54 
THE COXDOR 
Vol. XIV 
W'r spent tlie night at the Empire ranch, getting there after dark with but 
forty miles of our trip completed. We camped under a small mesquite a short 
distance from the ranch house and close to a mixed grove of willows and cotton- 
woods. Hundreds of the Western Kingbirds were nesting in this grove, which 
was quite extensive, and in adjacent mesquites. All the other small species pre- 
viously mentioned were found here. Also the Desert Sparrow ( Amphispiza biliii- 
cata dcscrficola) and Killdeer { O.vyccluts %'ocifcrus) . 
At four o’clock the next morning the Kingbirds began calling, and before it 
was light .so thoroughly awakened us that we got up and ])repared our breakfasts. 
I'ive-thirty, with the sun just ]ieeping over the A'hetstone iMountains to the east, 
found us on the road. From here we climbed a long, easy grade over the Black 
1 lorse mountains and started down the other side, passing through Rosemont 
with its deserted buildings, and at last crossed the Southern Pacific Railroad at 
\'ail. Here, 1 investigated numerous nests of the Palmer Thrasher ( Toxostouia 
cim'irostrc pahncri) in the chollas along the roadside and collected one nice set 
l*'ig. l.I. LOOKING DOWN S.CBINO CANVON, IN THE WESTERN FOOTHILLS OF THE 
SANTA CATALINA MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA 
of three eggs. Incubation was fresh. About noon we rolled into Tuc.son, having 
lunched a few miles out. . A’e recorded eighty-eight miles to this point. 
Having filled our reservoirs, we left for Sabino Canyon in the Santa Catalina 
mountains, northeast of Tuc.son. Rough roads and heavy sands were met with 
most of the way. Passing' through deserted Fort Lowell. I wondered in which 
of the old ruins IMajor Bendire had made his home. We crossed the Rillito wash 
and were soon among the giant cactus. Some Western IMartins (Progne siibis 
hcspci'ia ) were seen hovering about one and investigating its various ne.sting holes. 
Boulders and a high center required .some road work, but with pick and 
shovel we removed them and were not long delayed. Three p. m. found us in 
Sabino Canyon, fourteen miles from Tucson and at the “head of navigation” for 
all vehicles. There were numerous Sunday picnic parties about, but by six 
o’clock they had all gone and we were left alone. I had spent the intervening 
hours reconnoitering up the canyon, looking for Broad-billed Hummers {Cyiiaii- 
