"iO Expedition to the 



and copious stream of the Arkansa, while we were search- 

 ing up and down for a place where we could descend the pre- 

 cipice. 



At length, a rugged ravine was discovered, down which 

 we with some difficulty wound our way to the base of the 

 cliff, where lay a beautiful level plain, having some scattered 

 cotton-wood and willow trees, and affording good pasture 

 for our horses. Here we encamped, and the remainder of 

 the afternoon was spent in making preparations to despatch 

 a small party up the Arkansa to the mountains on the suc- 

 ceeding day. 



A small doe was killed near camp, which, though extreme- 

 ly lean, proved an important addition to our supply of pro- 

 visions. 



The place where we encamped was supposed to have been 

 near where Pike's block house formerly stood, but we sought 

 in vain for the traces of any thing resembling the work of a 

 white man. 



Some of the birds taken at this encampment are described 

 in the subjoined note.* 



* 1. Fringilla psaltria, Sat. A very pretty little bird was frequently 

 seen hopping about in the low trees or bushes, sing'ing sweetly, somewhat 

 in the manner of the American goldfinch, or hemp-bird, (Fringilla trist s.) 

 The tints and the distribution of the colours of its plumage resemble in a 

 considerable degree those of the autumnal and less brilliant vesture of 

 that well known species. It may however be distinguished in addition to 

 other differences, by the black tip of its tail feathers, and the white wing' 

 spot. 



The head is capped with black; the cheeks are dusky; the bill yellow, 

 with a black tip; the iris, burnt umber; neck above, and half its side, back 

 and rump olivaceous, more or less intermixed with dusky; smaller wing- 

 coverts blackish edged with olivaceous; greater wing coverts brown-black 

 tipped with white, forming a narrow band; primaries fuscous, and, except- 

 ing the exterior one, slightly edged with white; third, fourth, and fifth 

 feathers, white towards the base, so as to exhibit a white spot beyond the 

 wing-coverts; secondaries, margined with white exteriorly towards their 

 tips; tail-coverts black, varied with olivaceous on their shafts; tail, emar- 

 ginate, feathers blackish, slightly edged with dull whitish; the three exte- 

 rior ones pure white on their inner webs excepting atbaseaod tip; all be- 

 neath yellow; feet pale. 



A specimen is deposited in the Philadelphia Museum. 



2. Frmgilla frontalis. Sav. Crimson-necked Finch; head, throat, neck 



