THE WILSON QUARTERLY. 3 



shooting for many of the Arizona birds. This holder is 

 three miles or more away, with HttJe or no shooting be- 

 tween ; but by bearing- to the east for a mile, I came to one 

 of those dry runs, with bushes and a few low trees, which 

 increase as we follow it towards the river, and now our 

 collecting may begin. 



One of the first birds to claim our attention is the Ash- 

 throated Flycatcher, which can be taken in any desired 

 quantity. The pretty little Yellow-headed Tit, or Verdin, 

 is next noticed. They are rather common, and one is likely 

 soon to find one of their curious nests, which is some five 

 inches in diameter and as round as an orange. They bristle 

 all over with thorns and ends of stiff twigs, and the round 

 entrance on the side is so small that a finger will scarcely 

 enter it. Whether by chance or otherwise, this, of all the 

 nests I have found, has been on the south or south-east side. 

 Authors sa}^ the nest is in Imshes four or five feet high, but 

 I have found them at least fifteen feet high, A nest and 

 set of the lovely little eggs are a charming addition to my 

 collection. As we follow along, the Mockingbirds become 

 numerous, but are exactly like those we get fromi one 

 ocean to the other. Now why is it, that the desert with 

 its wonderfully strong sunlight and lack of shade, devolopes 

 so many pale races, sub-species and species, among so 

 many species and genera of birds, and seems to have no 

 influence whatever on others ? 



We now begin to see Gambel's Partridge, in pairs or 

 small coveys, liurrying across the wash or running from 

 bush to bush, while the California Shrike seems very com- 

 mon. The glossy Phainopepla are now plentiful, but seem 

 rather shy, and may show you the white in their expanded 

 wings several times before you succeed in shooting them. 

 They, with mockers, shrikes, and ash-throated flycatchers, 

 occur far out on the open desert. We now see sparrows of 

 several species. Among thein are Brewer's, Western Chip- 

 ping, Western Lark, Black-throated, and Sage Sparrows. 

 All along I have noticed what I supposed to be Black-tailed 

 Gnatcatchers, but which prove to be Plumbeous Gnat- 

 catchers, and they are very abundant in this section. Now 



