BIRDS OF THE PAPAGO SAGTJAEO NATIONAL MONUMENT. 41 



Occurrence. Even the most casual observer, hastening through 

 the country in swift-moving auto, or perhaps never even leaving the 

 railroad coach, can not help but have this abundant game bird 

 brought to his attention. All along the stage rOad, from Tempe 

 to Roosevelt and from Roosevelt to Globe, single birds, pairs, or little 

 companies of five or six, took flight from either side, or scurried to 

 shelter on legs moving so rapidly as to appear as a fuzzy blur. 

 About Roosevelt, from time to time, broods of tiny young were en- 

 countered (this was in June), sometimes buzzing up on all sides, 

 like overgrown bumble bees, in comical imitation of their parents' 

 roaring burst of wings, with bodies not much bigger than sparrows, 

 but well able to fly. Quite often the broods trotted along under the 

 bushes without flying, the old birds somewhat solicitous, and urging 

 the youngsters to cover as rapidly as possible. 



At Carr's ranch in the Sierra Ancha (nearly 6,000 feet altitude), 

 Mr. Carr had introduced the species, bringing young birds up from 

 the valley some years before. They had not thrived, however 

 (scarcely a matter for surprise, considering the difference in the sur- 

 roundings), and at the time of my visit their numbers had been 

 reduced to a pair or two. At least one pair raised a brood this year, 

 however, and the young birds seemed to be doing well. It was a dis- 

 tinct shock to be greeted by the unmistakable call note of this desert 

 species amid yellow pines and white oaks, and, until the explanation 

 came, most disquieting to one's sense of the fitness of things. 



The desert quail, as a rule, builds its nest upon the ground as 

 other quail do, but in southern Arizona it has been known occasion- 

 ally to utilize old thrasher or cactus wren nests, several feet up in 

 cactus or bushes. 



WHITE-WINGED DOVE. 



MelopeUa asiatica trudeaui (Audubon). 



Recognition marks. Unmistakably pigeon-like in appearance and 

 actions ; a crescent-shaped white patch on each wing and white band 

 across tip of tail, conspicuous in flight. As compared with the 

 mourning dove, the white-winged dove is of heavier build and with 

 square-tipped instead of pointed tail. 



Occurrence. Throughout the valleys of southern Arizona the 

 white-winged dovey^or Sonora pigeorKas it is generally known, is 

 an abundant summer "visiteF. Mesqlute-grown bottom lands form 

 the favorite breeding resort, and it is there or in cultivated fields 

 that the white-wings are to be found in numbers. Anywhere on 

 the desert, however, one is apt to see them, passing overhead, feed- 

 ing, or resting on the giant cactus or in the shade of the thicker 

 bushes. They also invade the towns to some extent, and may fre- 



