PLAINS AND FOOTHILLS 183 



and gallop, and delivered with great rapidity, as if the 

 lyrist were in a hurry to have done, so that he could 

 get at something else. 



In my rambles he was found not only in the cities 

 of the plains (Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo), 

 but also in many of the mountain towns and villages 

 visited, Leadville, over ten thousand feet skyward, being, 

 I believe, one of the exceptions, while Silver Plume and 

 Graymont were others. He does not fancy altitudes, I 

 take it, much over eight thousand feet. In the villages 

 of Red Cliff and Glenwood, both beyond the conti- 

 nental divide, he was the same sprightly citizen, mak- 

 ing himself very much at home. 



Much as this finch cherishes the society of man, he 

 is quite wary and suspicious, and does not fancy being 

 watched. As long as you go on your way without 

 seeming to notice him, he also goes his way, coming 

 into plain sight and chirping and singing ; but just 

 stop to watch him with your binocular, and see how 

 quickly he will take alarm, dart away, and ensconce 

 himself behind a clump of foliage, uttering a protest 

 which seems to say, " Why does n't that old fellow go 

 about his own business ? " If in some way the Ameri- 

 can house-finch could be persuaded to come east, and 

 the English sparrow could be given papers of extra- 

 dition, the exchange would be a relief and a benefit 

 to the whole country. 



