Sept., 1922 CACTUS WRENS’ NESTS IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA 167 
ers in the hallway. A new cholla nest that was being built on our departure 
was notable for its beautiful pearly seed-scales taken from the Ephedra, scales 
which suggested white rosettes. Plant materials from a cholla nest were iden- 
tified by Mr. Gorm Loftfield as follows: 
Eriogonum polycladon, fair amount. Aristida divaricata, much. 
Eriogonum abertianum, fair amount. Aristida bromoides, much. 
Evolvulus (argenteus?), some. Bouteloua rothrockii, fair amount. 
Haplopappus gracilis, little. Bouteloua aristidoides, some. 
Chaetochloa composita, fair amount. Andropogon saccharoides, fruits mostly. 
Lupinus parviflorus and Hosackia tris- 
perma, fair amount in one part of 
nest, practically none elsewhere. 
DIRECTIONS FACED BY NESTS 
_A study of the direction faced by the nests was taken up to determine if 
the birds were influenced in building by the prevailing direction of the winds 
and storms which come from the Gulf of California to the southwest, from 
which would also come the hottest, most prolonged summer sunshine. 
In the summaries given beyond, the directions between the cardinal points 
of the compass are lumped and seem to indicate a preference for the sunny 
and windy exposure. Taking the nests facing only directly southwest, how- 
ever, we have only fourteen out of ninety-five; but in a matter of wind and 
sun narrow limitations seem unsafe for generalizations. 
It can be fairly said, nevertheless, that southwest nests, not in cholla, so 
far as could be determined through obstructing mistletoe, were so well sup- 
ported and protected as to be practically storm proof. Perhaps the most strik- 
ing of these was in a catsclaw surrounded by dense mistletoe, for it lay on the 
main leaning trunk and was arched so low as to present a strong wall to the - 
wind. 
The damage done to badly situated and poorly constructed and protected 
nests was easily seen, in one case the whole entrance being blown to one side. 
The cholla nests especially showed evidence of being beaten by the wind, many 
of them lying on top of low cactus, inadequately anchored and open to the 
storms. 
SUMMARY 
I. THIRTY-SEVEN NESTS INSIDE THE 53 ACRES 
Location. Of the 37 nests, 21 were in catsclaw (15 in red mistletoe), 15 in 
zizyphus, and 1 in mesquite (in red mistletoe). 
The approximate height from the ground varied from 4 to 9 feet; 5 were 
4 to 5 feet; 9,5 to 6 feet; 11, 6 to 7 feet; 5, 7 to 8 feet; and 7, 8 to 9 feet. 
Approximate length of nests. Those whose outline could be seen varied 
from 7 to 12 inches, 12 inches apparently being the normal Jength. 
Feathers seen at entrance. In 15 of the nests low enough to be examined, 
feathers were seen either in the mouth or outside the entrance. Sometimes 
they were scattered among the leaves below as if dropped from the entrance. 
Disused nests. Only 7 surely, and 2 probably, were disused. 
Wrens found roosting in nests. Of the 23 wrens found, the earliest was- 
discovered at 4:28 p. m. (January 13), no others being found for nearly an 
hour later. Practically all went in at sunset, the afterglow being noted at 6:10. 
The records ran: 5:40 p. m. January 30: 5:53 P. M. February 3; 5:54 p. M. Jan- 
uary 30; and 5:55, 5:55-+, 6:01, 6:03, 6:05, 6:05--, 6:07, 6:10 (also February 
3), 6:10+, 6:12, and 6:13 p. m. February 2; most of the others being recorded 
after sunset. 
