Jan., 1912 
BIRDS OF A MOHAVE DESERT OASIS 
37 
the mountains, but I only saw them once around the water hole, June 18, when 
about a dozen were observed. 
Archilochus alexandri. Black-chinned Hummingbird. Not uncommon in 
August. After that none were seen till March 20, when they began to grow numer- 
ous again. 
Selasphorus rufus. Rufous Hummingbird. A lone male lit on the clothes 
line at the mine April 10. 
Tyrannus verticalis. Arkansas Kingbird. Very abundant everywhere during 
August and September, after which they left to reappear April 2. A pair had a nest 
on the cross pieces of a telegraph pole not thirty feet from the station, and where ten 
trains passed every day. 
Myiarchus cinerascens cinerascens. Ash-throated Flycatcher. Two .seen May 
21 and a few during the following week, but none thereafter. 
Sayornis sayus. Say Phoebe. Common resident everywhere. The favorite 
nesting site was in deserted mine and prospect holes in the mountains. 
Sayornis nigricans. Black Phoebe. One or two could be seen on every trip to 
the water hole, and occasionally around houses in Yermo. 
Empidonax trailli trailli. Traill Flycatcher. Rare. One taken August 17, and 
no more observed till April 16. After May 15 a few more were noted. 
Otocoris alpestris pallida. Sonora Horned Lark. Never seen around the water 
hole or mesquites, but very abundant around town, the stock yards, open roads and 
so called dry Takes throughout the year. A specimen secured November 20 was 
identified by Mr. Swarth as belonging to a pale-colored desert race included under 
O. a. -pallida in the A. O. U. Check-List. 
Corvus corax sinuatus. Raven. Common at all times everywhere, nesting on 
cliffs in the mountains. They are exceedingly wild, and it was onl}'- through cau- 
tious hunting with a rifle that I was able to secure any. 
Molothrus ater artemisiae. Nevada Cowbird. Several small flocks were seen 
both at the water hole and in town, but only during the interval between June 1 
and 7. One secured June 7 has been identified by Mr. Swarth as M. a. artemisiae 
Molothrus ater obscurus. Dwarf Cow'bird. These were in company with the 
foregoing in about equal numbers. One taken June 7 has been identified by Mr. 
Swarth as belonging to this form. 
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Yellow-headed Blackbird. Two were seen 
August 6 and then no more till April 12, when a small flock hung around the stock 
corrals for about a week. A lone individual was observed at the water hole July 19. 
Agelaius phoenicus neutralis. San Diego Redwing. Four were seen October 8, 
and after that date none till April 13, when a few pairs, not more than six, took up 
their residence in the tules. The.se birds were extremely wild and hard to approach. 
Two were secured, one October 8 and one June 18. The former was an immature 
male of undetermined character, while the last has been identified by Mr. Swarth as 
A. p. neutralis. 
Sturnella neglecta. Western Meadowlark. Abundant at all times in the river 
bottom and about the stock yards. 
Icterus bullocki. Bullock Oriole. Quite common during August, but leaving 
the first week of September. They returned to their summer home April 2. 
Euphagus cyanocephalus . Brewer Blackbird. After September they became 
common around the stock yards in Yermo, though none were seen elsewhere. By 
May 1 they had all left for their summer homes. 
Carpodacus cassini. Cassin Purple Finch. A pair heard singing early in the 
