Jan., 1909 
HISTORY OF COLORADO ORNITHOLOGY 
25 
turkey, magpie and pheasant; and while in the light of the present knowledge of 
our native birds, we may be reasonably sure of the species to which he refers, this 
passing reference is of no value other than one of historical interest. 
In 1819-20 the memorable expedition of Major Long was made, and with this 
party came the first trained ornithologist who entered the boundaries of our state 
as it exists today. Thomas Say on this trip recorded twenty-one species, eight of 
which were new to science, and were described in the account of the expedition 
publisht in Philadelphia in 1823. 
Beginning with the famous Fremont expeditions in 1843-45, the War Depart- 
ment sent into the western country six exploring parties that entered Colorado, 
and most of these parties contributed more or less to the then meager stock of 
knowledge regarding our bird life. It is rather interesting to note the routes fol- 
lowed by the various parties, as it gives a very clear idea of the vast scope of coun- 
try which was not touched by any of these parties. 
(1) Lieut. Pike in 1806-7 followed up the course of the Arkansas River to 
about where Canyon City now stands, thence in a roundabout way thru South 
Park, San Luis Valley and south into New Mexico. 
(2) Major Long in 1820 followed up the South Platte River to Denver, 
crossed the “Divide" to Colorado Springs, and then went south into New Mexico, 
while a detachment of his party went down the Arkansas River to Kansas. 
(3) Capt. Fremont, coming West in 1843, came from Kansas and crossed to 
the South Platte, up this to Denver, and over the “Divide” to Colorado Springs 
and Pueblo, back again over the same route to Denver, north to the Poudre, up the 
Poudre to North Park, and north to Wyoming. Eastward in 1844 lie came into 
Colorado from Utah, by way of the valley of the Grand River, and spent much of 
the summer in exploring North, Middle and South Parks; crossed from the latter 
to the Arkansas, down this to Bent’s Fort, and then northeast across the prairie to 
Kansas. 
(4) Capt. Fremont in 1845 came across Kansas westward to Bent’s Fort on 
the Arkansas River, up this river to its source, across into Middle Park, then west 
to White River, down this to Utah. A detachment from this party under com- 
mand of Lieut. Abert, went south from Bent's Fort to the headwaters of the Cana- 
dian River in New Mexico. 
(5) Capt. Pope in 1851 came northwest from New Mexico to La Junta, 
thence down the Arkansas River into Kansas. 
(6) Capt. Gunnison in 1853 followed up the Arkansas River and its tribu- 
taries to Trinidad, thence west of old Fort Massachusetts, near the present site of 
Fort Garland, north over the Continental Divide onto the Gunnison River, thence 
down that stream and the Grand River into Utah. 
(7) In 1855 Lieut. Warren just touched at Julesburg in passing across west- 
ern Nebraska. 
(8) Lieut. Bryan in 1856 followed up the South Platte River to Fort Morgan 
and then turned north into Wyoming. On the return trip the party entered Col- 
orado from Wyoming near the headwaters of the Cache a la Poudre River, and 
followed down this stream to its junction with the Platte, and down this latter 
stream to Nebraska. A detachment explored the district in Colorado north of the 
Poudre River and east to Crow Creek. 
(9) In 1859 Col. Loring and Capt. Macomb passed across the southwest cor- 
ner of the State in passing from Utah into New Mexico. 
The specimens and field notes of the naturalists attached to these various expe- 
ditions were worked up under the supervision of Prof. Spencer F. Baird, who was 
