446 Mr. W. L. Sclater on the 



Waxwing {Ampelis garrulus), which I have once or twice 

 observed in the town in winter coming to the Honeysuckle- 

 berries for food. 



Out on the open plains to the east of the town the only 

 bird to be found in winter in any numbers is the Desert 

 Horned Lark {Otocorys alpestris leucolama). This par- 

 ticular subspecies is a resident bird throughout the year in 

 the drier parts of the western plains, and is also found in 

 the mountains wherever there are suitable tracts of open 

 country such as occur in the " parks.'" During the winter 

 the Horned Larks congregate in small bunches^ and are 

 often to be met with along the roads^ where they appear to 

 pick up a scanty living from the horse-droppings, and at 

 night find a warmer shelter in the ruts and on the bare earth 

 than they can get on the grass. Occasionally a very severe 

 spell of cold and snow drives them into the towns and 

 villages, where they congregate in thousands, and many 

 doubtless are saved from starvation by the kind-hearted 

 townspeople who feed them. 



The greatest variety and number of winter-birds are to be 

 met with along the valleys ; here there is always a fair amount 

 of shelter in the form of Cottonwood trees {Populus) , Alders 

 {Alnus), and Willows along the streams, with Scrub-oak and 

 Mountain-mahogany [Cercocarpus) on the steep sides of the 

 valley. 



The most conspicuous bird in such localities is the American 

 Magpie [Pica pica hudsonia). Very closely allied to the 

 English bird, it only differs in its slightly larger size. It is 

 entirely confined to the western half of the North- American 

 Continent. This Magpie has the same cunning and suspicious 

 nature as the English bird ; it is quite tame and approachable 

 when one is without a gun, but will not let itself be caught 

 within range of fire. It is a great egg-lover, and takes every 

 opportunity of robbing hen-houses, sometimes sucking the 

 eggs on the spot, sometimes carrying them off to a distance. 

 Its flight is slow and laboured, its long tail seeming to 

 "impede it, especially in a high wind. It is generally found 



