BIKDS OF THE PAPAGO SAGUAKO NATIONAL MONUMENT. 47 



date for a complete set, and April 19 date of first young found. May 17 was the 

 latest date of nest with eggs. * * *. ,. 



The entrance to the nest holes varies much, as may be seen from the figures 

 given. The smallest entrance measured 2| inches and the largest 4J inches. 

 The shallowest hole was 10 inches, and the deepest 18 inches. The average 

 diameter of entrance to 36 holes measured was 3.28 inches, and average depth 

 of same holes was 12.75 inches. The entrance to the 18-inch hole was 3$ 

 inches in diameter, and while the ratio is not constant, the shallower holes tend 

 to have smaller entrances and the deeper holes have larger entrances. It was 

 difficult to measure the diameter of the bottom of the nest holes without de- 

 stroying the nest, and this was not to be considered when the hole was occu- 

 pied, so very little data was secured. From the few measurements taken it 

 may be stated that the bottom of the nest hole is from 4$ to 6 inches in 

 diameter. It is hardly correct to use the term diameter, as many of the hole 

 bottoms were not nearly circular, one I measured being 4 inches one way and 

 6 the other. This variation seemed to be governed by the size of the cactus, 

 as in the smaller plants there was not room to excavate a large circular bot- 

 tom, and it had to be stretched one way. How the four young find growing 

 room in some of the nests is a puzzle; I have never been able to fit them back 

 when once removed, unless it was done soon after they hatched. 



The gilded flickers do not object to using a hole after the entrance is en- 

 larged. Two years ago I cut into a hole occupied by a Gila woodpecker, and 

 the following season a flicker used it. In the same tree at the same time I 

 cut into a flicker's nest, and the following year a sparrow hawk occupied it 

 with four eggs. 



While speaking of Gila woodpeckers I mentioned catching one at work ex- 

 cavating a hole in a stump. A short time afterwards I examined the hole and 

 found a gilded flicker at home there with three tiny young and two infertile 

 eggs. She had taken the hole and enlarged it sufficiently to accommodate her 

 family. 



The young when first hatched are not very prepossessing to anyone, except, 

 perhaps, the parents. At first glance they remind one of the pictured restora- 

 tion of the Plesiosaurus, with their long twisting naked necks. The lowei 

 mandible was more than an eighth of an inch longer than the upper, and on 

 the tip of each was the hard white growth used in opening the shell. At this 

 nest the parents showed more solicitude than any others I had seen, coming 

 as close as 4 feet from me. In most instances they are rather indifferent, even 

 when the young loudly protest at being handled. One nest examined contained 

 four nearly grown. When disturbed one of them flew from the nest and landed 

 about 100 yards distant, coming to the ground very awkwardly, but flying as 

 well as though he were a graduate from a school of aviation. Two others then 

 left the nest but made only short flights. I caught and tried to keep them 

 still enough for a photo, but did not have enough hands to hold them still and 

 operate the camera. They made enough noise to attract attention but neither 

 parent put in appearance to investigate the disturbance. 



They are not close sitters, and usually leave the nest before the tree is 

 reached or the ladder placed against the trunk. As soon as an intruder's foot- 

 steps become audible the landlady pokes her head from the entrance and soon 

 after departs, never giving opportunity for capturing her on the nest. Deserted 

 flicker nest holes are made use of by several other birds. In these holes I 

 have often found sparrow-hawks and Saguaro screech owls. Once a Bendire 

 thrasher made her nest in one with a crack in one side that let in light enough 

 for her. In a partly excavated hole I found the nest of a western kingbird, 

 and in another the nest of a house finch. Occasionally the cactus wren builds 



