56 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XIV 
Orioles were everywhere, and contained variously fresh or incnbated -eggs or 
young just hatched. Several pairs of Rock Wrens (Salpinctcs ohsoletus) were 
present, and a pair of Canyon Wrens { Cathcrpcs lucxicaiuis cotispersus) were 
feeding a family of full grown young'. 
Discouraged by our poor luck, we worked Imck down the canyon, going some 
distance below our camping place. A nest full of young Black Phoebes was 
found on a ledge under a projecting boulder. Several White-throated Swifts 
{Acroiiautes melaiwlcucits) were skimming a pool of water. Otherwise the 
results were a counterpart of our experience up the canyon. We investigated 
several giant cactuses without finding anything except a family of young Gila 
Woodpeckers (Coitiirus iiropygialis ) . There were three young fully grown. 
Returning to the machine, we lunched, loaded our dunnage, and started 
toward Tucson. We .stojiped where the Martins had been seen but there were no 
signs of nests. By using' considerable care 1 was able to climb about a dozen of 
tbe large.st giants. Three Elf Owls were found on their nests and one set of three 
incubated eggs secured. The other two nests contained newly hatched young and 
pipped eggs. Chollas of several varieties were present, and we found several 
ne.sts of Palmer Thrasher. One set of four eggs was secured, a very unusual 
number. I have found but one other set of four, taken in the Huachuca 
Mountains. 
W'e walked about a mile from this point and came to the wash from Sabino 
Canyon. Sycamores and cottonwood with a few willows and ash trees formed 
the fringe along it, but bird life was very scarce. I found a House Finch’s nest 
built in an old Bullock Oriole’s nest. It contained five fresh eggs. Four is the 
usual set in this section, though five is not an uncommon number. Returning to 
the machine from here, we continued on into Tucson, and picked up our ladder 
which I had ordered. It was a light affair sixteen feet long and was readily 
carried alongside over the fenders. 
Since it was late by this time, we could make but a short run a few miles 
east of town and camp. Darkness overtook us before we finished supper and had 
the beds made down. Texas Nighthawks ( Chordcilcs a. tcxcnsis) were quite 
numerous and darted back and forth close to our heads. The growth was prin- 
cipally chollas and grease-wood, with some small mesquite and a few palo verde. 
Bendire Thrashers ( Toxostoina bciidirci). Palmer Thrashers, Plumbeous Gnat- 
catchers, Cactus Wrens ( Hclcodytcs bruiiiicicapillus coucsi) and Road-runners 
{Gcococcyx calif oniiatiiis) constituted the bird life in that immediate section. 
Nests of young of all the species mentioned were found in a few minutes walk the 
next morning. We secured one set of fresh eggs of Bendire Thrasher and found 
several nests of the same ready for eggs. It seemed to be just l^etween the time 
for the first and second broods for them. Many young of the first brood were 
seen running around among the chollas. 
We did not tarry long here but pulled out for the mesquite forest eleven 
miles south of the city. The newly completed road was inches deep with dust, and 
the old road full of chuck holes, .so going was slow. Arriving at the first sahuaro, 
scarred with the assaults of former years, I shouldered the ladder and George 
carried the other traps. In a few moments I was among the arms of my old 
antagonist (they always seem such to me), and the first hole cut into gave me a 
fine set of three Elf Owl. I lifted the bird from the nest and tossed her into the 
air. She dropped like a stone nearly to the ground and then spread her wings 
and flew off into the underbrush. Incubation was well begun. Carrying my 
