10 P.riJ,F,TlN No. 3:1 



the west side one gets the finest view of a mountain whose 

 aspect and dimensions are simpl}' terrific. A glacier clings 

 midway, whose breaking members must topple over such a 

 precipice as makes one shudder — and adore. One would 

 hardly try, in thought, the awful peak. One is, somehow, 

 content to recognize as part of the eternal fitness of things 

 that this mountain should be considered unscalable. 



Well, didn't a fussy old Ptarmigan fly up into my face 

 and interrupt all this ! Good cause for alarm tho, I was near 

 stepping on some of her chicks. Never did a mother conduct 

 a more gallant retreat than she, as she shrieked her rage from 

 a near-by rock, or dashed at my face in very act to consume 

 me, while her fledglings of every size scuttled off thru the 

 heather. I caught one of the youngest in my hand, where- 

 upon the mother made such a furious onslaught that I was 

 obliged to defend myself with my left. I did not hurt her, but 

 I speedily let the youngest go for fear I should have to. Such 

 spirit I never saw before. What if a hen were as big as a 

 man ! 



This much is clear : That the female White-tailed Ptar- 

 migan begins incubation as soon as the first egg is laid. I 

 made out ten young and probably missed others. The largest 

 was near a third grown, while the youngest had not broken 

 shell above a da}-. 



Here is a good place to rest. One cannot tell it all, even 

 ornithologicall)'. Of course we saw more birds ; and, of 

 course, we got back. Never mind that. Mr. Jones has gone 

 on down the trail. Leave me here on m}^ mountain. 



William Leon Dawson. 

 Columbus, Ohio. 



THE HORIZONS. 



Our first horizon out of Chicago began at LaPlata, Mis- 

 souri, at o o'clock in the morning and ended at noon, when we 

 pulled into Kansas Cit}-. The slight change in topography 

 and vegetation was accompanied by a very slight change in the 



