84 Brewster on Some Arizona Birds. [January 



The female above described differs more from females of C. 

 pinnata than do eastern from western males. The under parts 

 (except the crissum and tail-coverts) are barred heavily with dull 

 black on a rusty orange ground. This rusty suffuses the lighter 

 portions of the plumage elsewhere, even tingeing the cheeks and 

 throat. 



The Heath Hen (I use the vernacular name by which it was 

 known to our forefathers) is still common on Martha's Vineyard, 

 where it is mainly, if not exclusively, confined to the woods, 

 haunting oak scrub by preference, and feeding largely on acorns. 

 Being strictly protected by law, but few are probably killed. I 

 am told by one of the Boston marketmen, however, that he has 

 had as many as twenty from the 'Vineyard' in a single season. 

 He also says that they average nearly a pound less in weight than 

 western specimens, and on this account do not sell as readily. 

 The bird is not found on the neighboring island of Naushon, des- 

 pite statements by recent writers to that effect, nor is there any 

 good evidence that it ever occurred there. There is also no rea- 

 son to believe that the stock on Martha's Vineyard has been viti- 

 ated by the introduction of western birds. It is simply the last 

 remnant of a once more or less widely-distributed race, preserved 

 in this limited area partly by accident, partly by care. According 

 to the best testimony available, the colony is in no present danger 

 of extinction. 



PRELIMINARY NOTES ON SOME BIRDS OBTAINED 

 IN ARIZONA BY MR. F. STEPHENS IN 1884. 



BY WILLIAM BREWSTER. 



Mr. F. Stephens has kindly allowed me to examine and re- 

 port on some birds selected from a large collection made by him in 

 Arizona in 1SS4. As the opportunity comes too late to admit of 

 more than a brief announcement in this number of 'The Auk,' I 

 o-ive only the more important results, reserving the remainder 

 for a future occasion. 



