Minot on Colorado Birds. 
229 
Swallows tlieir wings seemed to me of a different cut, and more used in 
motion. Their notes are distinct : a chip , almost Finch-like, and others not 
unlike the Cliff Swallow’s. The seemingly white rump is characteristic. 
25. Vireo plumbeus, Coues. Plumbeous Vireo. — A summer resi- 
dent. About Boulder, common up to 9,000 feet, frequenting shrubbery, 
and groves of pines or cottonwoods. About Manitou, infrequent. Song 
not so sweet as the Solitary Yireo’s ; ordinary note week, not ank, but 
seemingly just as petulant ; scold, or chatter, generic. Nest usually higher 
than the Solitary’s. Without comparing specimens, I regard the Plum- 
beous Yireo as a distinct species. 
26. Vireo gilvus swainsoni, Coues. Western Warbling Yireo. 
— At Boulder, I did not observe it till the last of May. About Manitou 
an abundant summer resident, frequenting chiefly the oak-scrub, but occur- 
ring up to 10,000 feet. Notes : a chip , a petulant quee , and a chatter. Song 
not so continuous, varied, or sweet as the Eastern bird’s, but generally the 
repetition of a somewhat set and very definite phrase. Nest usually within 
ten feet of the ground. 
27. Carpodacus cassini, Baird. Western Purple Finch. — To 
the northward a common summer resident up to 10,000 feet, often singing 
from a high perch almost identically with the Eastern bird. May 31, a 
large flock appeared at Boulder in the fields, feeding on the ground, 
springing up with a che'-u-we'-u as they flew, and all alighting in one tree, 
where, in a subdued way, they warbled, or almost twittered, in a confused 
chorus. The crown is gloriously carmine. 
28. Loxia curvirostra mexicana, Coues. Mexican Crossbill. — 
An irregular resident. I first observed these birds between Nederland 
and Black Hawk, in a pine wood, where they were uttering the most 
extraordinary notes I ever heard (the first harsh, like the sound of some 
machine, and the last hurried, like obstreperous kissing !) : “ Hang it ! 
Hang it ! Hang it ! chup-ch up-ch up-ch up-ch up ! ” It may have been a 
matrimonial dispute, for the birds did not allow a close approach, but 
flew off with their usual chattering. 
29. Melospiza lincolni, Baird. Lincoln’s Sparrow. — A sum- 
mer resident in high swamps : not numerous. These birds do not like 
familiarity, but may be seen, now and then, perched erectly on top of a 
bush, and heard singing. Their song, to any imagination less vivid than 
Audubon’s, could hardly suggest the English Wood Lark’s. Were I to 
describe it, at its best, fancifully, I should say it was a cross between those 
of the Song Sparrow and Parkman’s Wren. At times it is inferior. 
30. Zonotrichia leucophrys, Sw. White-crowned Sparrow. — 
Abundant in summer in high swamps. Common about Boulder up to 
June 1 at least. These Sparrows mount to sing their song, of which the first 
two notes are generic, though frequently not clear, and the latter a hur- 
ried little phrase, not falling, as with the White-throat, but suggesting 
rather the Bay-wing. Besides their tsip, and an almost metallic chip, 
