dinals (Cardlnalls cardi nails superbus). Mexican Goshawks {Asturina plaglala) 

 still clung to their ancient haunts with trees falling on every side of them. Audu- 

 bon Caracaras (Poli/borus cheriway) appeared twice along the central channel of 

 the Santa Cruz. And once the boys saw a wandering Wood Ibis {Mycteria 

 amerlcana). Altogether 95 species of birds were seen in the forest and upon its 

 outskirts between May 8th and May 26th. And again in June, when all migrants 

 had passed, we listed 68 species of breeding birds between June the 2nd and the 

 14th. 



If it is remembered that Assistant Clay devoted more than half his time 

 to the preparation of bird skins, and that the "Chief" indulged in photography 

 (mildly), and in note-books (all too sparingly); and, lastly, if it is understood that 

 the "Chiny cook" (Giles E. Dawson, aged 14) devoted his time chiefly to the 

 swatting of flies, the burning of prunes, the over-salting of rice, and other domestic 

 duties, the following examples of oological book-keeping may not be uninstructive: 

 May 8-25 inclusive; New locations found 436; number of occupied nests examined 

 324; sets taken 113. In June, records of only four days were kept, June 2, 4, 5, 

 and 7. On the 2nd of June on the sahuaro desert adjacent to the forest, 80 oc- 

 cupied nests belonging to 20 species were examined, and 14 sets taken. In the 

 four days inclusive 248 occupied nests were examined, of which 21 per cent were 

 taken. In the 22 days for which systematic records were kept 572 nests of 41 

 species were examined, and 165 sets taken. 



The writer is explicit about this, the most intensive egg-collecting (save 

 of sea fowl) which he ever engaged in, in order that the protectionistic gunners 

 elsewhere referred to in these pages may be provided with a target of high visibil- 

 ity. Remember, if you care to, that the material taken has become the property 

 of the scientific world. Remember that we were spending a thousand dollars 

 on the trip, and that we were fourteen days drive from home. Now compare the 

 total "take" with the published figures of bird skins taken by single collectors or 

 expeditions in comparable stretches of time, and duly reported in the columns 

 of "The Ibis," "The Auk," "The Emu," etc. Remember, finally, that a take of 

 165 sets of eggs in 22 days represents the average destruction caused by three 

 pairs of blue jays in the same period of time. "When you are ready, Gridley, 

 you may fire." 



On the 26th of May our entire party undertook a five day trip to the 

 Patagonia Mountains, a small semi-arid range which lies just inside the southern 

 border of Arizona. A momentary dash into Mexico, at Nogales, with a rush of 

 hostile customs officers while we were turning around on thetr side of the street, 

 lent spice to our adventure; and we had need of spice, because the Patagonias 

 were disappointing in their bird life. One saw, however, Arizona Jays, Wood- 

 house Jays and Long-crested Jays, all in a half-day climb; and one heard the ex- 

 alted strains of Scott Orioles, forever memorable as utterance of the authentic 

 wilderness. Of nests we took only Arizona Jay, Long-crested Jay, Scott Oriole, 

 Palmer Thrasher, Lead-colored Bush-Tit, and Mexican Cooper Hawk {Ace ip iter 

 cooper I mexlcanus) . But a run of fifty or sixty miles which yields fifteen or 

 twenty additions to one's life horizon could be voted a success, in spite of meager 

 oological returns. 



Of the June residence at the Mesquite Forest, the nesting of the Western 

 Chat was easily the outstanding feature. Chats simply seethed through the 

 Zizyphus thickets, and the opportunity for speculation which their nests afforded 

 was as to the number and variety of Cowbirds' eggs which a given nest might 

 contain. The Dwarf Cowbird {M. ater obscurus) appeared to specialize on this 

 species, now that Vireo nesting was practically over. The Bronzed Cowbird 

 {Tangavius aeneus aeneus), however, devoted herself sedulously to the nesting 

 of the Arizona Hooded Oriole. We found Orioles' nests which contained eggs 

 of both species of Cowbirds; and in one instance a Bronzed Cowbird 's egg had 

 been deposited in a last year's nest which hung just above this year's structure. 

 Either there was a "hen en" at the time of the parasite's visit, or else she had 

 adjudged the lower nest already full enough. One pair — if it could be called a 

 pair — of Bronzed Cowbirds attached themselves to our camp — perhaps lor no 



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