Brewster on a Collection of Arizona Birds. 141 



nor (t^g resembles that of S. rnticilla. But a greater sui-prise is 

 the character of the nesthig-site. which was •• under a projectino- 

 stone, in a bank near a small stream." This position is so unex- 

 pected that, from an unproved collector. I should hesitate to 

 accept the accompanying evidence of identification, which is a 

 simple statement that the parent was sitting, and was distinctlv 

 seen. But knowing as well as I do Mr. Stephens' unusual accu- 

 racy and conscientiousness in such matters I cannot doubt the 

 correctness of his determination, especiallv as the Painted Red- 

 start is a bird of such striking cf)l:)rs and markings that it could 

 not possibly be mistaken by one who is so familiar with its ap- 

 pearance in life.* After all the case is not more peculiar than 

 that presented among Hclnii)ithop]iihc h\ Lucv's .warbler wnich, 

 as has just been shown, departs from the normal nesting habits 

 of the genus and builds in holes, behind loose bark and in a'l sorts 

 of unexpected places. The nest aboxe described w;!s taken Mav 

 iS. when the eggs were sufficienth advanceil in incubation to 

 show that the clutch was complete. 



Mr. Henshaw comparing the sexes, savs : --The adult plumage of the 

 sexes differs little, though the coloration in the female is quite perceptibly 

 duller throughout. The black is less lustrous; the wings are blackish 

 brown instead of pure black: the white on the wing confined to the cov- 

 erts, and onl\' just visible on the edges of the secondaries." These differ- 

 ences, however, are not always maintained for one of the two adult 

 females before me is quite as bright as the average male, while the 

 black is not less lustrous, and the white edging on the secondaries is 

 even broader. The other is more like those examined by Mr. Henshaw, 

 but seems to be peculiar in having the sides, with a broad collar across 

 the nape, fine stone-grav. 



* A letter ji st received from Mr. Stephens contains the following verv satisfactory 

 confirmation of the above evidence. "The identification of your nest of 6'. picta is 

 positive. I saw the parent plainly, and could easily have shot her. Indeed I should 

 never have found the nest had not my attention been called to it by the birds flying 

 from it as I brushed past almost within touching distance. Wljen first found, the nest 

 contained three eggs. I thought it best to leave them until next day to see if more 

 might not be laid. * * * When I returned, however, the bird was not at home and 

 as it was a long, rough walk to camp, I took the nest, their being no occasion to visit 

 the spot again. * * * The locality was a wide part of a canon between the two Santa 

 Rita peaks, perhaps two miles from the top of the high ridge connecting them. Up 

 this canon passed an old Mexican road to' the pine timber above. It had not been 

 used for many years. In its course it cut through an occasional projecting bank, and 

 in one of these places was the nest. It was under a small boulder in the side of a 

 nearly perpendicular bank, which was but two or three feet high. The vicinity was 

 heavily timbered with oak and sycamore. I regard the ]iosition as exceptional: still, 

 it mav be the rule." 



