BALD PEAKS AND GREEN VALES 75 



no one can blame me for feeling gratified with the dis- 

 covery. The gray -headed j uncos were very abundant in 

 the Rockies, and are the onlv species at present known 

 to breed in the State of Colorado. They are differen- 

 tiated from the common slate-colored snowbird by their 

 ash-gray suits, modestly decorated with a rust-colored 

 patch on the back. 



It was now far past noon, and beginning to feel weak 

 with hunger, I reluctantly said adieu to the junco and 

 her brood, and hurried on to the Halfway House, where 

 a luncheon of sandwiches, pie and coffee strengthened 

 me for the remainder of my tramp down the mountain 

 to Manitou. That was a walk which lingers like a 

 Greek legend in my memory on account of — well, that 

 is the story that remains to be told. 



On a former visit to the Halfway House I was men- 

 tally knocked off my feet by several glimpses of a wood- 

 pecker which was entirely new to me, and of whose 

 existence I was not even aware until this gorgeous 

 gentleman hove in sight. He was the handsomest 

 member of the Picidce family I have ever seen — his 

 upper parts glossy black, some portions showing a bluish 

 iridescence ; his belly rich sulphur yellow, a bright red 

 median stripe on the throat, set in the midst of the 

 black, looking like a small necktie ; two white stripes 

 running along the side of the head, and a large white 

 patch covering the middle and greater wing-coverts. 



