36 BIRDS OF THE PAP AGO SAGUARO NATIONAL MONUMENT. 



some appropriate vernacular name. In some sections it used to be 

 known as the black mocker, from its appearance in flight, which 

 suggests that of the better known mockingbird, but I have not heard 

 this name used in recent years. The bird is known everywhere, but 

 is always nameless. Of book names there are plenty. " Crested 

 shining-black white-winged flysnapper" is descriptive, but hardly 

 concise enough for, everyday use. " Shining ptilogonys " is worse 

 than the name in use. " Phainopepla ", in its meaning (shining robe) 

 is appropriate, and it is perhaps the best that we can do. It is, 

 after all. no worse than certain other scientific names of animals and 

 plants that have come into common use. 



The phainopepla, while originally a bird of the desert or of the 

 chaparral of the foothills, has no objection to towns as such, and 

 provided there is an abundant supply of pepper tree or elder berries, 

 or similar food, readily becomes tame and familiar in urban sur- 

 roundings. It can, perhaps, be observed more easily and at a closer 

 range in the parks and gardens of Phoenix and Tempe than out on 

 the desert, where it is apt to be wary and unapproachable. 



Phainopeplas were seen practically everywhere along the Apache 

 Trail : in Phoenix and Tempe, on the Papago Saguaro Monument 

 and in the willows of the near-by river bed, at points along the road 

 to Roosevelt, about the shores of the lake, at Globe, and from the 

 train at many points between Globe and Bowie. Wherever encoun- 

 tered the birds were drifting aimlessly about, apparently with no 

 home ties, and no nests were observed. 



ZONE-TAILED HAWK. 

 Sutco abbreviqtus Cabanis. 



Recognition marks. A large hawk of the soaring type ; somewhat 

 like a redtail in outline and actions, but of different coloration ; much 

 more likely to be mistaken for a turkey vulture. Adult, uniform 

 black; tail crossed by three bands, white when viewed from below, 

 gray above. Immature, with tail lacking the distinct bars, but 

 irregularly mottled with white or grayish. 



Occurrence. On June 5, as the stage swung down the steep incline 

 into Fish Creek Canyon, a hawk of jet black hue appeared, circling 

 overhead. He came nearer and nearer, until, turning with wide- 

 spread wings and tail, he was close enough to afford a clear view of 

 the pure white bar across the center of the tail. 



About a month later, on July 3, 1 was walking up the little canyon 

 south of Roosevelt Lake where there is situated a group of cliff 

 dwellings. As I neared the spring that rises a little way up the 

 canyon, a zone-tailed hawk flew hurriedly from the trees overhead. 

 The load of dust shot mistakenly sent after him had no result other 



