ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM THE WEST. 267. 
unusually bright in all the specimens examined. The red-winged 
blackbirds and the purple grackle ( Quiscalus purpureus) were both 
numerous, the latter presenting the brassy tints somewhat pecu- 
liar to the western race of this flexible species. The lazy, ubiqui- 
tous cowbird (Molothrus pecoris) was ever lurking in the trees 
and bushes, watching for an opportunity of shirking the burden 
of hatching and rearing its young upon some more industrious 
neighbor, wholly oblivious of respectability and fair play in re- 
spect to its domestic affairs. On the prairies the meadow lark 
(Sturnella Ludoviciana) filled the air with the wild, sweet melody 
so characteristic of this bird in the prairie states. 
Among the swallows, the purple martin (Progne subis) was one 
of the most numerous, breeding in all parts of the city in boxes 
liberally provided for their accommodation. This bird seems to be 
a universal favorite in the more newly settled parts of the west, 
the erection of martin boxes being one of the settlers’ first ‘‘ im- 
provements.” Hence this bird is often common where none could 
exist without man’s kindly aid. The barn, cliff, white-bellied, 
bank and rough-winged swallows were also more or less com- 
mon. The swift (Chetura pelasgia) was quite numerous, breeding 
chiefly in the hollow trees of the forest, which it always seems to 
Prefer to chimneys, to which it has to resort in most of the longer 
Settled districts, or else abandon the country. 
The Carolina dove was abundant almost everywhere ; the quail 
(Ortyx Virginianus) was equally numerous, but affecting chiefly 
the neighborhood of thickets. The prairie chicken still forms 
chief game bird of the prairies. 
a Of birds of prey few were observed beyond such almost 
universally common species as the marsh hawk and the sparrow 
hawk. The latter was nesting abundantly in woodpeckers’ holes 
în the forests. Between this bird and the red-headed woodpecker 
We witnessed many fierce encounters, the woodpecker being usu- 
y the aggressor, but by no means always the victor. 
The few water birds seen were chiefly of the following species: 
“Potted and solitary sandpipers, both common; the lesser tell-tale 
E y ellow legs” (Gambetta flavipes) and the red-backed sandpiper 
as ( i dna Americana) were also quite numerous about the lagoons, 
which were also inhabited by an abundance of ‘mud hens” (Fulica 
Our na), and frequented by teals, mallards and wood ducks. 
stay being so short at this interesting locality, many birds 
