iSSj.] Batciirlder, Winter Notes from New Mexico. I 23 



valley whose level bottom here and there shows signs of cultiva- 

 tion, forcibly reminding one of the scarcity of land available for 

 such uses. These openings are of small extent, seldom covering 

 more than a few acres. 



Through these level stretches the stream ripples along gently 

 over its stony bed. Here it is about twenty feet wide, and is 

 shallow, hardly more than a loot in depth, but in the narrower 

 places it becomes more of a mountain torrent, and leaps noisih 

 over the rocks, with clear, dee]) pools, and here and there a water- 

 tall. 



The bottom of the canon, in places where it broadens out, bears 

 patches of tall weeds and clumps of low 7 scrub oaks, but there are 

 few trees worthy of the name, except on the hills, which arc- 

 wooded with a scattering growth of various species of Coniferae, 

 of which Finns ponderusa, P. edulis, Juniperus occidentalism 

 and Abies douglasi are the commonest, named in the order of 

 their abundance. Pinus ponderosa far outnumbers the others, 

 and is most important, furnishing the chief supply of timber and 

 firewood. On the more open parts of the hills there are low 

 scrubby oaks growing mostly in thick clumps. 



Passing the various hot springs that come boiling to the sur- 

 face at numerous points along the stream, a short walk up the 

 canon brings you to one of the openings where the retreating 

 hills leave a level stretch of a few acres. Among the thick 

 clumps of low scrub oaks that are scattered over it. or in the 

 huge patches of tall dead weeds. I was sure to find companies of 

 [uncos ( Junco oregonus and y. caniceps) busily searching the 

 ground for fallen seeds. Of all the species that I met with, the 

 ] uncos were decidedly the most abundant. They were to be 

 seen everywhere : it was hard to find a spot they did not like ; 

 but these were their favorite haunts. Among the pines on the 

 hills, or in the thickets of willows down the river, they were in 

 small parties, but here they were in large flocks. They moved 

 about a good deal, straggling along one or two at a time, though 

 occasionally a number would flv in a tolerably compact flock . 

 Thev were stiver and more restless than y. hyemalis^ and 

 quicker in their motions. Thev were noisier, too. and their 

 notes seemed louder, hut less harsh. I noticed no difference 

 between the habits of the two species. They were always 

 together in the same Hocks, and seemed on the best of terms. 



