44 
THE CONDOR 
1 Vol. IV 
works. The woods and brushy hills in 
this neighborhood teem with animal life, 
and wild flowers without number grace 
their verdant heights. 
h'. C. Cr..\RK:. 
\apa, Ca/. 
^ ^ ^ 
Song of the Golden-crowned Sparrow. 
.Mr. Lyman Belding of vStockton, Cal., 
submits the following query to Condor 
readers: “Does the Oolden-crowned 
.Sparrow ever sing while in California? 
1 cannot say tliat I have ever heard 
it, though I liave been where these 
l)irds were numerous. Dr. Cooper in 
‘California Ornithology’ says it is a 
silent bird while here and he did not 
hear it sing on the Columbia River in 
May. My observations agree with his 
in this respect.” 
[Will not members of the Cooper Club 
and readers of this magazine observe, 
listen to and report any song thej’ may 
hear from Z. coronatal Any observa- 
tions sent in will confer a favor to Mr. 
Belding and to observers in general. 
Let the reports be forthcoming. ED.] 
NOTE — In regard to the name of the 
Pacific race of the Black-headed 
Grosbeak, Mr. McGregor’s article 
in the jDresent number of The 
Condor is quite apropos in reminding 
us of the name capita! is, which is cer- 
tainly applicable instead of the new 
name niicrorJnnicha unwittingly pro- 
posed by me last November. 1 did not 
have the pertinent literature available 
at the time of describing the form. It 
may be asserted, however, that none of 
the characters given as di.stinguishing 
capitalis, are determinant ones, being 
probably due to age or .some variable 
cause other than geographical. The 
only tangible one seems to be that of 
the bills. Several Pacific coast males 
have the head as uninterruptedly black 
as Arizona examples. It may be further 
suggested that the authority for the 
name capitalis is Ridgway, not Baird. 
Therefore the name of our Californian 
Black-headed Grosbeak becomes tech- 
nically, Zanielodia nielanocephala capi- 
talis Ridgway (Hist. N. Am. Bds. II, 
1874, p. 70.) 
J. Grinneel. 
® ® w w w 
A List of Birds Observed on the Pima Indian Reservation, Arizona. 
Bv George F. Breninger, Phoenix, Ariz. 
T he following is a list of the species of birds seen during four days’ travel in 
the lower part of the Pima Indian Reservation. These four days were Septem- 
ber 18 and 19, 25 and 26. Forthe number of species noted, this list would be 
hard to surpass, embracing, as it does, 86 species seen on a tract of probably not 
more than five miles long by two miles wdde. Migration was at its height, and, 
what might be more accountable for the presence of so much bird-life, very little 
shooting is done on the Reservation. A brief description of the ground may be of 
interest. The reservation is located on the Gila River, above its junction with the 
vSalt River. A strip of land on both sides of the river is cultivated by the Indians, 
water for irrigation being drawn from the river and from a lake. The latter is of 
crater origin, and supplies an aliundance of water. In consequence of this never- 
failing supply, a large area of ground covered with a dense willow growth is al- 
ways flooded, and at the time of my observations teemed with bird-life. The crops 
along the ditch tapping the lake were luxuriant. The corn, the beans and the 
pumkins sent forth such pleasant freshne.ss that it is not to be wondered at that 
tlie tired, wing-.sore birds after a night’s fliglit, should be attracted by such a scene 
of peace and plenty. Away from irrigation was de.sert, dr\' and barren, support- 
ing only sucli plant life as can withstand long drougths, and the heat of a long 
summer. 
