294 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIF.NCES [Proc. 4th Sf.k. 



Explanation, Plate 17 

 DESERT BIRD GROUP 



In this group, presented to the California Academy of Sciences by 

 lion. Wm. B. Bourn, are shown, under natural surroundings, several 

 species of the birds that nest in the Colorado and Mohave deserts of 

 southern California. The particular locality represented is near Cotton- 

 wood Springs, 26 miles northeast of Mecca, Riverside County, California. 



The spring rains transform the desert into a veritable flower garden, 

 and many and varied forms of vegetation send forth an astonishing 

 amount of beautiful bloom. Then is the nesting time of the birds, which 

 are there in surprising numbers, some of them, as the Hooded Oriole 

 and the Vermilion Flycatcher, rivaling the flowers in brilliancy of colora- 

 tion. 



The total number of species of birds nesting in this part of the Colo- 

 rado desert is more than a score, and some species, as Gambel's Quail, 

 are very abundant. The nests, however, are usually widely scattered 

 except in the vicinity of water. 



The following species of birds are shown in this group : Phainopepla, 

 Costa's Hummingt)ird, Mourning Dove, White-rumped Shrike, Plumbeous 

 Gnatcatcher, Lincoln Sparrow, Western Mockingbird, Texas Woodpecker, 

 Desert Sparrowhawk, Vermilion Flycatcher, Bullock's Oriole, Arizona 

 Hooded Oriole, Roadrunner, Cactus Wren, Flouse Finch, Texas Night- 

 hawk, Gambel's Quail, Desert Sparrow, Leconte's Thrasher, Arkansas 

 Kingbird, Verdin and Abert's Towhee. The principal plants shown are : 

 The Palo Verde, Spanish Bayonet, Deerhorn Cactus, Prickly Pear Cactus, 

 Barrel Cactus, Ocatilla, and the Smoke Tree or Palo Blanco. 



Group prepared under the immediate direction of Paul J. Fair. 



Background painted by Charles Bradford Hudson. 



Photo by Gabriel Moulin. 



