72 BIRDS OF COLORADO. 



been referred by Ridgway to this form (Bull. Essex Institute V. 

 1873, 174) with the remark that this is the first Colorado record. 

 This latter statement however is an error, for I/ieut. Pike in 

 his memorable journey through Colorado in 1806, found Turkeys 

 so abundant from about where Canon City now stands to the 

 present city of Salida, that they formed a large part of the food 

 of his soldiers. From other sources we know that they extended 

 north along the foothills to within a few miles of the northern 

 boundary of the state. One was taken on the Buckhorn in Lar- 

 imer County as late as 1861. Turkeys still exist in Bent, Prow- 

 ers, Baca and L,as Animas Counties in southeastern Colorado. A 

 flock of thirty was seen in 1883 on the Purgatoire River east of 

 Trinidad and near the Spanish Peaks as late as 1890. During 

 the winter of 1896- 1897 they were seen in Bent County. 



310a. Meleagris gallopavo mexicana. Mexican Turkey. 



Resident; rare, locally. There are a few Turkeys yet to 

 be found in the wilder parts of southwestern Colorado and they 

 are known to belong to the Mexican variety. Chas. F. Morri- 

 son found them abundant ten years ago on the Rio los Pinos 

 which runs through the Ute reservation in La Plata County. 

 At an earlier date they were not uncommon along the southern 

 boundary of Colorado from the front range westward. They 

 ascend the mountains only to 7,000 feet. 



313. Columba fasciata. Band-tailed Pigeon. 



Summer resident; local. Generally considered as a rare 

 bird in Colorado, but on bringing together all of its records in 

 the State, it is found to have been noted as follows: "Most 

 abundant in southwestern part in scrub oak, feeding on acorns." 

 (Morrison.) "Breeds at Durango up to 7,000 feet." (Osburn.) 

 West base of Spanish Peaks in September, and on September 

 25 on the Rio Grande at Del Norte. Had been there through 

 the summer. (Henshaw.) "Abundant in the Wet Mountains 

 west of Pueblo from 7,800 to 10,000 feet." (Lowe.) This in- 

 cludes what may be considered its regular range, i. e. , from 

 Canon City west and south. Northeastward it has wandered 

 nearly two hundred miles farther as these records will show. 

 In the fall of 1887 John Bentley saw many of them at Dome 

 Rock in Platte Caiion. The following summer he captured 

 several, some of which were young birds evidently reared in the 

 vicinity. (H. G. Smith.) Seen by my father near Morrison. 

 (•Anthony.) In 1820 it was first taken, described and named by 

 Maj. Long's Expedition on the South Platte at the "foot of the 

 mountains" on a small tributary running north and south. 

 This would make it not far from Denver. The most northern 

 record is that of V. L. Kellogg who saw a small flock in Estes 



