1S90.] Mearns, Arizona Mountain Buds. -59 



Poocaetes gramineus confinis. Western Vesper Sparrow. — A com- 

 mon summer resident in the upper pines. On San Francisco Mountain 

 it was found breeding, in June, up to the altitude of about 10,000 feet, 

 occupying grassy openings where there were a good many rocks. 



Chondestes grammacus strigatus. Western Lark Sparrow. — A 

 very common summer resident through the pines. It ranged up to the 

 true base of the San Francisco cone, the country above that point being 

 obviously unsuited to it. It nests indifferently in bushes or upon the 

 ground, and sings sweetly until midsummer. 



Zonotrichia leucophrys. White-crowned Sparrow. — I found it at 

 the base of San Francisco Mountain, apparently breeding, in June. I also 

 shot a bird which I supposed to be Z. intermedia, but could not find the 

 specimen. The Intermediate Sparrow is believed to breed wholly north 

 of the United States; but from this circumstance and its late occurrence 

 at Fort Verde (May 11, 18S7) it seems not improbable that some breed 

 within our borders, in the higher portions of the Rocky Mountains. 



Spizella socialis arizonae. Western Chipping Sparrow. — Breeds 

 abundantly from the lower pines to near the tops of the highest peaks. 

 In June it was found at the elevation of 10,000 feet on San Francisco 

 Mountain; and it likewise resides during summer on the highest crests 

 of the Mogollon range. 



Junco cinereus dorsalis. Red-backed Junco.- — Typical dorsalis breeds 

 very plentifully through the northern Mogollon and San Francisco Moun- 

 tains, but does not appear until one has ascended a considerable distance 

 into the pine belt. It is the most characteristic bird of this higher region. 

 Sets of fresh eggs were found from May 22 to July 22, 1SS7, the nesting 

 season varying considerably with the altitude, but the clutch seen on the 

 last date probably belonged to a second brood. A typical nest was found 

 on Mav 30, 1SS7, in pine woods near the bottom of a ravine on Mormon 

 Mountain. At a short distance was a deep snow-bank. The male parent 

 flew from the nest, beneath my horse's feet, where I found it concealed in 

 a thick bunch of wire-grass. It was composed of fine roots, stems of 

 plants, grasses, and an occasional feather, loosely put together in the 

 manner of most ground nests. It contained four eggs, of an elongated 

 oval shape, measuring (in millimetres) 15 X 21, 15 X 20.5, 14.7 X 21.5, 

 15.4 X 21. Three of them are marked with lilac and reddish brown on a 

 greenish white ground, the spots forming a circle around the great end; 

 the remaining one differs from the others in having the wreath of spots 

 about the small end. 



I found its nest close to the upper edge of timber on San Francisco 

 Mountain about the middle of June, and another nest on the very top of 

 Baker's Butte, containing eggs, on the 22d of July. 



Pipilo chlorurus. Green-tailed Towhee. — It was not found breed- 

 ing, but was common through the mountains in May and June. In the 

 latter month I saw it on Mount Humphreys, of the San Francisco group, 

 above 11,000 feet, timber line being at 11,46s feet, and the highest land in 

 Arizona (the summit of Humphreys Peak) 12,56s feet. 



