428 Bergtold, Concerning the Thick-billed Parrot. [oct. 



place to use as a base of supplies. The adjacent territory wherein 

 are found the parrots is well up on the eastern slope of the Sierra 

 Madras, about 40 miles from Cases Grandes, and varies in altitude 

 from 7000 to 9000 feet; is rough, cut up by a good many deep 

 ravines (but not true barrancas), and in these high levels the sur- 

 face is sparsely covered by a growth of fine tall pines. It is a charm- 

 ing country to camp in, is easily travelled by horses, and guides and 

 camp help can be secured amongst the Mormons, who are not ad- 

 verse to earning good American gold. In addition, this country 

 presents, it seems to the writer, a most interesting field and opportu- 

 nity for an enthusiastic ornithologist; it impresses the writer that 

 this region might give rich returns in migration data in the fall, and 

 would surely supply the collector and observer additional rewards 

 in the shape of local and southern Mexican species. The nights 

 are cool after the middle of September, even at this low latitude; the 

 days warm, but not hot, and withal the combination is a most un- 

 usual one. Our party in 1903 had no tent, everyone sleeping out 

 under the trees. There was plenty of natural feed for the saddle 

 horses and pack animals, though water was somewhat scarce, and 

 there was cold enough most of the time to take the edge off the 

 vigor of the rattlesnakes, fleas, and tarantulas, thus obviating 

 these annoyances, which have to be reckoned with in the earlier 

 months, especially further south. 



Unless the writer's experience was exceptional, a trip of three or 

 four weeks to the country west of Cases Grandes would be a compar- 

 atively inexpensive one. Three or four months, from September 

 on, would give one a most enjoyable experience, valuable speci- 

 mens and data, and, aside from possible rains in September, would 

 be entirely comfortable and safe. 



