222 ANIMAL LIFE IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS OF COLORADO. 
in the high Sierra Nevada. The kinds most abundant in individ- 
uals were specifically (and, I think, even generically) distinct from 
the more abundant butterflies of the High Sierras. They ranged 
up to the highest points visited, but were most abundant both in 
species and individuals above the forest line, but below the ex- 
posed rocky summits, flying near the ground, very agile, alighting 
often, and after short low flights, and concealing themselves in the 
low herbage, their concealment being more easily effected, as well 
as more effectual, from the brilliancy of the alpine flowers, which 
constitute a marked feature of these heights. 
Crickets are very abundant, several species are found at 12,000 
to 13,000 feet, and in favorable localities the number of indi- 
viduals is very large ; some are very brightly colored. 
The most striking feature of insect life, however, there,.is the 
number of grasshoppers. They are numerous at all altitudes 
visited, and to me appeared to embrace a number of species, of 
which at least two ranged to the highest points. They fly much 
more than our eastern species, both as regards the length and 
height of their flight, and on warm days they fill the air, even to 
the highest summits. If they chance to alight or fall on the snow, 
‘they soon become chilled, and perish there in numbers that chal- 
lenge belief until seen. It is no exaggeration to say that tons of 
them may be seen. When large snowbanks melt in the summer, 
the number of dead grasshoppers left on the rocks is so large, 
that the stench caused by their decay often pollutes the air for a 
great distance. At altitudes of about thirteen thousand feet, the 
conditions are most favorable for this to take place, and we saw 
frequent examples. Mr. Bowles speaks several times of the abun- 
ance of grasshopper life. I quote but one passage :— 
- “ The only life was grasshoppers, —here they were still, by thou- 
sands, by millions, sporting in the air and frisking over the snow, 
but the latter’s chill seemed soon to overcome their life, for oer 
ay dead in countless numbers on its white surface. In s 
places the dead grasshoppers could have ing shovelled up by the 
bushels, and down at the edges of the organ cold grasshopper 
re 
bears, but we could see none enjoying it.” (Parks and Mountains 
of Colorado, p. 93.) 
The day (August 4th) I was ‘upon gree Lincoln (14,123 feet) 
was very clear during the three and a half hours we were on the 
summit. It is well known that by shading the actual disk of 
