Jan., 1905 | 
THE CONDOR 
27 
Dryobates s. bairdi. Texan Woodpecker. Quite common in the big mesquites. 
Centurus uropygialis. Gila Woodpecker. The curious querulous note of this 
woodpecker could be heard everywhere in the mesquite forest, and many were 
found breeding in the giant cactus as well. Several nests full of half grown 
young were found in the latter locality. 
Colaptes c. collaris. Red-shafted Flicker, A very few individuals of this 
species were seen in the big mesquites. 
Colaptes chrysoides. Gilded Flicker. This is another species that appears to 
be restricted entirely to the giant cactus during the breeding season; a very few 
were seen in the mesquites, but not many, and no nests were found in that locality. 
The unfortunate flickers seem to have a big contract forced upon their hands, 
for they undoubtedly furnish most of the nesting sites occupied by the many 
species that have come to look upon the big cactus as their natural summer home. 
The Gila woodpeckers do some of the work, no doubt, but the}' breed in other 
trees more than in the cactus, and on the flickers fall most of the labor, needed to 
supply the sparrow hawks, owls, flycatchers, and others, with safe retreats. Of 
course the work is not as hard as chopping into hard mesquite or oak trees, hut 
still if the cactus is as yielding, and yet clinging to their hill, as it is to t lie col- 
lector’s hatchet, they are by no means to be envied their job. 
It is rather curious that, breeding close together, as C. chrysoides and C. c. 
collaris do in southern Arizona, more hybrids between the two are not found. I 
have seen but one. This bird, a male taken at Tucson, appears to be a true hybrid 
between the two species. It is about the size of chrysoides, and in general colora- 
tion is darker than that species, hut appreciably paler than collaris. There are no 
bright yellow feathers in either tail or wings, but in all the quills the red has a 
very washed out appearance, being much paler, more of a brick red, than is ever 
the case with collaris. In southern California, birds with more or less yellow in 
wings and tail are of fairly common occurrence, but I think that in all such cases 
it is due to intermixture with C. a. luteus , as indeed is shown in most cases by more 
or less distinct traces of the red nuchal crescent, of which there is no sign in the 
bird mentioned above. 
In the mountain regions of Arizona, where collaris breeds quite commonly, I 
have never seen chrysoides, nor do I know of any instance of the former species 
breeding in the giant cactus. As noted above, I saw a few red-shafted flickers in 
the mesquites along the Santa Cruz river, where they were probably breeding; 
and it seems strange that we should find the two species breeding almost side by 
side, practically without mixing, when we consider the extensive hybridization 
that takes place in the northwest, where collaris and luteus come together. 
Phalaenoptilus nuttalli. Poor-will. Frequently heard calling in the evenings, 
usually on the rocky, cactus-covered hill near the camp. 
Chordeiles a. texenis. Texan Nighthawk. Very abundant, though not seen 
in the thick woods. They undoubtedly bred in the vicinity, but though many 
were flushed from the ground, no eggs were found. 
Aeronautes melanoleucus. White-throated Swift. Occasionally seen flying 
overhead, having probably strayed down from the Santa Catalina Mountains. 
Trochilus alexandri. Black-chinned Hummingbird. A few were seen along 
the Santa Cruz River, no other species of hummingbird being observed anywhere 
in the vicinity. 
Tyrannus verticalis. Arkansas kingbird. Breeds around the edges of the 
mesquites and in the cottonwoods around the cultivated fields. I thought I saw 
vociferans, as well, once or twice, but could not make sure. 
