1SS7-] Scott on the Birds of Arizona. 197 



record, as above, is the first for the Southern Rocky Mountain region. 

 As lie suggests, their appearance there is doubtless unusual, and doubt- 

 less to be considered as a temporary incursion from the Pacific coast region. 

 -J. A. A. 



139. Carpodacus cassini. Cassin's Purple Finch. — The first records 

 I have of this species were made in the pine region of the Catalinas late 

 in November, 1SS4. ^See Auk. Vol. II, p. 173.) Later in the same year 

 they were present near my house, feeding on the young buds of cotton- 

 wood. My notes speak of them as not uncommon through February and 

 March at this point, females and immature birds largely predominating. 

 The latest note of 18S5 is on April 27, when, at the same locality, a single 

 one was seen and taken, moulting. I did not meet with them in the moun- 

 tains afterward, but saw a large flock, many in adult plumage, at Tucson, 

 February 19, 1SS6. 



140. Carpodacus frontalis. House Finch. — An abundant summer 

 resident, breeding both about Tucson and in the Catalinas up to an alti- 

 tude of about 6500 feet. They are present about Tucson in smaller num- 

 bers during the colder months. This is also true of the species in the 

 lower foothills of the Catalinas, though here they are not nearly so com- 

 mon in winter as about Tucson. The regular migration brings them back 

 to these mountains in large numbers late in February. At first they are 

 in flocks of considerable size, but soon pair and by the third week in 

 March begin nesting. The nesting site is usually in a cholla at no great 

 distance from the ground. I have records of nests, however, sixty feel 

 from the ground in sycamores, and in almost every variety of bush and 

 tree. 



141. Loxia curvirostra stricklandi. Mexican Crossbill. — During my 

 visit to the Catalinas in November, 1SS4, I did not meet with any Cross- 

 bills, though careful search was made. But on a subsequent visit to the 

 same locality, November 3-S, 1SS5, I found the species abundant and quite 

 generally distributed throughout the pine woods. They fed almost exclu- 

 sively on the seeds of the pine and seemed to affect the vicinity of streams 

 or brooks, constantly going to drink. Now and then I noticed single 

 birds alight on the ground, apparently in search of seeds that had been 

 dropped. 



[Fifteen specimens were sent to me by Mr. Scott. They were forwarded 

 to Mr. Brewster for examination in connection with Professor Dyche's 

 specimens obtained at Lawrence, Kansas, and form a part of the Arizona 

 material referred to by Mr. Brewster in his note to Professor Dyche's 

 paper published in 'The Auk,' Vol. Ill, pp. 260-261. — J. A. A.j 



142. Spinus tristis. American Goldfinch. — My records of this 

 species are very limited and were all made near my house in the Cata- 

 linas. They are as follows : 



December 19, 1SS5. Flock of three, two males and a female: all adult 

 and in winter plumage. December 30, 1885. Took two adults, — all 

 that were seen. February 4, 1SS6. Took a single female. 



So far as I am aware, Mr. Brown has not found this species about Tuc- 



