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Mar., 1912 A XVEEK AFIELD IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA 55 thus latirostris). Males were quite numerous but [ saw only one female. Arizona Hooded Orioles (Icterus cucullatus nelsoni) were nesting in large nmnbers. also found a nest full of young Arizona Woodpeckers (Dr?bates arizonae) old enough to leave the nest when I climbed up. The nest was forty feet up in a dead branch of a small cottonwood. The parents were gathering food from the giant cactus with which the sides of the canyon were thickly studded. As soon as it began to grow (lark, the whimpering calls of Elf Owls (Micro- pallas whitneyi) c.ame from every side. Two alighted in a mesquite, almost within reach of our hands as we lay beneath it. They were not in the least afraid of us though we talked and moved quite freely. From high up on the canyon's rim came the "whoo-whoo" of a Western Horned Owl, and we could see it silhouetted against the sky as it flew from one reck to another. The owls all ceased calling shortly after it became real dark, and the canyon was in utter silence. The cessation of the calling was so abrupt that we.could almost feel the silence. While getting breakfast the next morning I heard a Plumbeous Gnatcatcher (Poli- optila ph, mbea) calling, and after a few minutes search found its partially completed nest in a small palo verde. The nest was about three feet from the ground. Both birds ?vere present but the female only ?vas building. We spent the balance of the morning looking for Broad- billed Hummers' nests but were unsuccessful. One female was seen but was too swift and shy for us to locate her nest. Judging from her actions she Fig. 14. CUTTING INTO THE NEST HOLE OF A GILA WOODPECKER. THE LEFT HAND BRANCH had one near by, as she HELD AN ELF OYVL'S NEST resented the intrusion of a Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) and actually drove it away. Several pairs of Verdins (Auriparus flaviceps) were building in bushes along the sides of the canyon, and two male Arizona Cardinals (Cardin. alis c. superbus) scolded us, but we could not locate their nests nor see the females. A pair of Ravens (Corvus corax sinuatus) were seen feeding their young in a nest placed in a small cave near the top of a low cliff. Nests of Arizona Hooded