Holden —Aiken.] 194 . [June 5, 
of their nests, differing in no particular point from eastern birds 
except in that they were made of sage brush, straw and mud; the eggs 
were similar in many instance to eastern specimens, misc at first 
they seemed a little darker. 
‘* Not common during the winter; very abundant from the middle 
of March to the first of May, at which time they begin nesting.” 
2. Creoscoptes montanus. Mountain Mocking Bia i 
These are rare, only five or six specimens were observed in the course 
of my collecting, they sing exquisitely, their actions are similar to the 
Brown Thrush. They remain concealed during the middle of the 
day in some low thicket and on the approach of evening the males 
mount some high point and sing until after dusk. I have heard them 
making their way through thick underbrush in the middle of the day; 
while so doing they made a short clucking noise not unlike some notes 
of the Cat-bird, WZ. carolinus. 
8. Hydrobata mexicana. 
“Not common. Found about springs all winter.’’—C. E. A. 
4, Sialia sialis. 
Since this was in type Mr. Holden has taken one specimen near 
Fountain, Colorado. 
5. Sialia mexicana. Western Blue-bird. 
‘“‘ Beoan to arrive about March 15th, since which I have found them 
rather common among scattered timber in the foot-hills. At this date 
(May 4th), they are seen in pairs. Iris dark brown.”—C. E. A. 
6. Sialia arctica. Rocky Mountain Blue-bird. 
These beautiful birds were common and their action and habits are 
almost identical with our eastern bird (Salta sialis); they seemed to 
breed in any place that was convenient. I found one nest containing 
four eggs in an old car wheel, another in a deserted woodpecker’s hole 
about six inches from which lived a pair of Red-shafted Flickers and 
their family. The male birds perch themselves on any high point and 
sing as if they thought every note would be their last. Their song 
is truly mournful, and consists of several low notes uttered in quick 
succession ; it can be heard a long distance. 
‘¢ Saw and killed the first specimen, February 18th; from that date 
they continued to increase in numbers till the last of March, at which 
time they were very abundant. They migrate in large flocks, some- 
times of hundreds, but separate into pairs about May 1st. ‘The call- 
note is similar to that.S. sialis. Prefers an open country. Iris dark 
-brown.”—C. E. A. 
