Page:Condor14(2).djvu/4

 .54 THE CONDOR Vol. XIV We spent the night at the Einpire ranch, getting there after dark with but forty miles of our trip completed. We camped under a small mesquite a short distance {tom the ranch house anti close to a mixed grove of willows and cotton- woods. Hundreds of the Western Kingbirds were nesting in this grove, which was quite extensive, and in adjacent mesquites. All the other small species pre- viously mentioned were found here. Also the Desert Sparrow (Amphispiza bilin- cata deserticola) and Killdeer ( O.r3'echus ,ocifcrus). At four o'clock the next morning the Kingbirds began calling, and before it was light so thoroughly awakened us that we got up and prepared our breakfasts. Five-thirty, vith the sun just peeping over the Vrhetstone Mountains to the east, found us on the road. FroIn here we climbed a long, easy grade over the Black Horse mountains and started down the other side. passing through Rosemont with its deserted buildings, and at last crossed the Southern Pacific Railroad at Vail. Here. I investigated numerous nests of the Pahner Thrasher To.rostoma curvirostre palmeri) in the chollas along the roadside anti collected one nice set Fig. 13. LOOK-ING DOWN SABINO CANYON, IN THE 'ESTERN FOOTHILLS OF THE SANTA CATALINA MOUNTAIN$ ARIZONA of three eggs. Incubation was fresh. Aboxit noon we rolled into Tucson, having lunched t few' miles out. We recorded eighty-eight Iniles to this point. Having filled our reservoirs. we left for Sabiuo Canyon in the Santa Catalina mountains, northeast of Tucmn. Rough roads and heavy sands were met with most of the way. Passing through deserted Fort Lowell, I wondered in which of the old ruins Major Bendire had made his home. We crossed the Rillito wash and were soon among the giant cactus. Some Western Martins . Progne subis hesperia) xvere seen hovering about one and investigating its various nesting holes. Boulders anti a high center required some road w6rk. bu xvith pick and shovel we removed them and were not long delayed. Three v. gi. found us in Sabino Canyon, fourteen miles froin Tucson and at the "head of navigation" for all vehicles. There were humerotes Sunday picnic parties about, but by six o'clock they had all gone and we were left alone. I had spent the intervening hours reconnoitering up the canyon, looking for Broad-billed Huinmers (Cynan-