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April, and Mr. Brewster states that be found the birds breeding abundantly at Yuma, 

 along a bluff above the town. Dr. Elliott Coues also says, in his paper on birds observed 

 from Arizona to the Pacific, that immense numbers made their nests on the precipitous 

 and rocky sides of the rivers. 



The vertical range of the species in Colorado is given as follows by Mr. Drew : — 

 " Spring 6000 feet ; summer 11,000 feet ; autumn 9500 feet. Breeds from the plains 

 up to 10,000 feet," 



Mr. Scott savsthat at Twin Lakes he found it very abundant, On the 20th of June 

 the birds began to build under the eaves of a barn. Many breed on the faces of the 

 cliffs of the Arkansas River. Messrs. Allen and Brewster, in their paper on Colorado 

 birds, state that it was first observed about the 18th of May, but doubtless arrived 

 somewhat earlier. 



Mr. Henshaw gives the following account: — " Observed in Snake Valley, Nevada, 

 and in many localities in Middle and Southern Utah, living in colonies, and building 

 their nests at times in inaccessible spots, in lofty cliffs, and again in places at a few feet 

 above the plain. A widespread species, both in Arizona and New Mexico, as their mud- 

 nests, attached to the cliffs everywhere, attest. 



" Seen near Fort Garland, Colorado, in large numbers, building under the eaves of 

 the post quarters. I noticed here a very curious departure from the usual method of 

 constructing the nest. Under the projecting eaves of one of the store-houses, a large 

 colony had established themselves, there being in the neighbourhood fifty nests, most of 

 which were built in the usual fashion. But a few pairs, taking advantage of circum- 

 stances, had established themselves in certain small passages which opened directly 

 under the eaves, and had served as ventilators. The mouth of each one of these had 

 been built up with mud, a small hole being left as an entrance. Some twelve inches 

 beyond was the proper nest, consisting of a small pile of straws and feathers, on which 

 the eggs were deposited. The wisdom of the birds in thus availing themselves of these 

 holes was very clearly demonstrated, since nearly the entire labour of nest-making was 

 obviated and a much safer domicile secured." 



" This species," writes Mr. Hoffman in his paper on the Birds of Nevada, " is 

 usually abundant in the vicinity of rivers, streams, and even large springs in fertile 

 valleys, as at one locality near the divide between Deep Spring and Smoky Valleys. In 

 many places against the face of the limestone cliffs the nests of these birds were built, 

 and apparently heaped upon one another in the greatest confusion. Immediately 

 beneath the ledges, which were vertically about SO feet high, and extended horizontally 

 for about 100 yards, there was continuation of the pihon woods visible in every direction, 

 except about an eighth of a mile below, where the timber ended and the grassy valley 

 stretched away towards the east. The springs and a small rivulet rising in the hills on 

 the south were fringed with an abundance of willows and small cotton woods, where we 

 first noticed these birds during the afternoon of our going into camp. The next day, 

 however, we found their habitations, and even saw the birds flying in all directions over 



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