Pe tieteee cet O Nee Beales tele TN 13 
begging for a seed as birds do when they are “that way” about each 
other. Then she assumed an upright position and swayed slowly — leaning 
far over — from side to side six or eight times. At the end of each sway, 
she would hold the pose a moment before she returned. In the meantime 
her tail was spread, wings slightly drooped and crest raised displaying 
to the full the red in her plumage. And she was singing a whisper song — 
a whistled chew-chew-chew. 
In the meantime, the male appeared alert and interested, looking down 
into the feeder for a seed to give her, as is part of the courtship. Not 
seeing any, or losing interest, he flew off and she followed. Here was a 
bird who knew what the score was. No catching him swimming’ rivers 
and climbing mountains! 
The moral of this story is, if you cannot go to the mountains, let the 
mountains come to you, and out of stay-at-home bird watching may come 
nuggets of observations — beautiful, unique and valuable. 
320 N. Elm Street, Itasca, Illinois 
ft ft fT 
Book Reviews 
“ARIZONA AND ITS BrirRD LIFE’, by Herbert Brandt. 1951, 708 pages; 21 
color plates, 41 photographs and sketches; published privately by the Bird 
Research Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio. Price $15.00. 
If only a friend could have counseled the author thus: You have ex- 
cellent, fascinating material and a sound plan of presentation, BUT ...”, 
he might have turned out a book of unalloyed delight. That word ‘but” 
implies a multitude of literary faults which detract from an otherwise 
enjoyable volume. 
The book is full of important data as the result of observations 
through ten thousand square miles of southeastern Arizona in which Mr. 
Brandt has worked. Names, numbers, dates and actions of birds watched 
are specific and accurate. Descriptions of eggs and nests, their size, 
composition and color are painstakingly exact. And at all times there 
is an ecological integration of his discoveries backed by a knowledge of 
the country’s history and land-use. 
Mr. Brandt divides his book into six sections: The first is an intro- 
duction, including a chapter on the “Vicissitudes of Arizona Weather” and 
another on the “Life Areas of Southeastern Arizona”? which includes a 
chart showing a cross-section of an idealized topography from mountain 
top to desert. 
The second section deals with the desert. Samples of the chapter head- 
ings are: ‘What is Desert?”, “Afield with the Thrashers,” “Giant Cactus 
Parks,” and “Birding Along the Rillito.” 
Section three covers the grasslands, with a concluding chapter on the 
Fort Huachuca Reservation. The foothills are treated in the fourth 
section, and the mountains in the fifth. The last section lists in more 
detail, unless otherwise treated in the body of the book, the records of 
birds breeding in southeastern Arizona. 
