132 BIRDS OF THE ROCKIES 



Malta. I was sorely disappointed in not being able to 

 find accommodation at this place, for it had been my 

 intention to remain here for the night, and walk the 

 next day to a station called Granite, some seventeen 

 miles farther down the valley, making observations on 

 bird life in the region by the way. To this day I re- 

 gret that my calculations went " agley " ; but I was told 

 that accommodation was not be secured at Malta " for 

 love or money," and so I shook the dust from my feet, 

 and boarded an evening train for my next stopping- 

 place, which was Buena Vista. 



The elevation of this beautiful mountain town is 

 seven thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven feet. It 

 nestles amid cottonwood trees and green meadows in 

 a wide valley or park, and is flanked on the east by 

 the rolling and roaring Arkansas River, while to the 

 west the plain slopes up gradually to the foothills of 

 the three towering college peaks, Harvard, Yale, 

 and Princeton, crowned all the year with snow. 

 And here were birds in plenty. Before daybreak the 

 avian concert began with the shrieking of the western 

 wood-pewees a vocal performance that they, in their 

 innocence, seriously mistake for melody and continued 

 until night had again settled on the vale. In this place 

 I spent three or four days, giving myself up to my 

 favorite study and pastime, and a list of all the birds 

 that I saw in the neighborhood would surprise the 



