lack of the cholla cactus from this 

 station could account for the absence 

 of the elsewhere abundant Palmer's 

 Thrashers (T. curvirostre palmer i). We 

 found nests of three of the species, the 

 Crissal, the Bendire, and the Mocker, 

 while at a nearby point I remember 

 seeing a Crissal, a Le Conte, and a 

 Mockingbird hopping about within 

 arm's length of each other in a single 

 bush. If these birds had been silent, 

 the occasion would have been less 

 noteworthy; but when to the pleasure 

 of new species was added the medley 

 of a group of America's most gifted 

 songsters, the hour became memorable. 



The real objective of our ex- 

 pedition was the famous Mesquite 

 Forest. This lies, or did lie, some 

 twelve miles south of Tucson. Fed 

 by secret springs of the Santa Cruz 

 River, which has been alternately 

 flowing and trickling underground 

 ever since it left the Mexican border, 

 some sixty miles to southward, the 

 humble mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) 

 rises here to the dignity of a real tree, 

 and this forest, once matchless for size 

 and extent, contained trees sixty and 

 seventy feet in height and up to three 

 feet in diameter. A ruthless policy 

 of deforestation, which was culminat- 

 ing at the time of our visit, had re- 

 duced the heavier timber to about 

 four-fifths of its former abundance and 

 the destruction was going on, accord- 

 ing to the Indian agent in charge, at 



the rate of 2500 cords per annum. At that rate the forest could not have held 

 out above two years longer. Without doubt the intensity of the nesting opera- 

 tions which we found in progress during our stay was due, chiefly, to the conges- 

 tion caused by the rapid decrease of available nesting area. As an oological 

 opportunity, the occasion was unique; but as an example of governmental 

 waste, the situation was appalling. 



Conditions in the Mesquite Forest have been so often and so well done 

 for American readers, that I shall do no more than to review some of the more 

 prominent species, and summarize. 



Without doubt the presiding genius of the enchanted forest is the Ver- 

 milion Flycatcher {Pyrocephalus rublnus tnexicanus). Although at times pain- 

 fully conscious of his resplendent coloring of scarlet-red, flame-scarlet and black, 

 the male of this species makes the frankest display of his person, and sows the 

 forest with his earnest notes. No spectacle could be more appealing than the 

 ecstacy song flight of the male Vermilion. In him the pride and joy of life burst 

 cover, and the little tyrant, breasting the sun, now flutters with exaggerated 

 wing-motion, thinking only of display and not at all of progress, and now pours 

 forth his soul in a stirring song, tutty tutty I idly tidly zzlngh. The last note is a 

 singularly vibrant sound, sufficient in itself to entitle the performer to a decora- 

 tion. There is not the smallest question, either, that the demure mate, seated on 

 her nest, enjoys the aerial gallantry, even if she would quite as lief the gaudy hero 

 would not come close enough to give away their secret. The eggs of Pyroceph- 



30 



FEMALE VERMILION FLYCATCHER 

 (Pyrocephalusrubinus) BEHIND NEST 



