263 
Dr. E. Cones.— From Arizona to the Pacific . 
cries, or statelily promenading the banks of the little lagunas 
and sequestered pools that fill the river-bottom. Unlike most 
large Grallce, they do not much affect the open sandbars or even 
the mud-flats of the river itself, but fairly deserve their common 
name of “ Wood-Ibis,” by their partiality for densely wooded 
pools and swamps. They have also a peculiar habit of congre¬ 
gating in large numbers high up in the air, where with scarcely 
any visible motion of their broad wings they circle in majestic 
sweeps. Their pure white plumage and glossy greenish-black 
wing-tips form a superb contrast; and their beauty renders more 
ugly by comparison the dull sombre hues of the Turkey-Buz¬ 
zards, with which at such times they freely associate—though 
the Vulture and the Wader may vie with each other in ease and 
elegance of flight, each sailing and circling with that “ poetry 
of motion” which only some longipennine Natatores can surpass. 
Here is a simple list of some other water-birds of the river, 
named somewhat in their order of abundance. Such familiar 
friends will be recognized in all of them, that I need do no more 
than mention their names. Ardea herodias , Grus canadensis , 
Garzetta candidissima, Herodias egretta, Butorides virescens, Re- 
curvirostra americana, Himantopus nigricollis, Botaurus lentigi- 
nosus, Ardetta exilis , Nyctiardea gardeni, Chroicocephalus Phila¬ 
delphia, Fulica americana , Pelecanus trachyrhynchus, Phalaropus 
wilsoni , and Podilymhus podiceps. 
I saw many Ducks, but only identified three species— Dafila 
acuta, Nettion carolinensis, and Querquedula cyanoptera. It was 
a little too early in the season for the immense flights of Geese 
and Ducks which a little later would cover the water. For the 
first time in my life, I saw our two North American Kingfishers 
[Ceryle alcyon and C. americana) ^together; I believe the latter 
has not been before recorded from the Colorado river. It is 
surprising that I did not meet with Auriparus flaviceps, since, 
as Dr. Cooper informs me, it is abundant at Fort Mojave and 
elsewhere in the valley. Melospiza fallax (at best doubtfully 
distinct from M. melodia) is a common Sparrow here. 
Before we finally bid good-bye to the river I must advert to 
the immense numbers of Hirundo lunifrons that make its some¬ 
times precipitous and rocky sides their breeding-places. So 
