7 28 Henshaw on Birds observed in Neiv Mexico. [October 



ance, until, fifteen miles above the foot-hills, it cuts its way 

 through a deep course, with extremely picturesque walls of rock, 

 and with every element of the wild mountain scenery which ac- 

 companies its canons to its sources. The water, when undis- 

 turbed by the frequent summer rains, is clear and cold, and, like 

 most similar mountain streams, harbors great numbers of fine 

 trout. Even in midsummer the temperature of the region is cool 

 and refreshing, the natural effect of low latitude being counteracted 

 by the altitude, and even more by frequent prolonged rains and 

 thunder showers, which latter are often accompanied by hail. 

 These showers are of almost daily occurrence (or were in 1883) 

 from about the middle of July till the first of October. 



The focus of our operations was at the junction of a small trib- 

 utary — Willow Creek — with the main stream, some twenty 

 miles from Glorietta, on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa F6 

 Railroad. Glorietta may be taken as representing the foot-hill 

 region, with which the present paper has nothing to do. 



The character of the vegetation that clothes the mountain ridges 

 is essentially sub-alpine. The elevation at the mouth of Willow 

 Creek is about 7800 feet, but the ascent from this point is ex- 

 tremely rapid, whether the main stream be followed or any of the 

 side canons, which form beds for the numerous rivulets that make 

 their way on all sides from the heights above. 



The highest mountain in the vicinity is Mt. Baldy, which is 

 distant some twenty miles from the mouth of Willow Creek, and 

 12,661 feet above sea level. This peak we were not able to visit, 

 though it is not probable that any very marked change takes 

 place in the character of the avifauna in so short a distance. 



At the height of our camp (7S00 feet) a luxuriant growth of 

 pines covers the hills, giving way, a thousand feet higher, though 

 not wholly, to the spruces. On many of the gentle slopes, the 

 pines are thinly dispersed, and are so scattered, or gathered in 

 picturesque groups, as to convey the idea of artificially arranged 

 parks — a suggestion still further heightened by the sward of 

 green grass, enlivened with patches of bright flowers. The sum- 

 mits of many of the smaller heights are almost entirely bare of 

 trees and shrubbery, and are covered with a luxuriant growth of 

 grasses, affording the finest sort of pasturage. The sides of many 

 of the ridges and canons are heavily clothed with brush, mainly 

 of scrub oak. At a height of about 7500 feet, scattered aspens be- 



