Ji:ly, 190S ANNOTATED LIST OP THE BIRDS OF MEvSA COUNTY, COLORADO 173 



months this is such an inconspicuous bird that I am unable to state in what abun- 

 dance they occur. I have found them breeding at Alexander L,akes just outside 

 the County and they are undoubtedly not uncommon breeders thruout the County 

 in the higher altitudes. 



Amphispiza nevadensis. Sage Sparrow. Summer resident, common. Miss 

 Eggleston says this bird is found quite abundantly in the sage-brush covered mesas, 

 nesting in the tufts of bunch-grass. Prof. Cooke states that it is quite common on 

 the sage brush plains of western and southwestern Colorado. I am inclined to 

 think that it is much more common in the lower parts of the County than in those 

 portions above 7500 feet. 



Melospiza melodia montana. Mountain Song Sparrow. Summer resident, 

 common. Next to P. g. coufiuis this is the commonest sparrow during the sum- 

 mer. Arrives as early as March 15 and is abundant by April 1. Breeds late in 

 May up to at least 7000. Its favorite breeding ground is in boggy "draws" in 

 cultivated fields, where it Ijuilds either at the base of a stunted willow or in a thick 

 tuft of alfalfa. Mr. Sullivan says the bird is an occasional winter resident around 

 Grand Junction. 



Melospiza lincolni. Lincoln Sparrow. Prof. Cooke writes, "One found dead 

 during the fall of 1895 by A. H. Howell at Grand Junction." There is no further 

 information at hand regarding its occurrence in the County. 



[Passerella iliaca schistacea. Slate-colored Sparrow. Specimens of this species have 

 been taken at Glenwoocl vSprings, at the mouth of the Blue River in Middle Park, and in Pa 

 Plata County, so it is not unreasonable to expect that it may be found in Mesa County, tho prob- 

 ably of rare occurrence. ] 



Pipilo maculatus arcticus. Arctic Towhee. Prof. Cooke in his Birds of Col- 

 orado states that arcticus comes west only to the eastern base of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains but the writer has towhee notes on February 18 and 21, and March 16, 17, 

 20 and 26 which he has attributed to this form owing to the accepted belief that 

 montauus is strictly a summer resident. Mr. Sullivan also writes that he has ob- 

 served towhees between December 22 and March 1. Miss Kggleston considers 

 them rare at Grand Junction. Prof. Cooke in discussing this point says, "l have 

 no record of the occurrence of arcticus in western Colorado, but it must be the 

 form there for it breeds in Montana and is known as a common fall migrant in 

 Utah and a common winter resident of southern Utah and southern Nevada. You 

 are probably right but I wish you had a specimen to back it up." 



Pipilo maculatus montanus. Mountain Towhee. Summer resident, abundant. 

 Occurs abundantly thruout the County up to 10,000 feet during the entire summer 

 and breeds abundantly thruout the upper half of its range. The great bulk arrive 

 late in April and breed the middle of May. Frequents the open scrub-oak hillsides 

 in well watered localities. Seldom met with in arid sections. 



Oreospiza chlorura. Green-tailed Towhee. Summer resident, abundant. 

 Above 6000 feet this species is fully as abundant as the preceding but owing to its 

 inconspicuous habits is not so often noted. Arrives late in April and ascends at 

 once to the higher portions of the County and by the middle of May is abundant 

 up to 9000 feet. Breeds about June 15 and frequents open hillsides covered with 

 low service-berry bushes which seem to be a favorite receptacle for the nests. 



Zamelodia melanocephaia. Black-headed Grosbeak. Summer resident, com- 

 mon. A common bird tip to at least 7500 feet, frequenting the dense growth along 

 streams, and nesting thruout its range. Arrives in May and breeds early in June. 

 Departs south in September. Mr. Sullivan's extremes of arrival and departure at 

 Grand Junction are April 20 and October 2. 



Cyanospiza amoena. Lazuli Bunting. Summer resident, common. A char- 



