296 Wabren, Birds of the Elk Mountain Region, Colo. [jjjy 



well as Italians, began to arrive, and now they are a noticeable 

 element of the population of Crested Butte. As elsewhere in the 

 United States, these foreigners are exceedingly destructive to bird 

 life. I have made mention of specific cases under the species in- 

 volved, but wish here to make mention of a condition which is 

 perhaps new or unusual. 



As everyone knows, Colorado, in the latter part of 1913 and the 

 earlier months of 1914 was afflicted with a very serious coal miner's 

 strike. While the disturbances were all in the southern Colorado 

 coal fields, the miners at Crested Butte struck to keep their brethren 

 company. Some small mines accepted the union terms and kept 

 on working, but not employing many men. The Colorado Fuel & 

 Iron Company's mine, employing some 300 men, remained closed 

 and the men were out of work. I should state here that the com- 

 pany was getting ready to reopen the mine and resume operations 

 in the summer of 1915, but that is something which takes time after 

 such a long shutdown. These idle men, largely of the nationalities 

 previously mentioned, being out of work and not earning any 

 money, though it is safe to say there was not one who had not 

 money laid by, took their guns and scoured the whole country 

 killing for the pot anything which had a morsel of meat on it. 

 They are tireless walkers and go everywhere so that nothing es- 

 caped them. This last June I noticed an entire absence of wood- 

 chucks in places where they used to be plentiful. No doubt 

 exterminated by the miners. I think it likely, though I have no 

 positive information to that effect, that this condition obtains all 

 through the districts affected by the strike. It is certainly to be 

 hoped that the Federal migratory bird law will be held constitu- 

 tional by the United States Supreme Court, and that it will be 

 vigorously enforced all through these coal mining districts where 

 there is such a large population absolutely without any regard for 

 bird life. The State deputy game wardens seem to take little 

 interest in enforcing the law for the protection of insectivorous 

 birds, though we have the excellent A. O. U. model law on our 

 statute books. 



A few words descriptive of the Hillside Ranch, which is the 

 property of friends of the writer, often referred to in the succeeding 

 pages, may not be amiss. The place is located at the base of 



