84 



Brewster on a Collect io7i of Arizona Birds. 



I have the Tucson nest just alluded to. It is composed 

 outwardly of twigs and weed-stalks ; inwardly of hemp-fibres ; 

 while there is a scanty lining of horse-hairs and feathei's. Like 

 most hole nests it is rather flat, and the rim is thin in places 

 where the walls of the cavity encroached on the space within. 

 The eggs are white, handsomely wreathed about the larger ends 

 with reddish-brown and umber spots, a few of which are also 

 scattered over their general surfaces. They measure respectively 

 .58X.46; .58X-46; .62X.46 ; .6oX.47- The notes accompany- 

 ing this set are as follows : — "Nest about six feet above the ground 

 in a crevice; nearly covered by bai^k. The bottom of the hole 

 contained an old nest ; over this were droppings of wood-rats, and 

 the whole filled the cavity nearly to its top. The tree (a mes- 

 quite) stood within twenty feet of a frequented road. Female 

 sitting. Eggs fresh ; one had been broken and crowded in behind 

 the nest by the parent bird." None of the other sets found by 

 Mr. Stephens contained more than three eggs and the present 

 clutch is probably an exceptionally large one. 



Juv.^ first flumage (5 No. 471, Camp Lowell, June i). — Wing-coverts 

 and inner secondaries broadly tipped and edged with pale brownish-fulvous. 

 Primaries and rectrices edged and tipped with hoary white. Rump and 

 upper tail-coverts yellowish-chestnut. No chestnut on the crown. Other- 

 wise colored like the adult. 



Among a number of adults before me the range of individual variation 

 is very limited, and is chiefly confined to the females. While it is true 

 that some of the latter are indistinguishable from the brightest males, the 

 majority have the rump and crown-patches considerably duller, the chest- 

 nut being either diluted in shade, or mixed with the color of the back. 

 In No. 206 the crown-patch is concealed, the chestnut being restricted to 

 the basal portion of the feathers. 



225, $ ad., Tucson, April 18. Length. 4.40; extent, 6.70. 



229, $ ad., Tucson, April 19. Length, 4.40; extent, 6.80. 



231, J ad., Tucson. April 19. Length. 4.40: extent, 7: wing, 2.35; 

 tail. 1.93. 



232, $ ad., Tucson. April 19. Length. 4.30; extent. 6.80; wing, 2.35; 

 tail, 1.95. 



253, $ ad., Tucson. April 21. Length. 4.40: extent, 6.70: wing. 2.21; 

 tail, 1.87. 



254, <J ad.. Tucson, April 21. Length. 4.30: extent, 6.70: wing. 2.21; 

 tail. 1.95. 



-55) $ ^'^■' Tucson. April 21. Length, 4.50; extent. 7.10: wing. 2.23: 

 tail, 1.93. 



280, $ ad., Tucson, April 2^. Length. 4.40: extent, 7: wing. 2.2>,\ 

 tail, 1.95. 



