Page:Condor11(2).djvu/23

 Mar., 1909 NOTES ON PARUS RUFESCENS IN wESTERN WASHINGTON 57 covering the eggs until the full set is laid, so the collector is frequently at his wit's end how to proceed. Apart from the egg collector, about the only destroyer of their homes is no other than the common black and yellow bumble bee. This insect has a veritable mania for living in holes in trees, and a chickadee nest appears to be the acme of its desires. It seems to like the nesting material and prefers the nest before the eggs are laid, but it will often drive the bird away from an incomplete set, pulling up most of the nesting and leaving the eggs underneath. Tacoma, Washingston. OBSERVATIONS ON SOME BIRDS FOUND IN SOUTHERN MEXICO By AUSTIN PAUL SMITH UITE the most satisfactory region for study of bird life that I have as yet visited, is the little State of Morelos, situated in southern Mexico. Cuerna- vaca, the capital, is about fifty miles southwest of Mexico City, but owing to the rough nature of the country traversed the railroad counts seventy odd miles. Cuernavaca lies at an altitude of 5000 feet, in the Upper Sonoran Zone. The lands surrounding the city are almost entirely under cultivation, supporting various crops, but largely maize. Many kinds of tropical fruits are grown; and no adobe but what boasts an accompanying mango, or avocada. The only uncultivated spots are the barrancas, and rocky knolls. Sometimes these latter harbor abundant growth, in which the tree morning glory is, as a rule, the most arborescent member. The few barrancas to the east of the city are dry, except during the rainy months; several westward, however, contain water at all times--therefore, considerable vegetation and many birds. Pines come to within six miles of the city limits, thus allowing a transition zone of small extent and mostly consisting of the barrancas where the streams are perennial. As a beginning, I will name the commonest bird within and near the city.. It is the House Finch of the Cuernavaca variety (Carpodacus. mexicanus rhodocol- pus). Thousands roost in the rubber trees growing in the city plaza. During the day these same flocks resort to the cornfields and hedgerows outside of town. Often I pondered on how they found an adequate food supply, as the peon and Indian need to harvest to the last stalk to insure existence. Also among the leath- ered kind, the House Finch has serious competition, at least during the winter, when seed-eating birds are predominant. The food, tho, of this species is not en- tirely seed and grain: some birds were examined that showed evidence of exclu- sive diet of mango buds; and one day I came upon a pair flycatching in clumsy manner. A recent shower had ushered into existence quantities of lace-winged insects that haunted the tree tops, and appearing much like fluffs of cotton when. floating in and about the branches, proved easy prey even to such novices. Two other species of finches were abundant as winter residents: Western Lark Sparrow (Chondesles grammacus strigatus) and Western Grasshopper Spar- row (Coturniculus savannarum bimaculatus). Both were about in numbers until April 15, and stragglers of each species were found ten days after that date. The Grasshopper Sparrow did not sulk in the manner so usual with it in our own coun- try. Certain of his kin there were tho, that believed in persistent retirement, notably Peuccea boilerit'. I never have been favored with the acquaintance of th