BALD PEAKS AND GREEN VALES 53 



abundantly among the mountains at a height of from 

 eight thousand to eleven thousand feet, while the high- 

 est nest known to explorers was twelve thousand five 

 hundred feet above the sea. One of Colorado"^ bird 

 men has noted the curious fact that they change their 

 location between the first and second broods that is, 

 in a certain park at an elevation of eight thousand feet 

 they breed abundantly in June, and then most of them 

 leave that region and become numerous among the 

 stunted bushes above timber-line, where they raise a 

 second brood. It only remains to be proved that the 

 birds in both localities are the same individuals, which 

 is probable. 



On a shoulder of the mountain below me, a flock of 

 ravens alighted on the ground, walked about awhile, 

 uttered their hoarse croaks, and then took their 

 departure, apparently in sullen mood. I could not 

 tell whether they croaked " Nevermore ! " or not. 



Down the mountain side I clambered, occasionally 

 picking a beautiful blossom from the many brilliant- 

 hued clusters and inhaling its fragrance. Indeed, some- 

 times the breeze was laden with the aroma of these 

 flowers, and in places the slope looked like a culti- 

 vated garden. The only birds seen that afternoon 

 above timber-line were those already mentioned. What 

 do the birds find to eat in these treeless and shrubless 

 altitudes ? There are many flies, some grasshoppers, 



