212 THE CONDOR Vol. XVIII the branches of a bush. At another time I was watching a small flock of spar- rows as they busily fed in the brush, when I noted a Road-runner stealing up like a cat, taking advantage of every bit of cover. When at the proper distance, it rushed out and sprang into the air at the retreating sparrows. Its expression of keen disappointment, and the way in which it glanced around, as if fearing ridicule of a possible observer, was One of the most comical things I have ever seen. With this taste for small leathered folk, the species, in this locality at least, may work havoc among the breeding quail, as well as among the inexperi- enced fledglings of the smaller brush-nesters. l?earns Gilded Flickers (Colaptes c. mearnsi) were widely scattered during the first part of December, but on the fifteenth, a cold snap brought them into the cottonwoods. Here they remained, with a few of their red cousins, until the first part of March, at which time they began to pair, and were soon standing guard over favorite sahuaros. They are commoner here at this season than I have elsewhere seen flickers, though rather wary. The plumage of those taken even during December, was considerably worn. These birds can carry a great deal of shot, and when finally secured, are often so covered with blood that one hesitates to take more than the very smallest number necessary. No sapsuckers at all were seen. With the exception of a couple of undetermined hummers seen at long range, no members of this family were encountered until the Broad-bills (Cynan- thus latirostris) began to arrive. This was on March 13, after which two or three were almost always to be seen in a small, she].tered patch of mesquite near the mouth of one of the canyons. They favor the top twig of a tree, and are rather conspicuous anyway, but quite shy. Their long tails are especially notice- able whether they are at rest or on the wing, and while in flight, give them a decidedly "bottom-heavy" appearance. Other summer visitants to arrive before I left were the Arkansas Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) March 16, Arizona Hooded Oriole (I?terus c. nelsoni) and Lucy Warbler (Vermivora luciae) March 17, Arizona Least Vireo (Vireo b. arizonae) March 13, and Tree Swallow (Irido- procne bicolor) March 23. This locality is a little high for Vermilion Flycatchers (Pyrocephalus r. mexicanus) during the winter, although at Phoenix, they are rather common during this season. I saw but one near camp until the first week in March, when they began to arrive in some numbers, and soon became abundant. Two speci- mens of what H. S. Swarth pronounces to be typical Empidonax griseus were preserved, taken December 30 and Februa ry 22, and several more were noted. Meadowlarks were very abundant, all taken proving to be Sturnella neglecta. One small flock of Pale Goldfinches (Astragalinus t. pallidus) was noted during February. The Green-backs (Astragalinus p. hesperophilus) were rather uncommon also. I watched a pair engaged in nest-building March 17. Near Tucson, Savannah Sparrows were common in the weed fields, but near camp there were very few suitable places for them. The only one collected proved to be Passerculus s. nevadensis. Two birds that were present in some numbers were Brewer and Lincoln sparrows (Spizella breweri and Melospiza 1. lincolni). Dur- ing the first of March they became very common; in fact almost every little clump of weeds seemed to shelter an individual of the latter species. The only junco encountered was Junco connectens, which was not particularly common, a fair-sized flock being met once in a week or ten days. No Sage Sparrows were seen, and I am sorry to say, no Rufous-wings (Aimophila carpalis). I read
