BIRDS OF THE PAPAGO SAGUARO NATIONAL MONUMENT. 15 



times builds its nest among the arms of the cactus, but it usually 

 prefers a lower situation. 



We thus find here examples of hole-dwelling hawk, owl, wood- 

 pecker, flycatcher, and swallow, widely different birds, alike only in 

 their choice of nesting sites. It is curious that the desert should 

 also contain one species belonging to a family that elsewhere breeds 

 almost exclusively in cavities, but which here does not follow the 

 traditions of the race. This is the verdin, a titmouse dwellers in 

 holes the world over, almost but an accomplished architect, who 

 by reason of his talents finds no need of crawling into a hole for pro- 

 tection. 



The labor of excavating the nesting holes must necessarily fall 

 entirely upon the gilded flicker and Gila woodpecker, probably upon 

 the former for the most part ; for these are the only birds with the 

 skill and equipment for such labors. Do these woodpeckers of their 

 own choice construct new dwellings year after year, leaving last 

 year's homes to their unskilled neighbors, or are they unfortunate 

 drudges, frequently compelled by more belligerent associates to aban- 

 don their completed work? However this may be, the exigencies 

 of the situation frequently bring about an apartment-house-like 

 condition, with several diverse tenants living in close proximity, one 

 above the other. 



It will readily be seen in how many respects the birds of the giant 

 cactus afford attractions for the bird student. Some of the species 

 are to be found nowhere save in the vicinity of this plant, and all 

 have peculiarities of appearance or habits well worth special study. 

 The Apache Trail, in sight of giant cactus for nearly its entire 

 length, and passing in places through as fine growths of the plant 

 as are to be found anywhere, affords excellent opportunities for 

 observation of these species. Among the birds of this region are all 

 the species of the " giant cactus association " ; besides these there are 

 many of the birds that occur on the Arizona deserts elsewhere 

 than in the vicinity of this plant. 



BIRDS OF ROOSEVELT LAKE AND THE TONTO NATIONAL 

 MONUMENT. 1 



Roosevelt Lake is the name given the body of water that has 

 resulted from the damming of the Salt River. The two arms of the 

 lake, formed by the Salt and Tonto Rivers, respectively, extend each 

 about 15 miles from the dam. The width varies from a half mile 

 to about 3 miles, the general effect being of a long, sinuous body of 

 water, indented at various points by jutting peninsulas. The narrows 

 of Salt River Canyon, the site of Roosevelt Dam, are hemmed in by 

 towering cliffs, while along the shores of the lake for some 2 miles 



1 Tonto National Monument administered by the Department of Agriculture. 



