The Birds op El Paso County, Colorado 571 



and Warren in Jefferson County was sunken in the ground so 

 that the rim was flush with the surface. The nest proper was 

 made of grass, coarse outside, lined with finer, with a few 

 horsehairs intermingled. This was under a Douglas's fir tree, 

 and nearly covered by a spreading branch which grew out al- 

 most at the foot of the tree and actually rested on the ground 

 over the nest. This nest contained four fresh eggs and is 

 now in the Colorado College Museum. Taken May 30, 1912. 



July 10, 1899, Aiken found a nest with five young a 

 week old at the Strickler Tunnel, 11,500 feet. The first nest 

 of the species known to science was found by Aiken, and the 

 description was published in 1875. 



Aiken took two of the birds at Ramah, May 16, 1904, a 

 rather late spring record for the plains. One was also taken 

 May 16, 1908, at Buttes. 



Melospiza melodia montana. Mountain Song Sparrow. 



Summer resident; not common. A good many spend the 

 winter, and it is abundant in migration. The spring migration 

 seems to begin about March first, and in fall most of the 

 birds have gone on by the last of October. 



As a winter resident the Song Sparrow is no doubt ir- 

 regular. November 8, 1897, Aiken took two on Fountain 

 Creek ; the 22nd he took three and saw about a dozen ; they 

 were not found December 6th following at the same place. 

 At Skinner's, January 15, 1908, he took 3 and saw 20. At 

 Buttes, January 24, 1908, many were seen. There is a skin 

 in. the Aiken Collection taken February 6, 1873. 



Warren took one on each of the following dates : December 

 4, 1882, December 12 and 14, 1883. One was seen February 23 

 and 24, 1913, in Monument Valley Park and also later on in 

 March. November 17, 1912, two or three were seen in the 

 Park, and seemed to hold themselves aloof from the numerous 

 Tree .Sparrows. December 22, 1912, one was also seen there. 



