^^^1^2^^'^] Bergtold, October Birds of the Gila River. 327 



must be because even the birds grow weary by activity and become 

 drowsy with overpowering sleep after the sun is withdrawn and 

 even while a deep glow remains in the western sky delaying the 

 darkness of night, while in the morning, refreshed by the night's 

 sleep, these songsters respond to the first glimmer of dawn in the 

 east by awakening to sing before any perceptible light has been 

 diffused around, reinvigorated, buoyant, eager for the activities 

 and joys of the new day. 



OCTOBER BIRDS OF THE HEADWATERS OF THE GILA 

 RIVER, NEW MEXICO. 



BY W. H. BERGTOLD, M. D. 



The area in which the following records were made extends about 

 forty-two miles east and west, and about thirty miles north and 

 south : it is bounded on the east by the Black Range, which forms 

 the continental divide, and too, the watershed between the Gila 

 and the Rio Grande: on the south it is bounded by the Pinos 

 Altos Mountains and their spurs, while to the north the area 

 emerges in a mesa formation which, extending northward, termi- 

 nates in the San Augustine Plains. 



The Gila arises in this, area from converging tributaries, runs 

 westerly and leaves it near the southwest corner. As a whole, it is 

 a wild and beautiful country, very sparsely settled, traversed by 

 many streams, several of which are living throughout the entire 

 year, and have eroded deep and picturesque canyons through 

 which they now flow. Along these river bottoms, especially the 

 main Gila, its three forks. Black Canyon, and Big Turkey Creek, 

 there is a striking growth of cottonwood, sycamore, alder, walnut, 

 boxelder, and ash, these trees being covered in many localities, by 

 an abundance of wild grape and clematis vines, a growth which 

 in the fall helps to paint a landscape of splendid color and striking 

 effect. 



