52 BIRDS OF THE ROCKIES 



the South about the last of April, tarry for nearly a month, 

 then hie to the ujiper mountain parks, stopping there to 

 spend the month of May. By the first of June they have 

 ascended above timber-line to their summer home amid the 

 treeless slopes and acclivities. Laying begins early in July, 

 as soon as the first grass is started. Most of the nests are to 

 be found at an elevation of twelve thousand to thirteen 

 thousand feet, the lowest known being one on Mount 

 Audubon, discovered on the third of July with fresh eggs. 

 During the breeding season these birds never descend 

 below timber-line. The young birds having left the nest, 

 in August both old and young gather in flocks and range 

 over the bald mountain peaks in quest of such dainties as 

 are to the pi])it taste. Some of them remain above timber- 

 line until October although most of them have by that time 

 gone down into the upper parks of the mountains. Dur- 

 ing this month they descend to the plains,and in November 

 return to their winter residence in the South. 



While watching the pipits, I had another surprise. 

 On a small, grassy area amid the rocks, about a hun- 

 dred feet below the summit, a white-crowned spari'ow 

 was hopping about on the ground, now leaping upon a 

 large stone, now creeping into an open space under the 

 rocks, all the while picking up some kind of seed or nut 

 or insect. It was very confiding, coming close to me, 

 but vouchsafing neither song nor chirp. Farther on I 

 shall have more to say about these tuneful birds, but at 

 this point it is interesting to observe that they breed 



