BIRDS OF THE PAP AGO SAGUARO NATIONAL MONUMENT. 35 



Arizona the year through, though its exact distribution in summer 

 and winter, as well as the local migrations that occur, remain to be 

 worked out. As shown by the manner of occurrence of the species 

 over the Apache Trail, it is not found nesting in every one of the 

 desert valleys. In winter it is apparently of general distribution 

 throughout the lowlands of southern Arizona. 



PHAIffOPEPLA. 



Phainopepla nitens (Swainson). 



Recognition marks. Size small, total length about 8 inches. Both 

 sexes with a long crest on top of head, usually carried erect. Adult 

 male, glossy black; white on inner webs of primaries, showing as a 

 large white spot when the wing is extended, visible usually only in 

 flight. Adult female and young, plain brownish gray, the white wing 

 patch less conspicuously contrasted with the rest of the plumage. 



Occurrence. To the visitor from the east the first view of this 

 bird brings an unfailing thrill of pleased surprise. Restricted to the 

 southwest, of striking appearance, and totally different from any 

 other North American bird, the phainopepla is sure to attract atten- 

 tion. Perhaps the finest written account of such a first impression is 

 that given by Dr. Coues,- 1 one of the earliest of Arizona ornitholo- 

 gists: 



While roaming about in Arizona, sometimes hunting for birds and sometimes 

 for Indians, I used at intervals to see a bird that I did not then know, and that 

 I came to regard at last as great " medicine," so persistently did it elude me 

 now I could not get a shot at the shy thing now a fair shot offered, but we 

 had orders not to shoot for fear of discovery. It was a beautiful jet-black crea- 

 ture, showing a pair of white disks, one on each side, when it flew ; generally 

 seen amidst dense chaparral, dashing about with a nervous yet lightsome flight, 

 reminding one of the action of a mockingbird ; now for a moment balancing with 

 expanding wings and tail on some prominent spray, then darting into the air 

 to secure a passing insect, or hurrying out of sight in the safe recesses of the 

 covert. A rather harsh and querulous note, which I learned to associate with 

 this wild and restless bird, was sometimes heard; and once I listened to a 

 superb piece of music which I am perfectly sure came from this mysterious 

 stranger. It was growing dusk: the scene, the camp of a scouting-party re- 

 turning from unsuccessful pursuit of some Indians, who had raided and run off 

 our beef, and men busy gathering for burial the charred and dismembered 

 body of a comrade, who had been killed and burned a few days before on that 

 very spot, where the wolves had afterward fought for the remains. The bird 

 of omen, for good or bad, appeared in somber cerements, and sang such a requiem 

 as touched every heart ; the camp grew more quiet than usual, and we went to 

 bed early. 



It speaks little for the imagination of those familiar with the 

 species in life that so conspicuous a bird should not have been given 



1 Birds Col. Val., 1878, p. 476. 



