•J7G ZOOLOGY— BIRDS. 



1859, Birds, C— Coop. & Suckl., P. R. R. Rep., xii, pt. ii, 18G0, 105.— 

 CotfES, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 18CG, 57 (Fort Whipple, Ariz.).— 

 Cooper, Birds Cal., 1870, 355. — Coues, Key N. A. Birds, 1872, 185. — Bd., 

 Buew., & Ridg., N. A. Birds, ii, 1874, 459, pi. xlvii, f. 4.— Hensiiaw, Rep. 

 Orn. Specs., 1873, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 131. 



By far the most abundant of the family in New Mexico and Arizona, as 

 shown in every locality visited by our party. Quite numerous at Inscription 

 Rock. At Camp Apache during the month of August they were seen by 

 hundreds hovering over the beds of brightly tinted flowers, which in the 

 mountains grow in the greatest profusion on the borders of the streams. 



This bird seems to affect no particular locality, but is about equally 

 abundant on the high mountains, in the open tracts of pine woods, in the 

 valleys and deep canons — in fact, wherever flowers are found. 



The males are very pugnacious, and wage unceasing warfare on 

 all the other species, as well as among themselves. Even as late as August 

 it was not uncommon to see these birds still in pairs, and established in cer- 

 tain areas, of which they appeared to consider themselves the sole possessors, 

 allowing no intruders. They manifested an especial animosity against the 

 Broad-tailed Hummer, and, on the appearance of one, would instantly dart 

 forth with shrill, angry notes, to attack and drive away the intruder ; while 

 the female, sitting on some neighboring tree, would watch the oft repeated 

 contest with evident interest. 



At Camp Grant, during the last days of September, they were still numer- 

 ous, but after leaving this point I did not again see the species. A series of over 

 forty specimens was secured, representing all stages of plumage. If this 

 species breeds in Arizona, it must retire to the depths of the highest mountains 

 to rind its summer home. In the pine woods of the White Mountains, at an 

 altitude of S,()00 feet, this species was not present, though the following ono 

 occurred there quite numerously. At Mount Graham, at from 9,000 to 1 0,000 

 feet high, I searched carefully, August 1 to 4, for evidence of the presence of 

 this bird ; but if here, it was very rare, as I only saw one which I could 

 attribute to this species, and even of this I was not able to satisfy myself 

 thoroughly, as it flew past too quickly for sure identification. Mr. C. E. Aiken 

 took several specimens near Fort Garland, Colo., thus adding the species to 



