1919 J Harris, Notes on Harris's Sparrow. 183 



authentic, authorities differing as to only a short stretch about 

 three miles from old Westport. Many years association with 

 the birds of this region leads the writer to the conclusion that these 

 scientists would have had difficulty in crossing the Blue Valley at 

 this season of the year without seeing or hearing troops of these 

 striking Sparrows. That part of the road lying within the valley 

 is indicated on the map by arrows. 



Townsend's frame of mind on this momentous day is best 

 described in his own words. " On the 28th of April, at 10 o'clock 

 in the morning, our caravan, consisting of seventy men, and two 

 hundred and fifty horses, began its march; Captain Wyeth and 

 Milton Sublette took the lead, Mr. N.[uttall] and myself rode 

 beside them; then the men in double file, each leading, with a line, 

 two horses heavily laden, and Captain Thing [Captain W.'s 

 assistant] brought up the rear. The band of missionaries, with 

 their horned cattle, rode along the flanks. 



"I frequently sallied out from my station to look at and admire 

 the appearance of the cavalcade, and as we rode out from the 

 encampment, our horses prancing, and neighing, and pawing the 

 ground, it was altogether so exciting that I could scarcely contain 

 myself. Every man in the company seemed to feel a portion of 

 the same kind of enthusiasm ; uproarious bursts of merriment, and 

 gay and lively songs, were constantly echoing along the line. We 

 were certainly a most merry and happy company. What cared 

 we for the future? We had reason to expect ere long difficulties 

 and dangers, in various shapes, would assail us, but no anticipation 

 of reverses could check the happy exuberance of our spirits. 



" Our road lay over a vast rolling prairie, with occasional small 

 spots of timber at the distance of several miles apart, and this will 

 no doubt be the complexion of the track for some weeks. 



" In the afternoon we crossed the Big Blue River at a shallow ford. 

 Here we saw a number of the beautiful Yellow-headed Troopials, 

 (Icterus zanthrocephalus) feeding upon the prairie in company with 

 large flocks of Blackbirds, and like these, they often alight upon 

 the backs of our horses." * 



1 Narrative of a Journey Across The Rocky Mountains, to the Columbia River and a 

 Visit to the Sandwich Islands, Chili, &c. With a Scientific Appendix. By John K. 

 Townsend. Philadelphia, 1839. 



