334 Bergtold, October Birds of the Gila River. [july 



47. Spizella passerina arizonse. Western Chipping Sparrow. — 

 Several seen at the G. O. S. Ranch, Oct. 8, 1911. 



48. Passer domesticus. English Sparrow. — The local occurrence 

 of this exotic furnishes a typical example of its advent and spread in a new 

 location. There were none about the G. O. S. Ranch in October of 1906, 

 1907, or 1908, although it was common at Silver City (air line about 20 

 miles southwest) between which city and the Ranch, tower the Pinos Altos 

 Mountains; and there were a few at the same time at Fort Bayard. In 

 October, 1909, the writer saw a flock of eight at the G. O. S. Ranch (the 

 first ever seen there): all but one of this flock were killed. In October, 

 1910, there was a larger flock at the G. O. S. Ranch, and in addition, the 

 species was detected at the Lower G. O. S. Ranch, situate about nine (9) 

 miles down the Sapello Creek. As many of these birds as possible were 

 killed at this time. In October, 1911, there were a great many more seen 

 at the G. O. S. Ranch, and the writer felt then that the species had suc- 

 ceeded in firmly establishing itself in the Sapello Valley. Fort Bayard 

 is, in an air line, about fourteen (14) miles southerly from the G. O S. 

 Ranch, and there is a spur of the Pinos Altos Mountains intervening, the 

 spur having an altitude of about 7700 feet — (there being 1600 feet differ- 

 ence in altitude between Fort Bayard and the top of this spur). It is 

 doubtful that this sparrow would deliberately venture, in one effort, over 

 this height and distance, since it would have to do so in a single stage, as 

 it were, because there are practically no houses in the stretch of country 

 between the two points. It is also somewhat improbable that the bird 

 spread northwesterly from Silver City to the Gila, thence up the stream 

 to the Sapello, and to the G. O. S. Ranch, as this would necessitate its going 

 over territory practically uninhabited. The fact that it was detected at 

 the G. O. S. Ranch before being noted at the Lower G. O. S. Ranch also 

 militates against this idea. The most reasonable route by which the species 

 probably spread is from Fort Bayard to Fierro, thence to the Mimbres 

 River and across the Mimbres-Sapello Divide (altitude 6500 feet), and down 

 the Sapello. An alternate route would be from Fort Bayard to Santa 

 Rita, to Georgetown, the Mimbres Valley, and thence, as before, up the 

 Mimbres. Both of these ways provide, all along, a number of farms, etc., 

 at no excessive intervals, a condition which confessedly facilitates the spread 

 of this bird. Yet the writer is by no means convinced that it did not come 

 directly over the Pinos Altos Mountains, or its Eastern spurs, from the 

 town of Pinos Altos (air line = 12 miles), or Fort Bayard (air line = 14 

 miles), or Fierro (air line = 10 miles), to the G. O. S. Ranch. The melan- 

 choly fact remains that this pest seems to have fixed itself permanently 

 in the Sapello Valley. 



49. Junco hyemalis connectens. Shupeldt's Junco. — One taken 

 at the G. O. S. Ranch, Oct. 9, 1910. 



50. Junco hyemalis mearnsi. Pink-sided Junco. — Many seen on 

 each trip over all the region. Earliest date, Oct. 16, 1907, and the latest 

 date, Oct. 21, 1907. 



