128 



BIRDS OF THE ROCKIES 



color, while a glint of yellow in their ^\ ings and tails 

 was displayed as the birds flew from bush to bush. 

 AVhen the A\ings were spread, a narrow bar of Aellow 

 or whitish-yellow seemed to stretch across them length- 

 wise, giving them a gauzy appearance. The birds 

 remained together in a more or less compact flock. 

 They uttered a loud, clear chirp that was almost musi- 

 cal, and also piped a quaint trill 

 that was almost as low and harsh 

 as that of the little clay-colored 

 sparrow, although occasionally one 

 would lift his voice to a much higher 

 pitch. ^Vhat were these tenants 

 of the dry and piney mountain side ? 

 They were pine siskins, which 

 I had ample opportunity to 

 study in my rambles among the 

 mountains in 1901. 



A mile farther down, a lone 

 mountain bluebird appeared in 

 sight, perched on a gray 

 stump on the gray hillside, 

 and kee])ing as silent as if 

 it were a crime in bluebird- 

 land to utter a sound. This 

 bird's breeding range extends 

 from the plains to the timber- 



Pine Siskins 



