346 ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM THE WEST. 
a 
chestnut-backed snowbird (Junco caniceps) was first seen at about 
seven thousand feet, above which it was common to about the 
timber line. Near this point (seven thousand feet) the white 
crowned sparrows, the black-capped fiycatching-warbler ( Wilsonia 
pusilla), Macgillivray’s warbler, the pigmy nuthatch and the 
yellow-bellied woodpecker also first became common, as did also 
Nuttall’s whippoorwill, though the latter doubtless ranges down to 
the base of the foothills. It was near this point that the arctic 
towhe, the lazuli finch, the catbird, yellow-breasted chat, black- 
headed grosbeak and brown thrush disappeared. The violet-green 
swallow, the American ouzel, the broad-tailed humming bird, the 
pine finch and the rock wren, though essentially birds of the 
mountains, were all more or less common among the foothills, and 
were even seen several miles out on the Plains. 
As already remarked, we found Turkey Creek valley richer in 
birds than any other part of the mountains we visited. Along its 
upper part, and on the north fork of the South Platte, Macgillivray’s 
warbler was one of the birds most frequently observed, and, except 
ing Audubon’s warbler, which was only moderately frequent, was 
the only warbler noticed. It was everywhere. common along the 
streams, keeping generally concealed among the willows, its song 
being very sweet and attractive. Blanding’s finch was equally 
numerous, and its peculiar song was fully as pleasing. It inno 
respect resembles the eastern towhe, with which and its allies it 
is associated by systematic writers, far more resembling the ae d 
of sparrows so familiarly represented at the East by the white- 
throat, than any other group—resembling these in its habits, pons 
and general aspect, and from which it differs chiefly in its relatively 
longer tail. The chipping sparrow was frequent, and we occasion: 
ally met with little parties of the chestnut-backed snowbird, n 
in notes, habits and general appearances so nearly resembles 
common eastern snowbird as to be scarcely distinguishable from 
it when a few yards distant. The great crested jay i 
macrolopha), was everywhere conspicuous, and though so diffe 
in color and other features, forcibly reminds one of th ee 
bluejay, being fully as restless and noisy. The magpie, thone 
less frequent and more wary, was scarcely less prominent, ae 
ing many of the ways and the garrulousness of its near alli f the 
jays. Lewis’s woodpecker was perhaps the most numerous O° a 
Picide, though the red-shafted and red-headed were cone” 
the eastem 
