ISS 3 .] 
Allen and Brewster on Colorado Birds. 
*55 
Among our large series are a few specimens which, although in 
fresh, unworn spring plumage, almost wholly lack the usual dusky 
streaks of the throat and breast, the entire under parts, — with the excep- 
tion of the jugulum, where there are a few faint shalt lines of a 
slightly darker shade than the general plumage — being immaculate. 
These birds are also unusually pale above, with the dorsal markings 
faint and few in number. As they were taken during the migration, they 
may represent a more or less local desert type, or the variation may be 
simply an individual one. I do not find it mentioned in previous descrip- 
tions. All of the Colorado specimens are very much grayer than some 
which I have from California. 
19. Catherpes mexicanns conspersus. Canon Wren. 
— Heard April 10 in North Cheyenne Canon ; specimens were 
taken a little later in the Garden of the Gods. 
20. Troglodytes aedon. Common Wren. — First seen 
May 5 ; a few days later they became common. 
Colorado certainly ought to furnish true farkmani, but of the seven 
House Wrens which I collected there only two fulfil the requirements of 
that race. The others are neither grayer nor more distinctly banded than 
average eastern birds, from many of which they are practically indistin- 
guishable. The comparative length of the first primary in the two forms 
is the only character w'hich seems to possess any approach to stability, and 
this is not to be depended on. In short, the views which I have lately ex- 
pressed * regarding the instability of the race frarkmani are strength- 
ened by the study of this fresh material. 
2 t . Telmatodytes palustris paludicola. Long-billed 
Marsh Wren. — A single specimen was shot on the Fountain, 
near Beaver Ranch, April 22. This was the only one seen, but 
we were at no other time at a suitable locality for them. 
22. Anthus ludovicianus Tit Lark. — A few small 
flocks were seen during the last week of April. 
23. Helminthophila virginise. Virginia’s Warbler. — 
Single individuals were heard May 1 and 2, and a specimen was 
taken May 3. A few days later they became common, and 
throughout the month were more abundant than any other War- 
bler. They are partial to the oak scrub, where they breed, but 
were also more or less frequent in the cottonwoods of the creek 
bottoms. Are quite shy and difficult to capture for so small a 
bird, keeping closely concealed in the thick scrub, though very 
active. 
A series of about fifty specimens illustrates certain variations of plumage 
which do not seem to have been previously noted. For instance : Both 
Dr. Coues and Mr. Ridgway describe the adult male as having the yellow 
* See this Bulletin, Vol. VII, p. 82. 
