Vol i906" in ] Hunn, Birds of Silver City, N. M. 419 



Perhaps the most favorable location is at Coleman's Ranch, 

 distant about three miles, which contains the only original tim- 

 ber within eight miles. From Pinos Altos north and just inside 

 the limits of these radii, there is still mile upon mile of pine forest. 

 But this is the nearest heavy timber. Coleman's Ranch has a 

 fenced area of 320 acres, and part of it is thickly wooded with 

 juniper, pinon, scrub oak, and smaller brushwood. The remain- 

 ing part (and larger half) is mostly open country, but here and 

 there are places well covered with cacti and yuccas. There are 

 two small reservoirs for irrigation purposes, shaded by cotton- 

 woods and about two acres of orchard. 



The climatic conditions are very similar to those of other points 

 in the Southwest of equal altitude, cold nights and warm days 

 predominating, somewhat modified in summer by cool nights and 

 hot days. During the two winters mentioned, the thermometer 

 only twice registered so low as seven degrees at Coleman's Ranch. 

 The winter of 1904-5 was unusually mild and wet and was a winter 

 of disastrous floods. The oldest inhabitants had never known 

 a season like it. There was so much water on the plains that 

 birds were not forced to come about the reservoirs as they had 

 been the preceding year, the effect being that species appearing 

 as abundant one year were only casually noted the next winter. 

 Usually the rainfall is very light and almost wholly confined to 

 the summer months. 



Before bringing this introduction to a close, I feel I must again 

 thank John E. Coleman and 'Doom' Coleman for their assistance 

 in many instances; not only while I was a guest at their ranch, but 

 as well when hunting with them in the surrounding mountain 

 ranges. They were both untiring in their efforts to help me add 

 new species to my daily check-list. 



Following is a list of species recorded : 



1. Mareca americana. Baldpate. — One shot on Coleman's Ranch, 

 April 15. 



2. Nettion carolinensis. Green-winged Teal. — Common during 

 winter and spring months. 



3. Querquedula cyanoptera. Cinnamon Teal. — A common spring 

 migrant. 



4. Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. — One shot May 1, two 

 seen March 21, Coleman's Ranch. 



