2Q6 Mearns 071 the Birds of Arizona. [ July 



Another nest was discovered on June 14, in an isolated mes- 

 quite grove. It was placed upon a horizontal bough of a large 

 mesquite-bush {^Prosopis \_Algarobia\ g'landzilosa) ^ where it 

 made a conspicuous object, owing to its bulk and exposed posi- 

 tion. It w^as well built and contained two eggs, resembling those 

 of the Robin. The proprietors of this nest divided their attention 

 between the cai'e of their nest and a family of young not yet . 

 capable of shifting for themselves. Two days later this nest was 

 taken with its full complement of four eggs, the female parent, 

 and a pair of the young of the previous brood. The plumage of 

 the latter is fresh and soft, contrasting strongly with the worn 

 and faded feathers of the old bird. The only difference in the 

 dress of the young in first plumage from the adult consists in 

 the much darker tail, and brighter plumage generally, of the 

 young bird. If any tangible differential characters can be assign- 

 ed to the young, they may be summed up by saying that the tail 

 and colors generally are darker and brighter, the markings more 

 distinct, and the castaneous of the underparts nearly confined to 

 the tail-coverts and crissum, instead of tingeing the abdomen as in 

 adults. The irides, in birds just hatched, are whity-brown, 

 gradually becoming paler, and finally assuming the yellowish 

 color, which never becomes bright yellow even in adult birds. 

 The tail of the parent exhibits an appearance which is common 

 at this season : the central tail-feathers, being subjected to the 

 effects of light far more than the lateral ones which they cover 

 and protect when the tail is closed, are bleached to pale ashy- 

 drab, quite different from the outer ones. The same is noted in 

 the case of the White-winged Dove {^Melopelia leucopterd) and 

 other species in this land of perpetual sunshine. The eggs of 

 this set are elongated oval in shape, rather pointed, and measure 

 29 X 20, 29 X 19.5, 30 X 20, and 28X 20.5 mm. respectively. The 

 nest was coarsely made of heavy twigs without, and finer vegeta- 

 ble materials within. 



The nest just described, and another containing four young 

 about a week old, found in a dense haw-bush a couple of days 

 later, are the only ones that I have examined containing so large 

 a complement ; and I am inclined to the opinion that three is the 

 usual number. 



For several months succeeding my arrival at Fort Verde, I 

 studied the ornis of the Valley without the aid of books, and had 



