Jan., ?9o5 I THE CONDOR Dryobates s. bairdi. Texan Woodpecker. Quite common in the big mesquites. Centurus ur0pygialis. 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. C01aptes c. c011aris. Red-shafted Flicker, A very few individuals of this species were seen in the big mesquites. C01aptes chrys0ides. 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 iorced 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 they 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 ()thers, with safe retreats. Of course the work is not as hard as chopping into hard mesquite or oak trees, but still if the cactus is as yielding, and yet clinging to their bill, as it is to the col- lector's hatchet, they are by no means to be envied their job. It is rather curious that, breeding close to?ether, as U. ch??soides and U. 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, but 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 [ think that in all such cases it is due to internfixture with U. a. luteus, as indeed is shown in most cases by more or less distinct traces of the red nuthal 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. Phala?n0ptilus nuttalli. Poor-will. Freqnently heard calling in the evenings, usually on the rocky, cactus-covered hill near the camp. Ch0rderies 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. Aer0nautes melan01eucus. White-throated Swift. Occasionally seen flying overhead, having probably strayed down from the Santa Catalina Mountains. Tr0chilus alexandri. Black-thinned 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.
