BIRDS OF THE PAPAGO SAGUARO NATIONAL MONUMENT. 31 



came to my notice, too, of the birds coming familiarly about houses, 

 so it seems that this dweller in the wilderness is in this region 

 becoming somewhat used to civilized surroundings. 



The cactus wren was seen about Phoenix, on the Papago Saguaro 

 Monument, in and about Tempe, and at many points along the 

 stage road between this point and the foothills. About Roosevelt 

 Lake it is a fairly common species wherever there is sufficient brush 

 to afford shelter. In the vicinity of Globe several broods of young 

 were seen. In all this region the cactus wren remains the year 

 through wherever it occurs. 



VERDIN. 



Auriparus flaviceps flaviceps (Sundevall). 



Recognition marks. Of small size; in fact, the smallest of desert 

 birds save the hummingbirds and gnatcatchers ; about ty inches long ; 

 short tail. Coloration grayish; adult with yellow head and chestnut 

 patch on shoulder. 



Occurrence. The presence of the verdin will doubtless first be- 

 come known to most people through discovery of its nests. These 

 structures, old and new, adorn so many of the thorny desert bushes 

 that one can not travel far without having them brought to notice, 

 though the tiny little builders themselves are so shy and inconspicu- 

 ous as to require careful and persistent pursuit for satisfactory 

 acquaintance. 



The verdin has the same notions as the cactus wren as to the 

 proper style of a nest, for the homes the two species build are very 

 closely similar in shape and structure. The verdin, however, does 

 not dwell in the cactus, but suspends his home in other shrubbery, 

 usually far out on the smaller twigs, safe from climbing animals, 

 though conspicuously in view. It is, of course, of smaller size than 

 the cactus wren's nest, being about 8 to 10 inches long and some 5 or 

 6 inches in diameter in external measurements, and it is rather more 

 compactly woven, though of coarser material, the outside being of 

 relatively large and thorny twigs. 



Search for the builder is at first quite apt to be fruitless, but as 

 one walks over the desert there comes to the ear occasionally a faint, 

 lisping note, apparently from some distance. This is the verdin, not 

 nearly so far away as he seems, but keeping well out of sight in the 

 bushes, and, if his shelter be too closely approached, slipping un- 

 obtrusively away to a more distant thicket. If, as is often the case, 

 there happens to be a breeze stirring, he is even more elusive than 

 usual, for he seems to prefer those bushes that are being most vio- 

 lently whipped about, and he is so tiny and so inconspicuously colored 

 as to be able to flit from place to place without attracting attention. 



