Page:Condor7(1).djvu/27

 26 THE CONDOR VOL. VII Cruz River, probably after lizards or frogs. They breed out on the open mesa, but do not seem to do so in the thick woods. Asturina plagiata. Mexican Goshawk. On June 4 a set of three, and on June i i one of two eggs were secured. In the third week in May, t9o2 Mr. How- ard and I secured five sets of three eggs each in this same place. All the nests found were in the largest mesquites, built from forty to fifty feet from the ground, one that we measured being just forty-seven feet. Five of the birds were secured; the stomach of one contained some very young doves, apparently taken irom the nest, another contained the remains of a quail, and the others held some large liz- ards. Those secured were all alike in the ordinary adult plumage, but two others were seen, possibly birds of the previous year, with longitudinal instead of trans- verse markings on the lower parts; and the female from which the set of two eggs was taken, was of a brownish coloration, so much darker than the others that at the first glance we were uncertain whether or not she was a Cooper hawk. They were rather noisy birds and could often be heard screaming as they flew about over the tree tops. Falc0 s. phalena. Desert Sparrow Hawk. Common; breeding in giant cactus. In one hole young about ten days old were found, which, with claws and lungs, vigorously entered their protest at being handled. P01yborus cheriway. Audubon Caracara. Though not observed on the res- ervation, while we were returning from lhe Santa Ritas, on June 28, a single indi- vidual of this species was seen near tile Santa Cruz River, feeding on some carrion in company with a number of turkey buzzards. 19Iegasc0ps a. cineraceus. Mexican Screech Owl. A single specimen was secured by Mr. Stephens, though others were heard hooting every evening. They breed in the giant cactus. Bub0 v. pallescens. Western Horned Owl. Two were seen in the mes- quites, but not secured. llicr0pallas whitneyi. Elf Owl. This interesting little owl is so entirely re- stricted to the giant cactus, in the cool depths of which he finds a comfortable sum- ruer home when everything outside is fairly sizzling with the heat, that in tile breeding season, at least, it is almost useless to seek for them elsewhere. I have seen an odd bird or two in other places, and was with Mr. Howard when he secnred a set of eggs from a hole in a mesquite tree, but such individuals are but the merest stragglers from the hundreds that occupy the cactuses on the surround- ing mesa. Mr. Stephens and I were too late for them and secured but a single set of eggs, but a great many young of all ages were found in the holes examined. The elf owl seems to be strictly nocturnal, and, when turned loose in the glaring sunlight, they were singularly helpless, in striking contrast to the little pigmy owl, which, in general appearance, they resemble so much. Judging from an examination of the contents of the stomachs of about twenty of the birds, I should say that they were entirely insectivorus in their diet, as nothing but the remains of beetles and other insects were found. Ge0c0ccyx calif0rnianus. Roadrunner. A few were seen in the mesquites. C0ccyzus a. 0ccidentalis. California Cuckoo. This species was more common in the mesquite torest than I have ever seen it anywhere else. As usual the birds were hard to see in the shrubbery, though we occasionafly caught sight of them crossing from one side of the river to the other; but their peculiar notes could be heard everywhere we went, and sometimes around the camp three or four could be heard calling at once. Some of the females secured had evidently laid part of their sets, but we were unable to find any nests.