BIRDS OF THE ARID PLAIN 



HAVING explored the summit of Pike's Peak 

 and part of its southern slope down to the 

 timber-line, and spent several delightful days 

 in the upper valleys of the mountains, as well as in 

 exploring several canons, the rambler was desirous of 

 knowing what species of birds reside on the plain 

 stretching eastward from the bases of the towering 

 ranges. One afternoon in the latter part of June, I 

 found myself in a straggling village about forty miles 

 east of Colorado Springs. 



On looking around, I was discouraged, and almost 

 wished I had not come ; for all about me extended the 

 parched and treeless plain, with only here and there a 

 spot that had a cast of verdure, and even that was of 

 a dull and sickly hue. Far off to the northeast rose a 

 range of low hills sparsely covered with scraggy pines, 

 but they were at least ten miles away, perhaps twenty, 

 and had almost as arid an aspect as that of the plains 

 themselves. Only one small cluster of deciduous trees 

 was visible, about a mile up a shallow valley or " draw."**" 

 Surely this was a most unpromising field for bird study. 



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