86 Drew on Birds of San yuan County. Colorado. 



2. Turdus aonalaschkae auduboni, Ridg. Audubon's Thrush. — 



Common ; breeds. In June its clear, sweet notes can be heard from nearl v 

 every dark glen or secluded part of tbe woods. I found a nest with three 

 eggs in the latter part of June. The nest was placed in a spruce bush 

 about three feet from the ground. Not noticed after Sept. 13. 



3. Myiadestes townsendi. Cab. Townsend's Solitaire. — Rather 

 common, and breeds. A nest taken by Mr. T. M. Trippe. July 9. at an 

 elevation of 10,500 feet, was placed in a little cranny in a bank, and con- 

 tained four eggs in which incubation had just begun. In fall the Solitaire 

 comes out of the woods and can be found around houses, or in low bushes 

 near water. They seem to prefer a low perch to an elevated one. as I have 

 often seen them leave the latter for the former. I have never seen more 

 than four together. A quartette, probably young birds, which I saw one 

 rainy day in October, kept up a low soliloqiiy which sounded much like 

 the noise a Robin makes when talking to himself. One of them essayed 

 a song ami succeeded in producing a warble somewhat like a Robin's song. 

 Of their love song I have only heard fragments, but sweet ones. 



4. Oroscoptes montanus. Baird. Mountain Mocking Bird. — 

 Rare. Appears in May and lingers until October. It seems just a trifle 

 out of place up here, and clings closel) to tin- few dry bushy hillsides and 

 sandbanks. 



5. Sialia arctica, Sw. Arctic Bluebird. — Abundant from April to 

 December. The only peculiarity 1 have noticed in the bird, is an occa- 

 sional low chuck — exactly like that of a Blackbird — from the female 

 when the nest is approached. Very wary and much on the ground. 



6. Cinclus mexicanus. Si:. American Dipper. — Abundant: 

 resident; breeds. The Dipper is my prime favorite; always cheery 

 and confiding. June 19 I found a nest with four young birds in it; 

 close by was another just building. The female did the nest build- 

 ing, while her lord attended to the young brood. He fed them at 

 the door which was placed in the front, and out of which the young 

 voided their excrement. When the old bird went for nest material she 

 would fly to a rock in the stream near a moss-patch, and after bobbing 

 up and down a few times, leisurely hop ashore and proceed to snatch up 

 bits of moss. Once I noticed her pulling fibrous shreds from weed 

 stalks, which she dipped in the water before taking to fhe nest. At the 

 nest, which was about half finished, she went inside and began pushing 

 the moss into the roof and sides; raising the roof here, and pushing out 

 the sides there, until all was satisfactory. Nest-making progressed verj 

 fast and in a week's time she had two white eggs in it; these I left until 

 incubation commenced in hopes of getting more. The young birds, when 

 adrift for themselves, skulk under the banks, with only occasional excur- 

 sions into the water, until winter comes on when old and young flock to 

 the river, it being more free from ice. They are the very embodiment of 

 a mountain torrent. — bustling, and energetic; and their song is like chrys- 

 tallized spray. Sweet, sparkling, ami vivacious, taken with its surround- 

 ings. I do not know of any bird-song which surpasses it. They sing 



