2Ii 



Coale, Ornithological Notes from the West. * V 



tains at the mouth of the grand Copper Canon. Numerous low 

 sand-hills covered with bushes offered convenient shelter for 

 little parties of Gambel's Quail, which were constantly flushed 

 and ran ahead as I walked along the river bank. In the cotton- 

 woods birds were as plentiful as in the woods of Illinois during 

 the migration. Dcndroica cestiva sonorana and D. auduboni 

 were abundant. Several of the delicate little Lucy's Warblers 

 were taken. Their peculiar song is easily recognized when 

 once heard. Crimson-fronted House Finches, Vesper Sparrows, 

 Western Chipping and Brew r er's Sparrows, Lincoln's Finches 

 and Canon Towhees were on every hand. Black Pewees, 

 Rough-winged Swallows, and White-throated Wrens were 

 also secured. There being no grass, every bird shot fell on 

 the clean sand and was easily found. The most striking bird 

 of the Verde Valley is the Vermilion Flycatcher {Pyj-occp/iahts 

 rubineus mexicaxus), its brilliant plumage and flaring crest 

 being seen at quite a distance among the green foliage. A 

 specimen of the Rock Wren was shot in the brush. Pipilo 

 aberti lurked in the darkest bush clumps, his loud chuck 

 leading to the capture of several specimens. Amphispiza bilin- 

 cata frequented the weeds about the fences, as did the Arizona 

 Goldfinches and Western White-crowned Sparrows. An hour 

 or two in the morning would furnish all the birds I could 

 prepare by midnight, and it was with great reluctance that I 

 left this beautiful spot on the Verde. 



On the way back to Whipple I found the nest and eggs of the 

 Lead-colored Bush-Tit ( Psaltriparus phi?nbcus) and shot the 

 male bird. The nest, shaped like a purse, is eight inches long 

 and three and three-quarters inches in diameter (a large structure 

 for such a tiny bird), and was suspended from a hush four feet 

 from the ground, close to the road. There is an opening about 

 the size of a silver quarter on one side near the top. The walls 

 of the nest are nearly an inch thick and very soft, covered 

 with a wonderful collection of fine leaves, catkins, feathers, and 

 tufted seeds, besides other materials difficult to describe, the whole 

 presenting a beautiful example of bird architecture. The bottom 

 is lined with a soft bed of downy feathers, on which reposed five 

 pure white eggs, averaging .52 x .37 inches, and perfectly fresh. 

 I believe this is the second description of the nesting of Psaltri- 



