April 1904] BIRDS OF THE HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA 5 



have seen several nests containing young' but a few days old the first 

 week in September. Large flocks may be seen all through the summer, 

 feeding in the oak trees in the lower parts of the mountains, but as a 

 rule, they seem to breed at rather high altitudes, for most of the nests I 

 have seen have been above 8000 feet. I know of no instance in which 

 more than one egg or one young bird has been found in a nest in this 

 region. During the breeding season the male bird is fond of sitting in 

 some elevated position, usually the top of a tall dead pine, giving utter- 

 ance, at frequent intervals, to a loud "coo," more like the note of an owl 

 than a pigeon, which can be heard at a considerable distance ; while 

 occasionally he launches himself into the air, and with wings and tail 

 stiffly outspread, describes a large circle back to his starting point, 

 uttering meanwhile a peculiar, wheezing noise impossible of description. 

 I had supposed that this noise was made by the outspread wings, but a 

 male bird which Mr. Howard had in his possession for some time, gave 

 utterance to the same sound whenever angered or excited, evidently "by 

 means of his vocal organs, as we had ample opportunity of observing. 



Zenaidura macroura (Linnaeus). Mourning Dove. 



A common summer resident, at times appearing in incredibly large 

 numbers, as in April, 1902, when they were particularly abundant. They 

 fed out on the plains below the mountains, and as it was a very dry year, 

 were obliged to fly a mile or two up the canyons for water. Morning and 

 evening they passed over our camp on their way up the canyon, the 

 flight lasting from half to three-quarters of an hour during which time 

 there was an almost continuous stream of birds passing overhead. 

 During thi^ time they formed no inconsiderable part of our daily bill of 

 fare, being almo,st the only thing in the way of small game that the 

 mountains afforded. Although usually found low down in the canyons, 

 I have occasionally seen Mourning Doves as high as 9000 feet. 



Melopelia leucoptera (Linnaeus). W^hite-winged Dove. 



In the spring the White-winged Doves make their appearance in the 

 lower parts of the mountains in small numbers, and usually in company 

 with the Mourning Doves. In 1902. the first one seen was on April 30 

 and the last May 15th. In the fall of the same year one was taken on 

 August 6; and from then on until I left, September 5, they were much 

 more abundant than I have ever seen them in the spring. Most of the 

 fall birds were young of the year; as a rule they were two together, 

 sometimes pairs and sometimes tw^o of the same sex, though occasionally 

 as many as six or eight were seen together. The White-winged Dove 

 breeds rather commonly in places along the San Pedro River some 

 twenty miles distant, but I know of no instance of its breeding in the 

 Huachucas. The highest altitude at which I have seen it in the moun- 

 tains is 5000 feet, and at that height but rarely. 



Columbigallina passerina pallescens (Baird). Mexican Ground Dove. 



A rare migrant. I secured a male bird on May 8, IQ03, the onlv one 

 I have seen in the mountains. They breed along the San Pedro River, 

 and though by no means common, a pair or two can usually be found in 

 any suitable locality, showing a marked preference for the cultivated 

 fields and damp pastures. 



Cathartes aura (Linnaeus). Turkey Vulture. 



Fairly common through the summer months. Mr. F. C. Willard 

 secured a set of eggs in Ramsey Canyon, but they don't seem to breed 



