstone, in latitude 31° 30' and longitude 

 110° 20'. The collection contains, besides a number of nests and eggs 

 of fairly well-known species not herein enumerated but still very desir- 

 able, the following species which are new to the Museum collection, or 

 else only very poorly represented by specimens, and about which but 

 very little is known. 



No. 312." COLUMBA FASCIATA (Say.) 

 The Baxd Tailed Pigeon. 



This pigeon is fairly common in the vicinity of Fort Huachuca during 

 the summer months, arriving about June 1 to 10 in large flocks, fre- 

 quenting the oak groves along the foot-hills and mountain sides. It feeds 

 on a berry about the size of a large pea, growing on a hardwood tree 

 not known fo Lieutenant Benson, till the acorns are of suitable size, 

 about July 15, when it feeds almost exclusively on these. 



It commences nesting about the beginning of July and continues to 

 lay till late in October 5 it does not breed in communities, however, 

 there being but one or two nests to the acre. The nests are placed in 

 live-oak trees {Quercus \(ndulata?) from 15 to 30 feet from the ground. 

 The nest is simply a slight platform of twigs on which the e:g^ is laid. 

 Eggs were taken from July 13 to September 25, 1885, inclusive. 



But a single egg is laid at a clutch, in that vicinity at least. This is 

 elliptical-ovate in shape, abruptly pointed at the smaller end ; pure 

 white in color, slightly glossy, and the five specimens sent measure 1.58 

 by 1.10, 1.G2 by 1.10, 1.62 by 1.13, 1.68 by 1.04, 1.09 by 1.00 inches. 



No. 340. BUTEO ABBREVIATUS Cab. 

 The Zone-Tailed Hawk. 



This handsome species has been observed on several occasions in the 

 vicinity of Fort Huachuca, and two specimens of this bird as well as 

 the Qgg, have been sent on by Lieutenant Benson and are now in the 



* Americau Ornitliologists' Union Check List. 



