164 THE CONDOR Vol. XIX 



long period as on September 26 I flushed a parent from its nest containing four young 

 with eyes not yet opened. On that same date there were birds of the year about, which 

 retained only traces of the spotting en the breast indicative or the juvenile plumage. The 

 adults, however, were just beginning to acquire new body and tail feathers when I left. 



Pipilo maculatus montanus. Mountain Towhee. Fairly common above 6500 feet. 

 Young, barely able to fly, were taken September 10. 



Guiraca caerulea lazula. Western Blue Grosbeak. A conspicuous breeding species 

 along the Limpia up to 6000 feet. Young able to fly only a few feet were found Septem- 

 ber 20. Departs by October 1. 



Spiza americana. Dickcissel. A lone bird, perching in a low oak near the ranch 

 house on Limpia Ranch, was secured on September 16. 



Piranga hepatica hepatica. Hepatic Tanager. Not less attractive and far more 

 abundant than either of its two relatives occurring in these same mountains. This spe- 

 cies characterizes the lower edge of the pine zone. Its center of abundance was the site 

 of the old government saw mill at 7000 feet altitude. The number of individuals present 

 at times suggested that they were, perhaps, transients from the Guadaloupe Mountains 

 to the northwestward. On the last visit I paid to its haunts, September 6, it was still in 

 evidence, but in diminished numbers. I recall seeing no males alive that had mixed 

 plumage, and in the series taken there are none. It is possible that the immature birds 

 had departed from the region before my first meeting with the species. 



Piranga rubra cooperi. Cooper Tanager. Fairly numerous among the cotton- 

 woods at the mouth of Limpia Canyon and occasionally ascending along the course of 

 that stream to 6000 feet. An adult male taken September 20 had completed the molt into 

 the fall plumage. This was the last record for the species. 



Lanivireo solitarius cassini. Cassin Vireo. The heavy arborescent growth made 

 possible by the spring on the hill slope above Highland Springs Ranch was a haven for 

 several species of vireos. On October 6 a bird, noticeably different from the prevailing- 

 form {plumbeiis) was secured. It was identified as cassini by the Biological Survey. 



Vireo huttoni stephensi. Stephens Vireo. In the situation given for the preced- 

 ing I found a few individuals of this small vireo on October 5 and 6. 



Dendroica aestiva sonorana. Sonora Yellow Warbler. A tolerably numerous tran- 

 sient along the lower course of the Limpia from September 4 to 16. It favored thickets 

 composed of desert willow and walnut. 



Dendroica townsendi. Townsend Warbler. By far the most abundant member of 

 the warbler family over the entire mountains during my stay. 



Icteria virens longicauda. Long-tailed Chat. Due to constant moisture, a vigor- 

 ous composite undergrowth covered the ground under much of the area of the cotton- 

 wood groves. Here Chats and Yellowthroats were at home. I shot an example of the 

 former on September 20 with most of the feathers of the head and throat in sheaths and 

 almost minus a tail. 



Mimus polyglottos leucopterus. Western Mockingbird. Occasionally ventured by 

 way of the Limpia Canyon up to an altitude of 5700 feet, but not abundant even about 

 Fort Davis. 



Toxostoma curvirostre curvirostre. Curved-billed Thrasher. Considerable inter- 

 est is attached to the finding of this thrasher in the Davis Mountains owing to its alti- 

 tudinal range. It was observed daily about the buildings at Limpia Ranch, its favorite 

 retreat being the woodpiles and nearby vegetable gardens. Aside from this, I met with 

 it only where patches of nopal (opuntia) grew. This cactus ascends nearly to 6000 feet 

 and the Curve-bill does likewise. Adults were in ragged condition, with new body feath- 

 ers a-ppearing in patches, in September and early October. 



Thryomanes bewicki eremophilus. Desert Wren. Common throughout the oak re 

 gions. Its actions and notes were not distinguishable from the other forms of this genus. 

 Sitta carolinensis nelsoni. Rocky Mountain Nuthatch. Another oak zone frequent- 

 er, likewise abundant. Occasionally enters the pines. Molt completed in September. 



Baeolophus atricristatus atricristatus. Black-crested Titmouse. Often found with 

 the nuthatches, but descending to a lower altitude. 



Penthestes gambeli gambeli. Mountain Chickadee. Rather plentiful resident of 

 the pine zone. While not shy it appeared to me as a more active bird than P. carolinen- 

 sis agilis of central Texas; also possessing more penetrating call notes. 



