THE VOICE OF THE DESERT 



52 



He is very nearly what the ornithologists call an "obligate" 

 of the saguaro, i.e., a species which cannot live except 

 where the saguaro does. But it is said that he does not 

 refuse absolutely to nest in any hole except one which 

 he has excavated in the giant cactus. Perhaps that con- 

 cession will save him, as a similar one saved (or perhaps 

 profited) the chimney swift of the East when he moved 

 from caves into the more numerous man-made chimneys. 

 In any event, one thing seems pretty certain. Those 

 of us who admire the saguaro arrived just in the nick of 

 time. A few centuries ago would have been too soon. A 

 few centuries hence would probably be too late. 



