Page:Condor14(1).djvu/37

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Jan., 1912 BIRDS OF A MOHAVE DESERT OASIS 37 the mountains, but I only saw them once around the water hole, June 18, when about a dozen were observed. Archilochus alexandri. Black-thinned Hummingbird. Not uncommon in August. After that none were seen till March 20, when they began to grow numer- ous again. Sel?sphorus rufus. Rufous Hummingbird. ,? lone male lit on the clothes line at the mine April 10. Tyra?nu? vertically. Arkansas Kingbird. Very abundant everywhere during August and September, after which they left to reappear April 2. A pair had a nest onthe cross pieces of a telegraph pole not thirty feet from the station, and where ten trains passed every day. Myiarchus cinerascens cinerascens. Ash-throated Flycatcher. Two seen May 21 and a few during the following week, but none thereafter. Sayornis sayus. Say Phoebe. Common resident everywhere. The favorite nesting site was in deserted mine and prospect holes in the mountains. Sayornis nigricans. Black Phoebe. One or two could be seen on every trip to the water. hole, and occasionally around houses in Yermo. Empidonax traflli trailli. Traill Flycatcher. Rare. One taken August 17, and no more observed till April 16. After May 15 a few more were noted. 0tocoris alpestris pallida. Sonora Horned Lark. Never seen around the water hole or mesquites, but very abundant around town, the stock yards, open roads and so called dry lakes throughout the year. A specimen secured November 20 was identified by Mr. Swarth as belonging to a pale-colored desert race included under O. a. 13a//ida in the A. O. U. Check-f?isl. Corvus corax sinuatus. Raven. Common at all times everywhere, nesting on cliffs in the mountains. They are exceedingly wild, and it was only through cau- tious hunting with a rifle that I was able to secure any. Molothrus ater artemisiae. Nevada Cowbird. Several small flocks were seen both at the water hole and in town, but only during the interval between J.une 1 and 7. One secured June 7 has been identified by lVl. r. Swarth as M. a. arlemisiae Molothrus ater obscurus. Dwarf Cowbird. These were in company with the foregoing in about equal numbers. One taken June 7 has been identified by Mr. Swarth as belonging to this form. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Yellow-beaded Blackbird. Two were seen August 6 and then no more till April 12, when a small flock hung around the stock corrals for about a week. A lone individual was observed at the water hole July 19. Agelaius phoenicus neutralis. San Diego Redwing. Four were seen October 8, and after that date none till April 13, when a few pairs, not more than six, took up their residence in 'the tules. These birds were extremely wild and bard to approach. Two were secured, one October 8 and one June 18. The former was an immature male of undetermined character, while the last has been identified by Mr. Swarth as A. 13. neutralis. Sturnella negleeta. Western Meadowlark. Abundant at all times in the river bottom and about the stock yards. Icterus bullocki. Bullock Oriole. Quite common during August, but leaving the first week of September. They returned to their summer home April' 2. Euphagus eyanocephalus. Brewer Blackbird. After September they became common around the stock yards in Yerroo, though none were seen elsewhere. By May i they had all left for their summer homes. Carpodacus cassini. Cassin Purple Finch. A pair heard singing early in the