Brewster on a Collection of Arizona Birds. 83 



The first specimen was shot April 15 at Cienega Station, where, 

 during the succeeding three days, six more were obtained. They 

 frequented large willows along the banks of a stream and, like 

 Kinglets, spent much of their time searching for food at the ex- 

 tremity of the branches. Although active and restless, they were 

 not at all shy. The only note heard here was a sharp '•'•tseep.'''' 

 On April 18 Mr. Stephens reached Tucson, where almost the 

 first birds met with were Lucy's Warblers. During the early part 

 of his stay they were more abundant among the mesquites than 

 any other species, and their ^^tseeping'" could be heard on every 

 side. They were continually in motion, flying from tree to tree, 

 and occasionally visiting some low brush in the vicinity. By the 

 38th their numbers became perceptibly diminished, but many re- 

 mained to breed in the surrounding country. The presence of 

 the species at Camp Lowell is attested by a single young specimen, 

 barely large enough to fly, which was taken there on June ist, 

 but which is unaccompanied by any special remarks. An adult 

 male from the Santa Rita Mountains, how^ever, comes to me 

 with the following comments, under date of May 19: — "This 

 is the only one of the species which I have seen here. It was 

 near the banks of a stream below the mouth of a canon, where 

 there were a few mesquites interspersed among the oaks. I 

 w^atched it for some time. It lingered among the mesquites, 

 seeming to prefer them to the oaks, in which, however, it occa- 

 sionally alighted for a moment." 



In addition to the above, Mr. Stephens' notes supplv some 

 very important information regarding the previouslv doubtful 

 nesting habits of this species. A female taken April 25, 

 proved on dissection to be about to lay, but no eggs were 

 actually taken until May 8, when a full set of five was found 

 near Tucson. After that date many nests containing either eggs 

 or young were examined. Their sites were variable ; the charac- 

 teristic place, like that of the specimen discovered by Captain 

 Bendire, was behind the loosened bark of a large tree, but use 

 was frequently made of old Woodpecker's nests, knot-holes, and 

 in short all sorts of crevices. A brood of nearly fledged young 

 (one of which is before me) was actually taken from the de- 

 seited domicile of a Yellow-headed Titmouse, which had been 

 appropriated by the new tenant without any apparent repairs or 

 alterations. Among Helniinthophilce this Wren-like mode of 

 nidification is. I believe, peculiar to this species. 



