i 
à 
: 
‘ 
ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM THE WEST. 395 
the first week of October the first snow of the season began to 
cover the higher parts of the mountains, extending lower with 
each successive storm, till on the 7th of the month their whole 
slopes were covered, and rain and sleet fell in the valley. The 
winds became cold and chilling, and winter seemed to have suc- 
ceeded summer without the intervention of autumn. Such indeed 
this year was almost literally the case. 
A little more than twenty years ago, as everybody doubtless 
knows, the Great Salt Lake Valley was entirely a desert, its char- 
acteristic vegetation being the “sage brush” and “grease wood,” 
and such similar well-known plants as are found throughout the 
more excessively arid parts of the West. During the time that has 
since elapsed the mountain streams have been tapped by the indus- 
trious Mormon emigrants, and a portion of their waters conducted 
in ditches over the plains ; thereby literally transforming the bar- 
ren desert into fruitful fields. Considerable areas have thus been 
reclaimed, orchards and farms that rival in productiveness those 
of the most favored portions of our country replacing the repul- 
sive sage brush and its kindred plants. These changes have of 
course greatly modified the fauna, increasing the number of all 
the smaller birds, but especially the granivorous and frugivorous 
Kinds, whilst the influx of settlers has materially reduced the 
number of the water-fowl, although their abundance still forms 
the most characteristic ornithological feature of the region. Three 
Species are reported to have been recently introduced, which give 
Promise of multiplying rapidly and becoming thoroughly natura- 
- These are the European house sparrow (Passer domesticus), 
ay mmon eastern quail (Ortyx Virginianus), and the California 
ie (Lophortye Californicus), all of which, as I was informed, 
= raised young the past season (1871). 
„With these general remarks I now pass to a hasty enumeration 
of the species that came under our observation ; premising, how- 
: “ver, that the only previous paper especially devoted to the orni- 
y of this region consists of a brief report by Professor 
a Baird on the birds collected by Captain Stansbury’s Expedition,* 
published į 
| : = the family of Thrushes, we obtained but four species —the 
n 1852, in which are mentioned thirty-one species. 
in, the catbird, mountain mockingbird and hermit thrash. 
only came down from the mountains about October Ist, 
re a a Ra ia peace aren nna aaa ES 
‘Stansbury’s Expedition to the Great Salt Lake, pp- 314-325. 
ty 
