Cj2 Mearns, Arizona AIoiiutai?i Birds. [January 



Fulica americana. American Coot. — Breeds abundantly in every 

 reedy pool, at all altitudes. Several floating nests were found, but most 

 of them were strongly moored to the reeds. At Mormon Lake a num- 

 ber of interesting nests were seen, which were protected from the fierce 

 sun by a thatch of broken cat-tails. The dusky younglings, with their 

 bright bills and orange-ornamented down, were seen in great numbers, 

 in all stages of growth, during the months of May and June, playing 

 at hide-and-seek amongst the rushes. 



Actitis macularia. Spotted Sandpiper. — These birds were apparent- 

 ly breeding at a small lake, in a crater-like depression at the summit of 

 a volcanic peak arising near the western base of the San Francisco cone, 

 the lake being at an altitude of from 10,000 to 10.500 feet. Near Baker's 

 Butte, in the Mogollon range, I saw a young of the year, on the 28th 

 of August, at the altitude of about 8,000 feet. It was in a thickly 

 wooded place, where the only water was a little rill resulting from a 

 recent rain storm. This bird also breeds in the low valleys of Arizona. 



/Egialitis vociferus. Killdeer. — Breeds in moist places up to 7000 

 feet. I cannot recall having seen it above that level. 



Cyrtonyx montezumae. Massena Partridge. — Rather scarce in most 

 portions of Arizona. Its habit of squatting motionless upon the ground 

 whenever an enemy approaches, renders it an easy prey to raptorial birds 

 and other predacious animals, and this possibly accounts for its scarcity. 

 It ranges downward into the foot-hills in winter; but in summer I have 

 found it along the crest of the Mogollon ridge at various points. I have 

 also known it to breed just below the pine belt, its lower range, therefore, 

 slightly overlapping that of Gambel's Partridge. I did not meet with it 

 on San Francisco Mountain, but its comparative scarcity and peculiar 

 habits may have caused it to be overlooked 



Dendragapus obscurus. Dusky Grouse. — In the White Mountains 

 of eastern Arizona, this Grouse is abundant. I searched for it in 

 vain elsewhere. I fully expected to find it common on the San Francisco 

 peaks. Our party ransacked them quite thoroughly, however, without 

 discovering it, and we were told by the people who live there that none 

 have been found. I learned from the Indians that there is another species 

 of Grouse in the White Mountains, which I have not seen. 



Meleagris gallopavo mexicana. Mexican Turkey. — The Turkey 

 breeds throughout these mountains. On the west side of San Francisco 

 Mountain I found it nearly up to the timber line, and was informed by 

 two shepherds who herded their sheep on the mountain that it occasion, 

 ally even crosses the highest notches between these peaks, and so reaches 

 the deep valley which they enfold upon the eastern side. It may be found 

 at watering places in large flocks. 



Columba fasciata. Band-tailed Pigeon. — A common resident of the 

 pine forests of Arizona. It feeds largely on acorns and hence spends 

 much time in the lower border of the pine zone, where oaks are numerous. 

 While encamped on the Mogollon Mountains during the months of July 

 and August, 1SS7, I observed that large numbers of Band-tailed Pigeons 



