May 1888.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



73 



Nests and eRgs similar to that of D. wstica. 



27. Vircosylvia fjUra smainsDui (Baird). Wps- 

 toni Warbliriji Vireo. Our most common Vireo. 

 Its nest is formed in bushes and cotlonwood 

 trees from five to fifty feet from the ground. 

 It reaches 10,000 feet and breeds as Iiigh. A 

 nest has been placed in a cottonwood tree, 

 which shades my house, for the past two 

 seasons, evidently by the same pair. Habits, 

 nest and eggs similar to 1^ oUvacea. 



28. Lanhis Ijurcalis (Vicill.) Great Northern 

 Shrike. Hare winter visitant. Feeds upon the 

 large troops of Titmice. Have seen but three 

 of this species. This and the following have a 

 very jiretty song, which can be heard only at 

 sunset and during the winter months. 



29. Laniua ludoricianns excnhltorides (Sw.), 

 Coues. AVhite-rumped Shrike. Tolerably com- 

 mon from the plains up to 10,000 feet. Breeds 

 raising sometimes two broods in low altitudes. 

 Nest in thorn bushes. 



30. Aiiipliflis garrulus (Linn.) Northern 

 Waxwing. A rare winter visitant. A few 

 small flocks only seen in early winter. 



31. Prorjne subis (Lhin.), Baird. Purple 

 Martin. Very common. Arrives late, and at 

 once begins nesting in decayed and hollow 

 trees, and also in latticed ventilators of the 

 soldiers quarters. 



32. I'l'trDchfUdon hinifrons (Say.). Lawr. 

 Cliff Swallow. I have not seen this bird here, 

 but have been told it breeds on the cliffs among 

 the Kio las Animas, which is no doubt' true, as 

 it is in a good locality for them. 



33. Tachijcineta bicalur (Vieil.), Caban. 

 White-bellied Swallow. Rare; breeds. Have 

 seen but some Iialf dozen birds in two years. 

 Saw young just on the wing last of June. 



34. Twhiichietii thihissina (Swains.), Calian. 

 Violet-gieen Swallow. Very abundant, breeds 

 in hollow trees and in rocky ledges, where it 

 breeds in pines and lives in small colonies. 

 Have seen as many as twenty pair in .i single 

 dead pine, and four or five pair in one limb 

 which had Jjeen used first by the woodpeckers. 

 Very graceful while on the wing, and Just be- 

 fore a rain-storm the air is liteially full of 

 them busily engaged in feeding. During the 

 storm, however, they huddle together on the 

 dead limbs near their homes and wait for the 

 storm to pass over, when they once more take 

 wing to feed. They arrive the middle of May, 

 leaving early in September. Eggs white. 



35. Stehjiiloptcryx serripennis (Aud.), Baird. 

 Rough-winged Swallow. Said to be common 

 among tlie ledges of the Hio las Animas. Mr. 

 A. W. Anthony of Denver tells me he found it 



along this river near Silveiton, and this le.ads 

 me to believe it also lireeds in this county. At 

 all events, it occurs here if in San Juan Coun- 

 ty, and there can be no doubt of Mr. Anthony 

 as an authority. 



36. PijraiKja ludovinann (Wills.), Bp. West- 

 ern Tanager. Common in the pines, where it 

 breeds, although I have not yet taken its eggs. 

 Ranges up to 10,000 feet. 



37. Pinic(jl(t cuuclcatrii- (lAnn.), Vieill. Pine 

 Grosbeak. Common in migration, have not 

 met with it during the breeding season. Must 

 breed farther north or at a liigher altitude, as 

 it is found at 12,000 feet. 



38. Carpodac.us cassini (Baird). Cassin's Pur- 

 ple Finch. Not common but probably breeds, 

 as I have seen it in June and in full song. Have 

 not yet taken its nest. Arrives in May and de- 

 parts last of Noveniber. Reaches 10,000 feet. 



39. Liixia cnrvirostra merirana (Strick.) Baird. 

 Mexican Crossliill. During the winter of 1880- 

 87, it was very abundant, and I secured a set of 

 four eggs on .January 30, 1887. This is the second 

 set taken in the United States. The first one 

 taken by Mr. Eugene P. Bicknell at Kiverdale, 

 New York, is now in the National Museum. 

 The set taken by me was similar to those of the 

 European Crossbill, and could be hardly 

 distinguished from them. The nest was in a 

 pine tree and of grass, with many pine needles 

 worked in. A full description of this nest .and 

 eggs will appear later. The present winter not 

 a bird has been seen so far. The Crossbills are 

 constantly on the move, their movements being 

 regulated by the food supply. T'hey breed in 

 winter and wherever they happen to be at the 

 time. At least, this is the conclusion 1 have ar- 

 rived at. They are close sitters, and my bird 

 was nearly lifted from the nest where she sat 

 and looked me in the eye for at least five min- 

 utes before I attempted to remove her. 



40. Liixid. Unrdptera (Gm.) Wliite-winged 

 Crossbill. Rare, only specimen taken here, and 

 another in the collection of Dr. R. H. Brown of 

 Silverton, • in San Juan Countj', which was 

 taken in Baker's Park, the altitude of which is 

 .about 9,500 feet. 



41. yEijidlhns liiiariu (Linn.), Caban. Com- 

 mon Redpoll. Common, found the year round, 

 and ranges up to 10,000 feet in winter, however. 

 I have not as yet discovered its nest. 



42. Asti-Ki/aUnus tristis (Linn.), Cab. Amer- 

 ican Goldfinch. Rare. I enter upon Mr. Diew's 

 record in San Juan County. Have not seen it 

 myself. 



43. AximijnUniis jisaJtria (Say.), Coues. 

 Green-backed (joldfincli. One nest taken from 



