100 
BIRDS OF COLORADO. 
1895, 90.) It had, however, been gradually approaching the 
mountains for several years previous. It reached Denver during 
the summer of 1896, and there are probably less than twenty pairs 
of these sparrows now (March, 1897) in that city, where in ten 
years from now there will be as many thousands. The Sparrow 
has reached the Rocky Mountains by following the lines of rail- 
road westward. It is not rare in the towns along the Union 
Pacific and Burlington roads in northern Colorado, to within 
fifty miles of the mountains, and it is a question of but a few 
years before they will over-run all of the country east of the 
foothills. They have not increased very rapidly so far in the 
State. At Las Animas, on the i^rkansas River, where they have 
been for about four years, there are probably not more than ten 
pairs in the town and none in the country outside the city limits. 
Their habits here are the same as in the east. It will be in- 
teresting to note the result of the rivalry in Colorado of this bird 
and the House Finch {Carpodacus 77 texicanus fro 7 ttalis). This 
latter bird has for years occupied the place in Colorado that the 
English Sparrow does farther east. Over the eastern half of 
the United States, the English Sparrow has not had to contend 
with any species of habits similar to its own. In Colorado, at 
the base of the mountains, it meets its first real foe. Time will 
tell which will be victorious. 
534- Piectrophenax nivalis. Snowflake. 
Winter visitant ; rare. Comes to the plains region of 
northeastern Colorado during the winter season, but never in 
large numbers and not regularly. Has been taken at Fort 
Collins, Loveland, Boulder and Denver. C. F. Morrison records 
one from La Plata County March i. This is the only record 
from west of the range. 
536. Calcarius lapponicus. Lapland Longspur. 
Winter resident ; common. Enters Colorado from the 
north in October and remains through the winter. When it 
first arrives it passes up into the lower mountain parks, but in 
severe weather it is confined to the plains extending to southern 
Colorado. Breeds far north. 
538. Calcarius ornatus. Chestnut-collared Longspur. 
Summer resident, rare; winter resident, not common; in 
migration, common. Has been taken during the winter at 
Fort Collins, Loveland, Boulder, Pueblo, Fort Lyon, and Allen 
and Brewster saw a flock at Colorado Springs as late as May 9. 
No records from west of the range. Breeds regularly in North- 
ern United States and British America. Given by Ridgway 
as breeding in Colorado, though the present writer can find no 
authority for the statement. Known to breed in Wyoming and 
Nebraska just over the Colorado line. 
