2l6 Coale, Ornithological Notes from the West. [_fu\t 



Fort Logan, Colo., March 20. Seven miles from Denver. 

 A barren sand desert, with a scant growth of trees along Clear 

 Creek. Birds were exceedingly scarce, a ride of ten miles with 

 Mr. H. G. Smith, Jr., a local collector, revealing less than a 

 dozen birds, except Black-billed Magpies, which were common. 

 Mclospiza fasciata montana, Janco annectens and Merula 

 migratoria propinqua were the only species secured. The 

 English Sparrow of the eastern cities is replaced in Denver by 

 the House Finch, which builds its nest under cornices of the 

 big down town stores. It perches on the office window sills and 

 sings prettily. It was found to be common at nearly all the 

 frontier posts, building under the low roofs of the verandas, 

 on any suitable projection. 



Fort Union, N. Af., March 22. On a level plain ten miles 

 from Watrous. About a mile back of the post is the old aban- 

 doned Arsenal which was Kit Carson's headquarters during the 

 war. His house and garden are now in a very dilapidated con- 

 dition. Pipilo fuscus mcsolenc?is was hopping about on the 

 roof; Sayornis saya flew in and out of the vacant parlors; 

 yunco annectens rambled among the weeds in the garden ; while 

 Sialia arctica warbled its pleasing notes in the trees surrounding 

 the house. Among the rocks behind the Arsenal, Juncos, 

 Pipilos and Western Robins were seen. The Canon Towhee 

 frequents the back yards of the officers' quarters, and may be 

 seen perched on the shed or fence, allowing one to pass within a 

 few feet without taking flight. In the post garden I noticed a 

 curious trick of the Mountain Bluebird. Toward dusk they 

 repaired to a piece of plowed ground in search of their evening 

 meal, hopping among the overturned sods in pursuit of insects or 

 worms. Every few minutes some male would utter his spring 

 song, then rising in the air would flutter in one spot about ten 

 feet above the ground, moving its wings with great rapidity for a 

 minute or two, when it would join its companions on the ground. 

 In a hush near the garden I shot a beautiful male Pipilo tnacu- 

 latns mcgalonyx, and on the open plain a pair of Rhynchophaucs 

 mccoxviii. A few birds were foraging among the refuse back 

 of the corral. A number of flocks passing over saw them and 

 alighted on the ground. These were joined by others until a 

 space of several hundred feet was literally covered with them. 



