86 Drew on Birds of San Juan County , Colorado. 
2. Turdus aonalaschkse auduboni, Ridg. Audubon’s Thrush. — 
Common ; breeds. In June its clear, sweet notes can be heard from nearly 
every dark glen or secluded part of the woods. I found a nest with three 
eggs in the latter part of June. The nest was placed in a spruce bush 
about three feet from the ground. Not noticed after Sept. 13. 
3. Myiadestes townsendi, Cab. Townsend’s Souitaire. — Rather 
common, and breeds. A nest taken by Mr. T. M. Trippe, July 9, at an 
elevation of 10,500 feet, was placed in a little cranny in a bank, and con- 
tained four eggs in wh&h incubation had just begun. In fall the Solitaire 
comes out of the woods and can be found around houses, or in low bushes 
near water. They seem to prefer a low perch to an elevated one, as I have 
often seen them leave the latter for the former. I have never seen more 
than four together. A quartette, probably young birds, w'hich I saw* one 
rainy day in October, kept up a low soliloquy which sounded much like 
the noise a Robin makes when talking to himself. One of them essayed 
a song and succeeded in producing a warble somewhat like a Robin’s song. 
Of their love song I have only heard fragments, but sweet ones. 
4. Oroscoptes montanus. Baird. Mountain Mocking Bird. — 
Rare. Appears in May and lingers until October. It seems just a trifle 
out of place up here, and clings closely to the few dry bushy hillsides and 
sandbanks. 
5. Sialia arctica, Szv. Arctic Bluebird. — • Abundant from April to 
December. The only peculiarity I have noticed in the bird, is an occa- 
sional low chuck — exactly like that of a Blackbird — from the female 
when the nest is approached. Very wary and much on the ground. 
6. Cinclus mexicanus, Szv. American Dipper. — Abundant; 
resident; breeds. The Dipper is my prime favorite; always cheery 
and confiding. June 19 I found a nest with four young birds in it; 
close by was another just building. The female did the nest build- 
ing, while her lord attended to the young brood. He fed them at 
the door which was placed in the front, and out of which the young 
voided their excrement. When the old bird went for nest material she 
would fly to a rock in the stream near a moss-patch, and after bobbing 
up and down a few times, leisurely hop ashore and proceed to snatch up 
bits of moss. Once I noticed her pulling fibrous shreds from weed 
stalks, which she dipped in the water before taking to the nest. At the 
nest, which was about half finished, she went inside and began pushing 
the moss into the roof and sides ; raising the roof here, and pushing out 
the sides there, until all was satisfactory. Nest-making progressed very 
fast and in a week’s time she had two white eggs in it; these I left until 
incubation commenced in hopes of getting more. The young birds, when 
adrift for themselves, skulk under the banks, with only occasional excur- 
sions into the water, until winter comes on when old and young flock to 
the river, it being more free from ice. They are the very embodiment of 
a mountain torrent, — bustling, and energetic; and their song is like chrys- 
tallized spray. Sweet, sparkling, and vivacious, taken with its surround- 
ings, I do not know of any bird-song which surpasses it. They sing 
