1923 BIRDS OP" THE SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS 57 



birds often join their flocks. They were seen by Bailey, December 29. 1920, in 

 the live oaks at the month of Stone Cabin Canyon, at about 4,500 feet. 



At Rosemont. on January 16, 1923, six were seen by Taylor, "two in one 

 place in company with a flock of Lead-colored Bush-Tits, four in another 

 jilace." One of their calls, he says, resembles that of the Plain Titmouse, 

 while another has "a <iuerulous quality, a little like the 'complaint' note of a 

 vireo or shrike." In Madera Canyon on February 4, Taylor found four groups 

 of perhaps half a dozen birds each, "foraging about in the snow-laden 

 branches of the oaks. Usually a kinglet was not far away, and the solitary 

 Olive Warbler collected was also, apparently, a member of one of the Bridled 

 Titmouse's neighborhood gatherings." In Stetson Dam Canyon, between 

 6,000 and 6,500 feet on February 9, 1923, one group was noted on a north slope 

 working through the oaks during a storm. The next day several groups were 

 observed in the oaks near Gardner's Ranch. 



Psaltripanis plumbeus. Lead-colored Bush-Tit 



Taken by Stephens, in 1881, on the west side of the range, where it was 

 found oftenest among the oaks of the foothills associated with the Bridled 

 Titmouse, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and several other small birds. Seven 

 adults were taken by Nelson, June 8- July 9, and nine juveniles, June 11 and 

 23, and July 6 and 9, 1884, at Gardner's Ranch. They were found quite al}und- 

 ant by Swarth, in June, 1903. Four were taken by Bailey. October 28, 1913, 

 when they were common in flocks or families of ten or a dozen. They were 

 feeding in the Brickellia californica which were full of seeds and probably also 

 of insects. Specimens were taken by Howell, August 1 and 8, 1918, wlien a 

 small flock was seen at 7,000 feet and another at 5,500 feet. 



A flock of ten or twelve was seen, January 16, 1923, by Taylor in the 

 oaks of Barrel Canyon. Two Bridled Titmice and a Stephens Vireo were with 

 the flock. 



Auriparus flaviceps flaviceps. Verdin 



Found by Swarth, in June, 1903, common in the foothill regions and over 

 the mesas below. Old nests found by us in 1920-1921, were common on the 

 Lower Sonoran mesquite slopes at about 4,000 feet, being located mainly in 

 thorny zizyphus hushes, frequently under mesquite trees. Eight birds were 

 found using their old nests, warmly lined with feathers, for winter roosts. 



While the Verdin 's loud emphatic call and its small running talk, sug- 

 gestive of that of the Bush-Tits, were heard all winter as it went about exam- 

 ining twigs and leaves and flitting from tree to tree, the greenish yelloAV of 

 its head showing as it turned, the real song was noted for the first time on 

 April 2. when one sat perched on a twig, with tail hanging or pressed in for 

 steadiness when the wind blew. The song was of three, four, or five notes, 



suggesting 1 ' ^ ' 4, .| 



he — l\o — he or lie — Jio — lie — lie. 

 When there were five notes, the last was dropped- 



