VoLXIT Coale, Ornithological Notes, from the West. 2 1^ 



ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES ON A FLYING TRIP 



THROUGH KANSAS, NEW MEXICO, 



ARIZONA AND TEXAS. 



BY HENRY K. COALE. 



Having occasion to visit a number of United States Army 

 Posts in the Southwest, I left Chicago March 15, 1S90, taking 

 along a collecting outfit, although the trip was made with another 

 object in view. The present paper does not pretend to be a 

 list of the birds inhabiting the localities visited, being simply a 

 record of such observations as came under the writer's notice 

 during the few hours spent in collecting specimens in the vicinity 

 of the Military Posts. 



It was with pleasant anticipations that the trip was begun, 

 which was to carry me into new fields and among the many (to 

 me) rare birds that I had only before read of in books, or seen 

 in collections. The day I left Chicago Canada Geese and 

 Herring Gulls were flying over in a northwesterly direction. 

 In passing through Missouri flocks of Blackbirds, Juncos, 

 Horned Larks and other early spring migrants were seen in the 

 fields along the road. The weather was perfect, except where 

 otherwise noted. 



Fort Leavenworth, Kan., March 16, 1S92. On a bluff over- 

 looking the Missouri River. In the great elms that surround the 

 parade ground numbers of Bluebirds, Baltimore Orioles and 

 Robins were singing their glad songs to the awakening of spring. 

 Meadowlarks, Goldfinches and Downy Woodpeckers were 

 plentiful about the Post. 



Fort Riley, Kan., March iS. On the U. P. R. R., northeast 

 of the center of the State, on the Smokey River. Spent a few 

 hours in the bottomlands across the river, where a luxuriant 

 growth of trees and bushes afforded shelter for troops of 

 Cardinal Grosbeaks, Slate-colored Juncos, Fox and Song 

 Sparrows, Black-capped Titmice, Vireos and other familiar 

 birds. A small flock of Zonotrichia querula was feeding in 

 the tops of some bushes. A shot brought down a male and 

 female ; the rest flew away and were not again met with. 



