FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY A HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF COLORADO A HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF COLORADO WILLIAM LUTLEY SCLATER M,A.(Oxoii.), M.B.O.U., Hon. M.A.O.U. (^Lately Director of the Colorado College Museuni) WITH SEVENTEEN PLATES AND A MAP WITHERBY & CO. 326 HIGH HOLBOEN LONDON 1912 PRINTED BY WITHBBBY & CO., AT THEIR PRINTING PRESS IN MIDDLE ROW PLACE, LONDON. TO THE MBMOllY OF GENERAL WILLIAM JACKSON PALMEE, OF GliEN EYRIE, NEAR COLORADO SPRINGS, TO WHOSE MANY KINDNESSES I OWE THE POSSIBILITY OF PREPARING THIS WORK. CONTENTS. PAGE List of Illustrations ..... ix Introduction ...... xi A History of the Birds of Colorado . 1 Bibliography ...... . 533 Gazetteer ...... . 553 Index ....... . 563 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Portrait of General William Jackson Palmer Frontispiece PLATE. PAGE 1. Nesting Colony of Great Blue Heron . „ /Young Great Blue Heron . ■ I Young Night-Herons 3. Ptarmigan in September and March . 4. Nesting Site of Western Redtail 5. Adult and Young of Rocky-Mountain Screech Owl 6. Nest of Western Horned Owl 7. Young Red-shafted Flickers 8. Nest of Broad-tailed Humming-bird . 9. Arkansas Kingbird and Nest 10. Horned Lark in the Snow 11. Magpies from the Nest 12. White-headed Jay . . . I . 13. Nest of YeUow-headed Blackbird 14. Nest of House-Finch and Arkansas Goldfinch 15. Black-headed Grosbeak on the Nest . 16. Nest of American Dipper . Contour Map of Colorado 82 }-88 148 174 204 210 240 254 262 280 284 290 304 332 400 476 552 INTRODUCTION. T3ERHAPS some apology is necessary for the appear- ance of a new American Bird-book. Mine must be that the only complete work on Colorado Birds is that of Cooke, which, though brought up-to-date by successive supplements, is now out of print and very difficult to obtain. Moreover, Cooke gives no descriptions or keys, so that it is not of much use to the tyro who wishes to identify the birds which he has observed or obtained. The present volume is founded on the very complete collection of Colorado birds formed during the last thirty -five years by Mr. Charles E. Aiken, of Colorado Springs. Tliis collection was recently acquired by General William J. Palmer, and presented by him to the Museum of Colorado College. As was well known to all General Palmer's intimate friends, he was a great lover of Nature, and specially of the wild birds of his adopted State, and it was in accordance with his often expressed desire that I undertook the preparation of this work, and made use of the Aiken collection for the purpose. Before arrangements could be made for its publication his death occurred. The complete volume has, therefore, been dedicated to him ; and, as a personal memorial, the necessary expenses involved in publication have been defrayed by his sister- in-law, Mrs. WiUiam Lutley Sclater and his brother-in-law, Mr. Chase Mellen, of New York. A 2 xii Birds of Colorado Physical Features of Colorado. The State of Colorado lies near the centre of the United States, about two-thirds of the distance from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts. It is quadrilateral in shape, measur- ing about 276 miles from north to south, and about 375 from east to west. It has an area of about 103,900 square miles. In general terms, the eastern third of the State consists of open, bare, dry plains, where the country is flat or rolling, and where there is hardly any timber except along the river bottoms. The elevation of these plains (the prairies) rises from about 3,500 feet at the Kansas border to 6,000 feet at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. West of the 105th meridian, and rising with extra- ordinary abruptness from the plains to the east, the Rocky Mountains occupy roughly the middle third of the State. In a very general way the system forms two parallel ranges running north and south, joined by subsidiary east and west connections ; between these are the great mountain parks, open wide valleys rather bare of trees, and situated at elevations of 7,000 to 8,000 feet. The chief of these are North and South Parks, drained by the North and South Platte rivers, which meet out in the plains of Nebraska and join the Missouri near Omaha ; Middle Park, drained by the Grand River, the principal affluent of the Colorado River of the west, draining into the Gulf of CaHfomia ; and the San Luis VaUey, draining into the Rio Grande on the south. The western third of the State consists, to a large extent, of a series of descending plateaus through which the rivers, all tributaries of the Colorado, have cut canons Introduction xiii of varying depth, while there are several ranges, such as the Elk and the Gunnison mountains, rising above the plateaus. Colorado has the highest average elevation of all the States of the Union — 6,800 feet — while there are a number of peaks of between 14,000 and 14,500 feet. Colorado lies within the arid region ; the rainfall east of the mountains seldom amounts to 20 inches, and is often less ; in the mountains it often exceeds 30. The bulk of the rainfall is in the summer months, and the winter is generally dry. Analysis of the Bikd Fauna. The number of Colorado birds included in the present work is 392. Of these 225 may be considered regular breeders within the State. I have divided these into three catagories, viz. : (a) Those resident throughout the year, 67 in number ; (b) The strict migrants which, so far as we know, never winter within the limits of the State, 118 in number ; (c) Those birds which breed within the State and in winter are undoubtedly less numerous, so that they may be considered partly migrant and partly resident, 40 in number. The non-breeding birds number 167. Of these the largest category by far are the Casual or rare species, which have only been recorded on very few occasions ; these number 106. The other two groups, which are not always easy to separate satisfactorily, are the winter residents, numbering 28, and the birds which pass through the State on the Spring and Fall migration ; these are 33 in number. The following lists show the birds in these various categories. (a) Resident through the year — 67, or about 17 per cent. : — xiv Birds of Colorado Histrionicus Mstrionicus, Colinus virginianus, Calli- pepla squamata, Lophortyx calif orniciis (introduced), Dendragapus obscurus, Bonasa u. umbelloides, Lagopus leucurus, Tympanuchus americanus, Pedioccetes p. cam- pestris, Centrocercus urophasianus, Meleagris g. merriami, Archibuteo ferrugineus, Aquila chrysaetos, Haliceetus leucocephalus, Aluco pratincola ?, Asio wilsonianiis, Cryptoglaux acadicus, Otus a. maxwelUce, Oius a. aikeni Otus flammeola, Bubo v. pallescens, Speotyto c. hypogcea, Glaucidium gnoma, Geococcyx calif or nianus, Dry abates V. monticola, Dryobates p. homorus, Dryobates s. bairdi, Picoides a. dorsalis, Colaptes c. collaris, Otocoris a. leucoloema, Pica p. hudsonia, Cyanocitta cristata, Cyano- citta s. diademata, Aphelocoma woodhousei, Grades c. capitalis, Corvus c. sin/uatus, Corvus cryptoleucus, Corvus b. hesperis, Nucifraga Columbiana, Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus, Hesperiphona v. moniana, Pinicola e. montana, Carpodacus cassini, Carpodacus m. frontalis, Loxia c. minor, L. c. strichlandi ?, Leucosticte australis, Spinus pinus, Passer domesticus (introduced), J unco aikeni ?, Junco caniceps, Pipilo f. mesoleucus , Bomby- cilla cedrorum, Cinclus m. unicolor, Catherpes m. conspersus, Thryomanes b. bairdi, Telmatodytes p. plesius, Certhia f. montana, Sitta c. nelsoni, Siita canadensis, Sitta pygmcea, Bceolophus griseus, Pen- thestes a. septentrionalis, Penthestes gambeli, Psaltriparu^ plumbeus, Begulus s. olivaceus, Myiadestes townsendi. (b) Summer residents migrating south in winter — 118, or about 30 per cent. : — Colymbus n. californicus, Podilymbus podiceps, Larus delawarensis , Sterna forsteri, Hydrochelidon n. surinam- ensis, Querquedula discors, Q. cyanoptera. Spatula clypeata, Aix sponsa, Erismatura jamaicensis, Plegadis guaraurui, Ixobrychus exilis, Ardea herodias, Egretta Introduction xv candidissima ?, Grus americana, Porzana Carolina, Steganopus tricolor, Recurvirosira americana, Himantopus mexicanus, Philohela minor, Cataptrophorus s. inornatus, Bartramia longicauda, Actitis macularia, Numenius americanus, Oxyechus vocijerus, Podasocys montana, Columba fasciata, Cathartes a. septentrionalis, Pandion h. carolinensis, Coccyzus americanus, Coccyzus a. occi- dentalis, Sphyrapicus v. nuchalis, Sphyrapicus tJiyroideus, Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Phalcenoptilus nuttalli, Chordeiles v. henryi, Cypseloides n. borealis, Aeronautes melanoleucus , Architrochilus alexandri, Selasphorus platycercus, Selasphorus rufus, Tyrannus tyrannus, Tyrannus verticalis, Tyrannus cassini, Myiarchus cinerascens, Sayornis saya, Nuttallornis borealis, Myiochanes richardsoni, Empidonax difficilis, E. trailli, E. hammondi, E. wrighti, Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Moloihrus ater, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Icterus spurius, I. galbula, I. bullocki, Quiscalus q. ceneus, Astragalinus psaltria, A. p.. arizonoe, Pocecetes g. confinis, Passeri- culus s. alaudinus, Coturniculus s. bimaculatus, Chondestes g. strigatus, Zonotrichia leucophrys, Spizella p. arizonce, S. pallida ?, S. breweri, Amphispiza b. deserticola, A. nevadensis ?, Peuccea cassini ?, Melospiza lincolni, Pipilo montanus, Oreospiza chlorura, Zamelodia ludo- viciana, Z. melanocephala, Guiraca c. lazula, Passerina amcena, Spiza americana, Calamospiza melanocorys, Pyranga ludoviciana, Progne subis, Petrochelidon lunifrons, Hirundo erythrogastra, Iridoprocne bicolor, TacTiycineta t. lepida, Riparia riparia, Stelgidopteryx serripennis, Vireosylva olivacea, Vireosylva g. swainsoni, Lanivireo s. plumbeus, Vireo belli, Vermivora virgineoe, Vermivora celata ?, Dendroica cestiva, D. auduboni, D. gracice, D. nigrescens ?, Oporornis tolmiei, Geothlypis t. occi- denialis, Icteria v. longicauda, Wilsonia p. pileolata, xvi Birds of Colorado SetopJiaga ruticilla, Anthus rubescens, Oreoscoptes montanus, Mimus p. leucopterus, Dumetella carolinensis, Toxostoma rufum., T. benderei, Troglodytes cb. parkmani, Regulus calendula Polioptila c. ohscura, Hylocichla f. salicicola, H. u. swainsoni ?, H. g. auduhoni, Sialia sialis, Sialia m. hairdi. (c) Birds which breed within the State and occasionally wdnter, though usually going further south — 40, or about 10 per cent. : — Mergus americanus, Anas platyrhynchos, Chaulelasmus streperus, Mareca americana, Nettion carolinensis, Dafila acuta, Marila americana, M. vallisneria, Clangula islandica, Branta canadensis, Botaurus lentiginosus, Nycticorax n. ncevius, Eallvs virginianus, Fulica ameri- cana, Gallinago delicata, Zenaidura carolinensis, Circus hudsonius, Accipiter velox, A. cooperi, Buteo h. calurus, B. b. krideri, B. swainsoni, Falco mexicanus, F. p. anxitum, F. columbarius, F. c. richardsoni, F. sparverius, F. s. phalcena, Ceryle alcyon, Asyndesm-us lewisi, Sturnella. neglecta, Euphagus cyanocephalus, Astragalinus tristis, A. t. pallidus, Calcarius ornatus, Melospiza m, montana, Lanius I. excubitorides, Salpinctes dbsoletus, Planesticus m. propinquus, Sialia currucoides. (d) Birds not known to breed witliin the State, but found more or less commonly in winter — 28, or about 7 per cent. : — Gavia arctica, Mergus serrator, Lophodytes curAillatus, Marila afjinis, Clangula c. americana, Chareonettn albeola, Harelda hyemalis, Astur atricapillus ?, Archibuteo L sancti-johannis, Asio flammea, Nyctea nyctea, Agelaius p. fortis, Euphagus carolinus, Leucosticte tephrocotis, L. t. liitoralis, L. atrata, Acanthis linaria, Plectrophanes nivalis, Calcarius I. alascensis, Rhyncophanes mccowni, Zonotrichia I. gambeli, Spizella m. ochracea, Junco Introduction xvii hyemalis, Junco o. shufeldti, J. mearnsi, Pipilo m. arcticus, Bomhycilla garrula, JMnius borealis. (e) Birds not known to breed in the State, but more or less regular transients through in spring and autumn — 33, or about 8 per cent. : — JEchmophorus occidentalis, Gavia immer, Larus argPMtatus, L. Philadelphia, Xema sahini, Pelecanus erythrorhynchus, Marila mania, Oidemia deglandi, Chen hypoboreus, Olor columbianus, Grus canadensis, Lohipes, lobatus, Macrorhamphiis g. scolopaceus, Micropalama himantopus, Pisobia. maculata, P. fuscicollis, P. bairdi, P. minutilla, Ereyieiites pusillus, Calidris leucophcea, Limosa fedoa, Totanus melanoleucAis, T. flavipes, Numenius hudsonicus, Squatarola squaiarola, Charndrius dominicus, Empidonax minimus, Centronyx bairdi, Vermivora peregrina, Dendroica coronata ?, D. town- sendi {?), Seiurus n. notabilis, Hylocichla guttata. (f) Birds not known to breed in the State which have only been taken on from one to half-a-dozen occasions — casuals and wanderers — 106, or about 27 per cent. : — Colymbus holboelli, C. auritus, Gavia adamsi, Ster- corarius parasiticus, Rissa tridactyla, Larus occidentalis, L. californicus, L. atricilla, L. franklini, Sterna paradis a, S. hirundo, Phalacrocorax auritus, P. v. mexicanus, Pelecanus occidentalis, Anas fulvigula macidosa, Marila collaris, Somateria dresseri, Oidemia americana, 0. perspicillata, Chen h. nivalis, Chen rossi, Anser m. gambeli, Branta c. hutchinsi, Branta c. minima, Branta b. glaujcogastra, Olor buccinator, Ajaja ajaja, Guara alba, G. rubra, Plegadis autumnalis, Mycteria americana, Herodias egretta, Dichromanassa rufescens, Butorides rufescens, Nyctinassa violacea, Grus americana, Creciscus jamaicensis, Gallinula galeata, Pelidna a. sahhalina, Ereunetes mauri, JEgialitis semipalmata, xviii Birds of Colorado Arenaria i. morinella, Lophortyx gambeli, Pedioccetes p. columhianus, Melopelia asiatica, Elanoides forficatus, Ictinia mississippiensis, Astur a. striatulus, Buteo b. harlani, Strix varia (breeding ?), 8. occidentalis, Crypto- glaux f. richardsoni, Conuropsis carolinensis (extinct), Coccyzus eryihropthalmus, Dryohates villosus, Phlceotomvs p. abieticola, Centurus carolinus, Colaptes a. luteus Antrostomus vociferans, Phalcenoptilus n. nitidus, Chordeiles a. texensis, Stellula calliope, Myiarchus I. oUvascens, Sayornis phcebe, Myiochanes virens, Empidonax t. alnorum, E. griseus, Otocoris a. euthymia, Agelaius tricolor, Carpodacus purpureus, Loxia leucoptera, Acanthis I. rostrata, Astragalinus p. mexicanus, Ammo- dramus lecontei, Zonotrichia querula, Z. coronata, Z. albicollis, Spizella pusilla arenacea, Junco dorsalis, Aimo- philav. scottii, Melospiza melodia, M. georgiana, Passerella i. schisfacea, Pipilo aberti, Cardinalis cardinalis, Passerina cyanea, Pyranga erythromelas, Pyranga r. cooperi, Lanivireo s. cassini, Vireo vicinior, Mniotilta varia, Protonotaria citrea, Vermivora chrysoptera, Compso- thlypis a. usnece, Dendroica ccerulescens, D. magnolia, D. cerulea, D. striata, D. virens, D. palmarum, Seiurus aurocapillus, Oporornis agilis, Wilsonia pusilla, W. canadensis, Nannus hiemalis, Cistothorus stellaris, Hylociclila mustelina, Saxicola cenanthe. The vertical distribution of the Colorado birds has occupied the attention of many observers ; Mr. F. M. Drew published in the Auk in 18S5 a complete list of Colorado birds, as then known, with their vertical dis- tribution both in the breeding season and at other times. I have confined myself to an analysis of the vertical distribution during the breeding season, as the data for more detailed study are still very imperfect. In addition to this, storms and accidents of various kinds may often Introduction xix drive birds doAvn below or up above their normal vertical habitat, so that it appears to me to be rash to base any generalisations except on the position of birds during the breeding season, when they are more or less necessarily confined to the neighbourhood of the nesting site. In the following analysis the birds, 225 in number, have been divided into those breeding at three different levels : — (1) The plains, up to, but not including, the foothills. This corresponds more or less to the Upper Sonoran zone. (2) The foothills and mountain parks from about 6,000 to 8,000 feet, corresponding to the Transition zone of Pifions and Cedars. (3) The mountains from about 8,000 feet to timber-Hne at 11,500 feet, corresponding to the Hudsonian and Canadian zones. There are only three birds which breed regularly above timber-line. These are Leucosticte aus- tralis, Anihus rvbescens and Lagopus leucurus. (a) Birds breeding on the plains and up to about 6,000 feet — 35 in number, or about 15 per cent. : — Podilymbus podiceps, Sterna forsteri, Hydrochelidon n. surinamensis, Dafila aciifa, Marila americana, M^ vallisneria, Ixobrychus exilis, PMlohela minor, Bartramia longicauda, Colinus virginianus {Lophortyx calif or nianus), Tympanuchus americanus, Buteo b. krideri ?, Aluco pratincola ?, Dryobates bairdi, Cyanocitta cristata, Corvus cryptoleucus, Icterus spurius, I. galbula, Quiscalus q. ceneus, Coturniculus s. bimaculatus, Spizella pallida,. Amphispiza b. deserticola, Peucoea cassini, Zamelodia ludoviciana, Guiraca a. lazula, Spiza americana, Riparia riparia ?, Stelgidopteryx serripennis, Vireo oUvacea, Vireo belli, Icteria v. longicauda, Toxostoma bendirei, Thryo- manes b. bairdi, Sialia sialis. XX Birds of Colorado (b) Birds breeding on the plains, and in the foothills and parks as well, up to about 8,000 feet — 80 in number, or about 36 per cent. : — Colymhus n. californicus, Larus delawarensis, Anas platyrynchos, Chaulelasmus streperus, Mareca americana, Nettion carolinensis, Querquedula discors, Q. cyanoptera, Spatula clypeata, Aix sponsa ?, Erismatura jamaicensis, Branta canadensis, Plegadis guarauna, Botaurus lenti- ginosus, Ardea herodias, Egretta candidissima, Nycticorax n. ncevius, Rallus virginianus, Porzana Carolina, Steganopiis tricolor, Recurvirostra americana, Himaniopus americanus, Helodromas s. cinnamomeus, Podasocys montana, Numenius americanus, Bonasa u. umbelloides ?, Pedioccetes p. campestris, Centrocercus urophasianus, Meleagris g. merriami, Circus hudsonius, Accipiter velox, A. cooperi, Falco p. anatum ?, F. columbarius, Asio flammea ?, Otus a. maxwelUoe, 0. a. aikeni, Speotyto c. hypogma, Coccyzus americanus, C. a. occidentalis, Melanerpes erythrocephalus , Phalmnoptilus nuttalU, Tyrannus tyrannus, T. verticalis, T. cassini, Myiarchus cinerascens, Sayornis saya, Empidonax trailli, Corvus b. hesperis, DolicJionyx oryzivorus, Molothrus ater, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, Agelaius phceniceus, Sternella neglecta, Icterus hullocki, Astra galinus tristis, A. t. pallidus, A. psaltria, A. p. arizonce, Pooecetes g. strigatus, Spizella hreweri, Amphispiza nevadensis ?, Melospiza m. montana, Pipilo montanus, P. f. mesoleucus ?, Zamelodia. melanocephala, Passerina amcena, Calamospiza melanocorys, Progne sid)is, Petrochelidon lunifrons, Bomby cilia cedrorum ?, Lanius excubitoroides, Oroscoptes montanus, Mimus p. leucopterus, Dumetella carolinensis, Toxostoma rufum, Catherpes m. conspersus, Telm^L- todytes p. plesius, PoUoptila c. obscura, Hylocichla f. salicicola. Introduction xxi (c) The following birds appear to breed throughout the plains and up into the mountains from 3,000 to 11,500 feet and upwards. They are 33 in number, or about 14 per cent. : — Fulica americana, Cataptrophorus s. inornatus, Actitis macularia, Oxyechus vociferus, Callipepla squamata, Zenaidura carolinensis, Cathartes a. septentrionalis, Buteo b. calurus, Buteo swainsoni, Archibuteo ferru- gineus, Haliceetus leucocephalus, Falco mexicanus ?, Falco sparverius, F. s. phalcena, Asio wilsonianus, Bubo v. pallescens, Ceryle alcyon, Colaptes c. collaris, Chordeiles V. henryi, Selasphorus platycercus, Myiochanes richardsoni, Otocoris a. leucolcema, Pica p. hudsonia, Euphagus cyanocephalus, Spinus pinus, Passer domesticus, Hirundo erythrogastra, Iridoprocne bicolor, Dendroica cestiva, Salpinctes obsoletus. Troglodytes ce. parkmani, Planesticus m. propinquus, Sialia currucoides. (d) The following 14 birds are practically confined to the foothills and " parks " region, between 6,000 and 8,000 feet, during the breeding season. They represent about 6 per cent, of the total number of breeding birds : — Pandion h. carolinensis ?, Geococcyx californianus, Architrochilus alexandri, Aphelocoma woodhousei, Car- podacus m. frontalis, Loxia c. minor, Junco aikeni ?, Vermivora virginioe, V. celata ?, Geothlypis t. occidentalis, Setophaga ruticilla, Boeolophus i. griseus, Psaltriparus plumbeus, Sialia m. bairdi. (e) List of birds breeding through the mountains, between 6,000 and 11,500 feet, but not in the plains — 24 in number, about 10 per cent. : — Grus mexicana, Columba fasciata, Aquila chrysaetos, Otus flammeola, Glaucidium gnoma, Dryobates v. monti- cola, D. p. homorus, Asyndesmus lewisi, Selasphorus xxii Birds of Colorado rufus, Corvus c. sinuatus, Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus, Passericulus s. alavdinus, Spizella p. arizonce, Piranga ludoviciana, Vireo g. swainsoni, Lanivireo s. plumheus, Dendroica aiiduboni, D. nigrescens ?, Oporornis tolmiei, Wilsonia p. pileolata, Cinclus m. unicolor, Sitta c. nelsoni, Penthestes a. septentrionalis, Myadestes town- ^endi. (f) Birds chiefly confined during tlie breeding season to the mountains, between 8,000 and 11,500 feet — 39 in number, or 17 per cent. : — Mergus americanus ?, Clangula islandica, Histrionicus histrionicus, Gallinago delicata, Dendragapus obscurus, Lagopus leucurus (up to 13,500 feet), Falco c. richardsoni, Cryptoglaux acadicus, Picoides a. dorsalis, Sphyrapicus V. nuchalis, 8. thyroideus, Cypseloides borealis, Aero- Tiautes melanoleucus, Nuttallornis borealis, Empidonax difficilis, E. hammondi, E. wrighti, Cyanocitta s. diademata, Cractes c. capiialis, Nucifraga Columbiana, Hesperiphona v. montana, Pinicola e. montana, Car- podacus cassini, Leucosticte australis, Zonotrichia leucophys, Junco caniceps, Melospiza lincolni, Oreospiza chlorura, Tachycineta i. lepida, Dendroica gracioe, Anthus rubescens (to 13,000 feet), Certhia f. montana, Sitta canadensis, S. pygmcea, Penthestes gambeli, Regulus s. olivaceus, R. calendula, Hylocichla u. sivainsoni, H. g. auduboni. Acknowledgments. I am deeply indebted to Mr. Charles E. Aiken of Colorado Springs, for constant help and advice during the prepara- tion of this work. As has already been stated, the descrip- tions are all based on the large collection of Colorado birds made by him, and now the property of Colorado College ; but apart from this, I have been able through his kindness Introduction xxiii to embody much information derived both from his notes and from w hat he has told me from his own experiences. Mr. Edward R. Warren has also helped me in many cases with specimens and information, and has kindly allowed me to make use of several MSS. lists of birds drawn up by him, especially those made in various places in Gunnison county. To Judge Junius Henderson and to the authorities of the State University of Colorado, I am indebted for the use of the invaluable notes kept during many years of collecting by the late Mr. Dennis Gale, of Gold Hill, Boulder co. All the information we have in regard to the breeding of a large number of species of Colorado birds is to be found in these note-books, which have been most carefully arranged, indexed and typewritten by Mr. Henderson, and which are now the property of the State University. Messrs. R. B. Rockwell, L. J. Hersey, F. M. Dille and H. G. Smith, all of Denver ; Mr. C. S. Thompson, of Glen- wood Springs ; and Messrs. W. VV. Cooke, H. C. Oberholser and C. W. Richmond, of Washington, have all helped me in various ways with information or advice, and to all these gentlemen my heartiest thanks are hereby tendered. For the photographs illustrating principally the nests and eggs of Colorado birds I have to thank again Messrs. E. R. Warren, R. B. Rockwell and L. J. Hersey, as well as Mr. H. W. Nash, of Pueblo. In each case an acknow- ledgment of the source of the photograph reproduced is given. xxiv Birds of Colorado Explanations. The nomenclature and classification used are almost without exception that of the recently pubhshed third edition of the A.O.U. Checkhst. It was not, therefore, thought necessary to give original references to descrip- tions of species and genera. Measurements are all stated in inches and decimals of an inch. A hst of the local references to Colorado ornithological writings is given with every species, under the author's name and date of his publication. For the complete reference the Biblio- graphy on pages 533 — 51 should be consulted. A History of The Birds of Colorado KEY OF THE ORDERS. This Key is adapted from that in Ridg way's " Manual of North American Birds," and must be used with caution as it is impossible to construct a perfect key to the orders of birds on external characters alone ; in cases of doubt, reference should always be made to the diagnoses of the orders themselves. A. Hind and front toes connected by a web. Steganopodes, p. 26. B. Hind toe, if present, never so connected. a. Cutting-edges of the bill rnore or less fringed or dentate ; toes completely webbed. Anseres, p. 30. b. Cutting-edges of the bill not fringed or dentate. a^ Legs inserted far behind the middle of the body, so that when standing the position is more or less erect ; toes webbed or lobed. Pygopodes, p. 3. b^ Legs inserted near the middle of the body, so that when standing the position is more or less horizontal. a^ Anterior toes very fully webbed and tarsus shorter than tail. Longipennes, p. 12. b" Anterior toes not, or not fully, webbed, a^ Lower portion of the thighs naked. a* Hind toe long and inserted nearly at a level with the others ; claws never excessively lengthened ; loreal or orbital regions, or both, naked. Heriodiones, p. 73. B Birds of Colorado b* Hind toe, when present, generally inserted above the level of the others ; loreal and orbital regions fully feathered. a* If wing is over fifteen inches, hind toe elevated above the others, if under ten inches, hind toe on a level with the others. Paludicolss p. 89. b* ^Ving never over fifteen inches ; hind toe when present short and elevated. Limicolae, p. 99. ' Lower thighs feathered. a* A soft fleshy cere at the base of the upper mandible, a^ Bill strongly hooked and pointed, a® Three toes in front, one behind. a' Feathers of the face forming a facial di^k ; eyes large and forwardly directed. Striges, p. 194. b' Feathers of the face not forming a facial disk ; eyes moderate and laterally directed. Accipitres, p. 161. b® Two toes in front, two behind ; cere sometimes feathered. Psittaci, p. 215. b^ Bill more or less straight, not strongly hooked. Columbse, p. 156. b* Xo cere at base of upper mandible. a* Hind toe small and elevated. Gallinas, p. 137. b^ Hind toe well developed and on a level with the others. a^ Wing long of ten primaries ; tail of ten rectrices ; bill very short with a very wide gape, or very long and slender, far exceeding the head. Machrochires, p. 241. b® Wing not very long ; tail usually of twelve rectrices ; gape and bill moderate and normal, a' Toes two in front and two behind ; tail- feathers stLS and pointed; Pici, p. 222. b' Toes two in front and two behind, or three in front and one behind, if the latter, the middle and outer ones connected for half their length ; tail-feathers not stiff and pointed. Coccyges, p. 216. c' Toes three in front and one behind ; middle and outer toes not united. Passeres, p. 257. Pygopodes — Golymbidse 3 ORDER PYGOPODES. This order contains diving birds, and includes the Grebes, Loons and Auks. The chief feature which they have in common is the completely posterior position of the legs, so that when resting on the ground the axis of the body is more or less vertical and the whole of the tarsus is often applied to the ground, while the tail lends additional support. Other external features are — nostrils never tubular or aborted ; wings short and rounded, never reaching the end of the tail, which is always short and sometimes absent ; tarsus compressed ; toes either webbed or lobate. IVEY OF THE FAMILIES AND GeNERA. A. No obvious tail-feathers (Colymbidce). a. Bill more or less slender and acute. a^ Bill longer than the head ; tarsus, cukaen and niiddle toe about equal. ^chmophonis, p. 4. b^ Bill equal to or shorter than the head ; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw. Colymbus, p. 5. b. Bill short, deep and strongly compressed, crossed by a black band. Podilymbus, p. 8. B. A tail of 18 to 20 short, stiS feathers {Gaviidce). Gavia, p. 10. Family COLYMBIDCE. Bill rather variable ; wing with twelve primaries, outer ones rather narrow and falcate ; tail practically absent, no obvious rectrices ; tarsus extremely compressed, toes flattened and expanded into continuous lobes con- nected with each other at the base by an interdigital web ; hind toe slightly elevated, lobe free from the other toes ; claws flat and nail-like ; head usually with crests or ruSs in the breeding season ; plumage thick and compact. b2 Birds of Colorado Genus ^CHMOPHORUS. Bill long, slender and pointed, clearly exceeding the head ; cuknen straight ; neck long ; tarsus, culmen and middle toe with claw all approximately equal, no very conspicuous crest or rufi. One species only in western United States. Western Grebe, ^chmophorus occidentalis. A.O.U. Checkhst no I — Colorado Records — Morrison 89, p. 146 ; KeUogg 90, p. 90 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 48 ; Cooke 97, pp. 49, 155, 191 ; Felger 09, p. 86. Description. — Adult — Top of the head, which is slightly crested, and a line down the back of the neck black, becoming dusky brown on the back, with concealed white bases to the primaries and some white on the secondaries ; below from the bill, pxire white, with a satiny gloss ; iris orange-red to pink with a white ring, biU olivaceous, feet dusky, yellowish about the toes and inside of tarsus. Length 26 ; wing 8-25 ; tail 2-0 ; tarsus 2-9 ; bill 2-8. The female is smaller — wing 7 '5. In winter the head and neck are dusky brown hke the back. Distribution. — Breeding from Manitoba and Saskatchewan south to central ^Mexico, wintering in the southern part of the range. In Colorado the Western Grebe is of rare occurrence during the fall migration. It was first reported by Breninger from near Fort Collins (Morrison) and subsequently from Estes Park by Pierce (Kellogg), but the first undoubted record is that of H. G. Smith who saw three examples in a Denver taxidermist's shop, which had been shot in October, 1888, on lakes in the immediate neighbourhood. Two were subsequently obtained on Sheldon's Lake near Fort Collins on October 29th, 1898, and one of these individuals is now mounted in the Museum at that place. Felger recently reports another example taken November 9th, 1902, at Citizen's Lake, a few miles south-west of Denver ; th© skin is preserved in his collection. Habits. — The Western Grebe haunts rush-covered lakes where it rides the water lightly and easily. It is an expert diver, either sinking quietly out of sight or rising up and taking a header. Though difficult to flush from the water, it flies well and strongly. The nest is a raft- like structure of taU stems, grass and water-plants, Western Grebe 5 sometimes floating, sometimes built up from the shallow bottom ; the eggs, four to five, are dull bluish-white and measure 231 x 1*52. Genus COLYMBUS. Bill moderate, rather stout, hardly compresfsed, about equal to or less than the head, culm en usually slightly decurved at tip ; middle toe and claw exceeding the culmen and the tarsus ; neck moderately long ; head with a crest, or ruff or both. A large cosmopolitan genus with four species in the United States. KJEY OF THE Species. a. Larger, with a longer bill, culmen over 2*0 ; tliroat white, part of neck rufous. C. holbcElli, p. 5. b. Smaller with shorter bill, culmen under 1-5. a^ Throat and neck black or dusky. C. n. califomicus, p. C. b^ Throat dusky ; neck rufous. C. auritus, p. 6. c^ Throat and neck dirty white. C. auritus, heims et juv, p. 6. HolboeH's Grebe. Colymhus holhoelli. A.O.U. CheckUst no 2 — Colorado Records — Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 88, p. 140 ; 89, p. 146 ; Cooke 97, pp. 49, 155. Description. — Adult — Crown (which bears a very short crest and inconspicuous ruffs) and nape greenish-black, a Une dovrn the neck and upper-parts black, with brown on the wings ; sides of the head and tliroat silvery ash ; neck, except along the dorsal line, rufous ; lower-parts silvery white, somewhat dappled ; iris carmine, bill black, yellowish on the lower mandible. Length 19"0; wing 7'60 ; culmen 2-10; tarsus 2-50. Young birds, and adults in winter, have the rufous of the neck replaced by ashy-brown or grey, the sides of the head and throat pm-e white, and the bill chiefly yellow. Distribution — Breeding from eastern Asia and Greenland, south to the northern row of states from Washington to Minnesota ; in winter south to South Carolina and Monterey Bay in California. The status of this bird in Colorado is rather indefinite. It is noted by Drew and Morrison as occurring in the south-western part of the State, but without any definite statement. On the other hand it has been obtained by Bond on lakes near Cheyenne in autumn. This is actually in Wyoming but only a few miles from the State border. It will probably be found to be a rare fall-migrant in the north-eastern part of the State. 6 Birds of Colorado Homed Grebe. Colymhus auritus. A.O.U. Checklist no 3 — Colorado Records — Cooke 97, pp. 49, 155 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 101. Description — Adult — Crown, sides of the face and chin, together with ruff, glossy black ; a yellowish stripe deepening to chestnut at the end, runs from the base of the bill through the ej^e and ends in a crest at the side of the nape ; rest of the upper-surface, including the back of the neck, dusky black ; the secondaries white ; neck and sides rich rufous ; rest of under-parts siUcy white ; iris carmine with a v/hite ring, bill dusky, tipped with yellow, feet dusky and yellow. Length 15-0; wing 5*5; culmen "90; tarsus 1*65. Adults in winter, and young birds, have very slight indications of the crests and ruff ; the crown, back of the neck and back are dusky black ; the lower-parts white, tinged with grey on the neck and pale dusky on the sides. Distribution. — Throughout the northern hemisphere. In America, breeding chiefly north of the United States boundary, from Alaska to New Brunswick ; south in winter throughout the greater part of the States. This is another Grebe whose status as a Colorado bii'd is rather doubtfuL Captain Thorne states that according to his journal he killed a specimen near Fort Lyon, on the Arkansas River, October 8th, 1887, but he does not appear to have preserved it. ]Mr. E. L. Berthoud informed Cooke that he had seen two Horned Grebes which had been killed on some lakes north-east of Golden ; and Hersey (09) saw two near Barr May 5th, 1906. It will probably be found to be a rare autumn migrant, Uke the two previous species. American Eared Grebe. Colymhus nigricollis calif ornicus. A.O.U. CheckUst no 4 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 74, p. 243 ; 75, p. 489 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Goss 84, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p.l46 ; W. G. Smith 89, p. 138 ; 90, p. 141 ; Osburn 90, p. 68; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 49, 191 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Warren 08, p. 20; 09, p. 13 ; Rockwell 08, p. 156 ; 10, p. 188 ; Henderson 09, p. 224. Description. — Adult — Crown, which is crested, neck all round, back, chin and throat, black ; auricular tufts golden to tawny, well developed and conspicuous ; primaries brown ; secondaries mostly white ; below from the breast silky white, the sides tawny-rufous and a little mottled with black ; iris carmine, bill black, feet dark ohvaceous to blackish. Length 12; wing 5*0; culmen 1"0; tarsus 1-70. American Eared Grebe 7 The adults in winter lack the crest and auricular tufts ; the chin, throat and sides of the nape are white and the flanks slaty, without rufous. Young birds are very similar, but the upper-parts are rather lighter and duller. Distribution. — Western North America, from Great Slave Lake south to Guatemala, and from the Mississippi Valley to the Pacific. A conunon summer-resident in Colorado, where suitable conditions exist, arriving from the south at the end of April or beginning of May, and breeding from the plains to about 8,000 feet, chiefly in alkali lakes. The following are breeding records : Loveland (W. G. Smith), Barr, May to early July (Rockwell), Grand Lake 8,300 feet (Warren), iliddle Park (Carter apiid Cooke), Twin Lakes ? 9,300 feet (Scott), San Luis Lakes 7,500 feet (Henshaw), Plateau Valley, Mesa Co., 6,500 feet (Rockwell). It passes through the mountains on migration, and has been seen as high as 9,000 feet near. Crested Butte in spring, by Warren, and at Breckenridge by Carter. It is also met with along the foothills — El Paso CO. (Aiken coU.), and Denver (Henshaw), on the plains as far east as Limon (Aiken), and on the western slope near Coventry on migration (Warren 09). Habits. — All Grebes resemble one another to a great extent in their habits ; they are found almost exclu- sively on shallow lakes and ponds, the margins of which are thickly gvovm. ^\dth reeds and rushes. They swim very low in the water and dive with great facility, having the power of sinking quietly down into the depths when alarmed, and moving under water with great rapidity by means of their lobed flipper-like feet. They feed chiefly on small aquatic insects and Crustacea and perhaps small fish, and are accused of devouring trout ova and fry. On land they are very awkward, generally shufihng along on their beUies vdth the help of their wings, like a seal. They fly well, as is shewn by their very con- siderable migrating powers. Henshaw, who first noticed this bird in Colorado, found them nesting in considerable numbers at the San Luis Lakes near Fort Garland. The nests are generally 8 Birds of Colorado floating in about eighteen inches of water, and placed in a thick reed-bed ; they are built up of broken reeds and other debris and fastened round the gro^\dng reeds, but the whole structure is hardly high enough to keep the eggs dry. These, according to Henshaw, were three in number, though Smith (90) found four to be more usual. They are white in colour and sometimes roughened ■uith a chalky deposit, but generally stamed and soiled ; they measure 1-75 x r25. When the bird leaves the nest it invariably, if time allows, covers up the eggs with grass or other vegetable matter, in order to conceal them ; and as they both leave and return to their nests by diving quietly, Henshaw believed that the eggs were partially, at any rate, hatched by the heat of the decaying vegetable matter with which he found them covered, but it is now generally agreed that this is done only for concealment. Henshaw was at San Luis Lakes on June 23rd, and Aiken found fresh eggs at the same place in July, while Dille gives June 19th as an average date for fresh eggs. Rockwell has recently published an illustrated account of its nesting habits at Barr, near Denver. Genus PODILYMBUS. Bill very short, deep and strongly compressed ; no crest or ruff, but the frontal feathers rather stif? and bristle-like ; tarsus about three- fourths the length of the middle toe and claw, and nearly twice the culmen. Only one species found tliroughout most of America. Pied-billed Grebe. Podilymlms podiceps. A.O.U. Checklist no 6 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 79, p. 234; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; W. G. Smith 89, p. 138 ; Osburn 90, p. 68 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 50, 191 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 224 ; Rockwell 10, p. 188 Pied-billed Grebe 9 Description. — Adult — Crown and back of the neck greyish-black, becoming a paler grey on the sides of the head and front of the neck ; a black oval patch on the chin and throat ; rest of the upper-parts and wings dark fuscous-brown ; a little white on the inner webs of the secondaries ; below silvery white, but obsciu-ed on the sides and across the breast by dusky and buffy mottlings ; iris brown and white, bill yellowish, bluish-white in life, encircled by a broad black band, legs blackish. Length 13"0 ; wing 5-5 ; culmen '90 ; tarsus 1*75. In winter the bill is dull yellowish and has no black band ; the throat- patch is absent and there are more or less distinct pale edges to the feathers of the ujjper-parts. Young birds are like the adults in winter, but the throat and sides of the head have indistinct brownish streaks. Distribution. — Nearly the whole of America, from Saskatchewan to Patagonia, breeding throughout most of its range ; wintering from about New Jersey and the southern United States southwards. This Grebe does not appear to be a common bird in Colorado ; generally it is a summer resident but is more abundant on migration. The first breeding record is that of W. G. Smith who found several nests at Loveland, but it probably also breeds at San Luis Lakes as there is a specimen in the Aiken collection from that place, taken on July 1st. It reaches Loveland in spring in the latter half of April, and was seen by Carter on migration at Breckenridge (Cooke). Warren informs me he has noticed it on a small lake near Crested Butte at 9,000 feet in October. It is included by Henderson in the Boulder co. list, and is a common breeder at Barr in May and June (Hersey & Rockwell), the letter of whom has recently published some notes and photographs of its nesting habits. I have not heard of it in the south- west or western part of the State, though it probably occurs there. Habits. — This, the most familiar of the Grebes in the East, is often known as the Water- witch, Hell-diver or Divedapper ; it does not materially differ from the other Grebes in its habits, nor has anything special been noticed about its occurrence in Colorado. Nests found by Smith in a lake close to Loveland contained six eggs as a rule and were, when first laid, a pale pea-green colour, but soon became stained by the wet weeds with which they were covered. A clutch of six eggs taken by I. C. Hall at Storm's Lake near Greeley on May 25th, 1902, and presented by him to the Colorado College 10 Birds of Colorado Museum, were slightly incubated and show the charac- teristic staining over the pale green. They are oval in shape, rather pointed at one end, and average about 1-75 X 1-20. Family GAVIID.E. The characters of the family are the same as those of the only genus. Genus GAVIA. Bill stout, strong and compressed, about as long as the head ; no crests or ruff ; tail short, of 18 to 20 stiff feathers ; legs feathered to the upper tarsal joint ; tarsus strongly compressed ; four toes, the three anterior completely webbed ; the hallux very short with a small semicircular lateral lobe, and connected with the others by a basal web, plumage dusky above, white below. Five species from the northern portions of both hemispheres. Kby of the Species. A. Back spotted with white. a. Head and neck black. a^ Bill mostly black, white spots on the scapulars about square. G. immer, p. 10. b^ Bill mostly yellow, white spots on the scapulars longer than broad. G. adamsi, p. 11. b. Head and back of the neck grey. G. arctica, p. 11. B. Back without spots. a. Back with paler grey margins, no spots on wing-coverts. a^ Bill mostly yellow. G. adamsi, hiems, p. 11. b^ BiU mostly black. G. immer, hiems, p. 10. b. A few spots on the wing-coverts. G. arctica, hiems, p. 11. Loon. Gavia immer. A.O.U. Checklist no 7 — Colorado Records — Morrison 89, p. 147 ; Cooke 97, pp. 50, 191 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 224. Description. — Adult — Head and neck glossy greenish-black ; throat in front with two patches of white, and black streaks ; entire upper- parts black, spotted with white, except the upper tail-coverts and the primaries ; undor-parts white, the sides of the breast striped with black ; iris red, bill and feet black. Length 34 ; wing 14-05 ; culmen 3-0 ; tarsus 3-5. Yellow-billed Loon 11 Adults in winter and young birds are brownish-black above and white below ; the iris is brown and the bill is bluish-white, dusky along the culmen. The female is rather smaller than the male and the young bird has a markedly shorter bill. Distribution. — Widely spread over the northern portion of both hemispheres, the Loon in America breeds from along the northern border of the United States northwards to Alaska, and Greenland, and winters throughout the States to the Gulfs of Mexico and Cali- fornia. In Colorado it is a rare migrant and is not yet known to winter or to breed, though it has been taken at Sweetwater Lake, Garfield CO. in July (Cooke). There is an example from Barr Lake near Denver, killed in April by S. Wood, in the Denver IVIuseiim of Natiu-al History, and another from near Boulder, collected by L. Bragg, now in the Musevun of the University of Colorado, while Allien tells me a good many specimens have reached him from time to time in spring. Yellow-billed Loon. Gavia adamsi. A.Q.U- Checklist no 8 — Colorado Record — Cooke 97, p. 155. Description. — Resembling G, inimer, but slightly larger, and head a longer yellowish-horn bill, which is dusky only at the base ; the with and neck are steel blue rather than green, and the white spots on the upper-parts are rather larger, those on the scapulars being longer than broad instead of square. Length about 36-0 ; wing 15-0 ; culmen 3'50 — 3 15 ; tarsus 3 -50. Distribution. — North-east Asia, Arctic America, from Behring Straits to Hudson Bay and north-west Europe, but hardly known in the United States. A young male Loon obtained by W. G. Smith near Loveland, May 25th, 1885, and now in the collection of Mr. M. Hardy, Brewer, Me., has been identified with this rare Arctic form. This constitutes the only Colorado record. Black-throated Loon. Gavia arctica. A.O.U. CheckUst no 9 — Colorado Records — Cooke 97, p. 192 ; Aiken 00, p. 298 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 225. Description. — Adult — Crown and nape grey ; rest of the upper-parts, including the throat and fore-neck glossy black, the sides of the neck, back and wings streaked, barred and spotted with white ; a band of white streaks on the throat ; rest of the under-parts white, with a band of blackish at the base of the under tail-coverts ; iria red, bill and feet blackish. Length 27'0 ; wing 12-5 ; culmen 2*50 ; tarsus 2 '90. 12 Birds of Colorado Adults in winter and voung birds are dosky black above, the feathers of the back margined with greyish, gi\Tng a scaly appearance ; below white ; the neck slightly speckled with dusky ; iris brown, bill bluish- grey, feet dusky greenish. Distribution. — Breeding in the northern parts of both hemispheres, in America only far north from Hudson Bay to Alaska ; in winter south, casually but rarely to the northern borders of the United States. The Black -throated Loon is a rare winter visitor to Colorado. Three examples were killed on Prospect Lake, close to Colorado Springs, in November, 1S9S, and another near the same place in the fall of 1SS2 (Aiken) ; an example in winter-dress obtained on Monument Creek, also close to Colorado Springs, November 5th, 1091, in the Aiken colleotion, is now preserved in the Colorado CoUege Museum. Henderson considers his former record of this species too doubtful to be retained. ORDER loxgipexnt:s. The members of this order, which includes the Gidls, Terns.. Skimmers and Skuas, are chiefly marine forms, and are therefore not weU represented in Colorado. They are all birds of medium size, with moderate- sized bUls and simple, not tubular, nostrils ; the wings are long and consist of eleven primaries, the outer (twelfth) minute and hardly noticeable ; rectrices twelve in number, feet with the three front toes webbed, generally completely ; a small hind toe, not connected with the others, and jointed at a higher level, generally present. KzT OF THE FAirrLizs A>rD Gexeka. A. Bill with a horny cere overhanging and partially concealing the nostrils (Stercorariida). Stercorarius, p. 13. B. Bill without cere (LaridcE). a. Bill stout, hardly as long as the head ; upper mandible longer than the lower, with the tip hooked down over it. a^ Tail square. a* Hind toe very small or absent, without claw. Rissa, p. 14. b* Hind toe present and clawed, though small. Lams, p. 15. Parasitic Jaeger 13 b^ Tail distinctly forked. Xema, p. 21. b. Bill long, straight and rather slender ; both mandibles equal. a^ Tail short and nearly square ; webs between the toes omarginato. Hydrochelidon, p. 24. b^ Tail very distinctly forked ; outer feathers elongated and pointed ; toes fully wobbed. Sterna, p. 22. Family STERCORARIID^. Characters of the only genus. Genus STERCORARIUS. Bill stout and gull-like with a terminal hook covering the tip of the lower mandible, the basal two-thirds covered by a horny cere which overlaps the nostrils, so that the opening is much reduced ; wings long and strong, outer prunary the longest ; tail with the two centre feathers nxuch jiroduced ; anterior toes fully webbed, hallux small and stmupy. Three species on the coasts of the United States. Parasitic Jaeger. Stercorarius parasiticus. A.O.U. Checklist no 37 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 79, p. 232 ; Drew So, p. IS ; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 48 ; Cooke 97, p. 50 ; Henderson 03, pp. 234, 109 ; 09, p. 225. Description. — Adult — In the sooty form or dark phase the plumage is dark brown throughout, darkest on the mantle, wings and tail; neck with aciuninate rigid feathere streaked with golden straw ; outer jirimaries with white shafts. The light phase has the upper-parts slaty, becoming blackish on the cro\\ni, wings and tail, the throat and under-parts white ; bill brownisli-horn, darkest in front of the cere ; legs black. Length about IS'O ; wing 12*0 ; tail 4-5 ; to end of central feathers SD ; cuhnen 1*3 ; tarsus 1-85. Distribution. — The Parasitic Jaeger has a circumpolar range in both hemispheres, breeding in America in Alaska, the Barren Grounds and Greenland, and wandering in the winter to South Africa, New Zealand and portions of South America, chiefly along the coast. It is only occasionally found inland. This bird is a rare fall and winter straggler in Colorado. There was an example in Mi's. Maxwell's Museum, taken near Boulder, in December, sometime before 1874 ; H. G. Smith examined a young male in the dark phase, shot on Sloans Lake near Denver in the fall of 1889, and Lowe obtained a third example, now in his collection, on the Arkansas River below Pueblo in the fall of 1894. 14 Birds of Colorado Habits. — The Parasitic Jaeger, or as it is often called, Richardson's Skua, is remarkable for presenting, irre- spective of age or sex, two very distinct phases of plumage — a light and a dark. Birds of both phases pair wdth one another indiscriminately, where they meet, and the young are sometimes intermediate. This bird is parasitic in its mode of life ; it seldom catches fishes for itself, but is constantly chasing smaller Gulls and Terns, and compelling them to disgorge their prey. So active is the Skua that it usually manages to catch the fish as it drops from the bill of the Gull, before it reaches the surface of the water. It is a purely marme form, but seldom seen inland, though it nests in the far north, on moorlands and swamps, using a slight depression in the ground scantUy lined with grasses. The eggs, usually two in number, are olive-brov.Ti, marked heavily with chocolate. Family LARID^. Bill without cere, middle tail-feathers never elongated. Genus RISSA. In most respects resembling Lams, but the hind toe rudimentary or absent, very rarely with a claw ; tail square ; tarsus short, less than the middle toe without claw ; toes fully webbed. Two species only of circumpolar range. Kittiwake. Rissa tridactyla. A.O.U. Checklist no 40 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 79, p. 232 ; Cooke 97, p. 50 ; Henderson 09, p. 225. Description. — Adult — Head, neck, tail and under-parts pure white, back and wings pearl-grey ; outer web of the first primarj' and the last three inches of the tip of both first and second primaries black ; the third to fifth black subterminally with an increasing white tip ; hind toe very small — a minute knob without claw ; bill yellowish, feet black. Length 17; wing 12 ; tail 4-5 ; cuknen 1-40; tarsus 1-3. Kittiwake 1 5 In winter the top of the head and back of the neck are washed with pearl-grey, and there is a dark spot above the eye. Young birds have a dusky spot in front and behind the eye ; a broad bar across the neck behind ; the lesser and median coverts, bastard quills, inner secondaries and a terminal bar on the tail black ; the four outer primaries black, except for the inner half of the inner webs, the 5th and 6th black only at their ends, with a white speck at the tip ; bill black and feet yellowish. Distribution. — The northern parts of the northern hemisphere. In America breeding on the Atlantic coasts from the Magdalen Islands northwards to Hudson Bay and Greenland ; in winter south along the Atlantic coast and to the Great Lakes. An example of this species, said to have been taken in Boulder co. in December, and preserved in Mrs. Maxwell's collection, is the only ione recorded from Colorado. Genus LARUS. Bill stout and hooked, the upper mandible slightly longer than the lower and bent down over its tip ; bill shorter than the head and without cere ; wings moderately long ; tail square or nearly so ; front toes fully webbed, hind toe quite small but usually perfect, and provided with a claw. A large genus spread all over the world, except the central Pacific ; about eighteen species in the United States. Key of the Species. A. Larger, wing over 16 ; bill yellow with a red spot near the tip of the lower mandible. a. Mantle dark slate ; two or three outer primaries tipped with white. L. occidentalis, p. 16. b. Mantle pale pearly-grey ; outer primaries with a subapical white spot as well as a white tip. L. argentatus, p. 16. B. Medium, wing 14 — 16 ; bill yellow with a transverse black band. a. Tarsus about equal to the middle toe and claw ; a red spot on the lower mandible. L. califomicus, p. 17. b. Tarsus ob\aously longer than the middle toe and claw ; no red spot on the lower mandible. L. delawarensis, p. 17. C. Smaller, wing under 13-5 ; hooded, i.e. head and neck black, in summer. a. Bill and feet reddish (in summer). a^ Larger, wing over 12 ; tarsus longer than the middle toe and claw. L. atricilla, p. 18. b^ Smaller, wing under 12, tarsus about equal to the middle toe and claw. L. franklini, p. 19. b. Bill black, feet reddish. L. Philadelphia, p. 20. 16 Birds of Colorado Western Gull. Larus occidentalis. A.O.U. Checklist no 49 — Colorado Record — Cooke 97, p. 50. Description. — Adult — Mantle dark slatj' ; primaries, including the inner webs of the first, second and usually the third, black tipped with white ; rest of the pliunage white ; eyeUd vermilion ; bill clirome -yellow with a vermiMon spot at the angle ; feet flesh-coloured. Length 24 ; wing 16-5 ; culmen 2-30 ; tarsus 2-75. In winter adults have the top of the head and back of the neck streaked with dusky. Young birds are brownish-slaty above, varied with buS and whitish ; quills and tail-feathers dull black, usually tipped with white ; under-parts brownish -grey, speckled with whitish ; biU black. Distribution. — The Pacific coast, breeding from British Coltunbia to Lower California, occasionally wandering inland. Its inclusion in the Colorada a\Tfauna rests on the statement of Professor Wm. Osburn, who informed Cooke he took an example at Loveland, September 30th, 1889. Herring-Gull. Larus argentatus. A.O.U. Checklist no 51— Colorado Records— H. G. Smith 86, p. 285 ; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; Cooke 97, p. 50 ; Felger 09, p. 277. Description. — Closely resembHng the Western Gull, but with a less robust bill and hghter, paler blue mantle ; the outer primary is black, becoming slaty towards the base, and has a white tip and subapical white spot on both inner and outer webs, as a rule ; the other quills are usually without the subapical spot, but have the white tip : iris silvery to pale yellow, bill bright yellow with a vermilion spot on the mandible, legs flesh-colour. Length 24; wing 17'18 ; culmen 2-40; tarsus 2-75. In winter the head and neck are streaked with dusky and the bill is duller. Young birds are mottled with dusky above and below ; the wing and tail-feathers are dusky blackish, narrowly edged at the tips with white ; iris brown, bill dusky blackish, flesh-coloured towards the base. Disribution. — The Northern Hemisphere generally ; in America breeding from Minnesota, the Great Lakes and Maine, north to Labrador, Hudson Bay and perhaps Alaska ; in winter south to Cuba and on the Pacific coast to Lower California. The Herring-Gull is only a straggler in Colorado ; a young bird shot on a lake near Denver, November 17th, 1883, is said by H. G. Smith to be preserved in the collection of A. W. Anthony ; Breninger informed Cooke that he had observed it near Fort Collins. There is a young California Gull 17 mounted male in the Colorado Mxiseum of Natural History at Denver, taken at Valagoe Lake near Greeley, while Felger states that it is not uncommon at Barr, where it is found associating with the Ringbills. California Gull. Larus calif ornicus. A.O.U. Checklist no 53 — Colorado Records — Morrison 89, p. 147 ; Cooke 97, pp. 50, 192 ; Warren 09, p. 13. Description. — Adult — Mantle slaty -grey, rather pale and deHcate ; rest of tho pliunage white ; primaries black, tipped with white, and white and slaty -grey at tho bases ; the outer one with a large subapical white spot across both webs and the shaft ; the second with a much smaller subapical spot divided into two by the black shaft ; tips of the secondaries white ; iris brown, eyelids yellow or red, bill chrome- yellow with a bright vermilion patch at the angle of the lower man- dible, followed by a transverse bar of black across both, feet bluish- green, yellow on the webs. Length 20 ; wing 15*5 ; tail 5-75 ; culmen 1-80; tarsus 2-25. In winter the head and neck are streaked with dusky and the bill is dull. Young birds are mottled with dusky, bufiy and grey ; the wings and tail are blackish and the bill dusky with a black tip. Distribution. — Western North America from Alaska to Mexico, breeding chiefly in the interior, especially on Great Salt Lake in Utah ; wintering chiefly on the coast. The California Gull is an occasional or transient visitor to Colorado : but has seldom been observed or obtained. Professor Wm. Osburn proctu-ed one specimen at Loveland, May 7th, 1890, and there are two examples in the Carter collection now in the Denver Museiun of Natm-al History — one taken in Middle Park, April 28th, 1884, the other at Denver, October 26th, 1878. According to Warren, C. H. Smith saw one at Coventry in 1905. This completes the list of definite records. Ring-billed Gull. Larus delawarensis. A.O.U. Checklist no 54 — Colorado Records — Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Woodbury 87, p. 116 ; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 51, 192 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 225 ; Rockwell 08, p. 157 ; Warren 09, p. 13. Description. — Adult — Mantle pearly to pale slaty-grey, gradually whitening on the secondaries ; head all round, under-parts and tail white ; first primary black, with a white subapical spot divided by the dark shaft, and with the basal haK of the inner web white ; second to sixth primaries black with increasing pale basal portions and white 18 Birds of Colorado tips, a small subapical white spot generally on the inner web of the second ; iris straw -yellow with red on the eyelid, bill greenish -yellow with a yellow tip and a subapical black band, feet greenish-yellow. Length 18-0; wing 14-25; tail 5-25; culmen 1-5; tarsus 2-0. In winter the head and neck are spotted with dusky. Young birds are mottled with dusky above and below, especially on the wing-coverts ; the primaries are black and there is no subapical spot on the first ; the tail has a broad subterminal black band ; bill yellow on basal, black on terminal half. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly in the interior of America, from Colorado and Newfoimdland northwards to Hudson Bay and the Barren Grounds. In winter, on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts south to Cuba and Mexico. This is the only Gull which can be called at all common in Colorado. It is fairly abundant on migration in spring and autumn, and has been found breeding on the San Luis Lakes by Cooke. Migration records are — Fort Lyon, March 23rd (Cooke), near Colorado Springs, March 31st to May 1st (Aiken coll.), Barr Lake in smnmer and winter, but not known to breed (Hersey & Rockwell), near Orchard may be seen in March (Warren), Loveland, March 9 — 20th (Cooke), all in the plains and foothills ; Twin Lake (Aiken coll.), South and Middle Parks in spring (Carter), in the mountains ; and on the western slopes — Grand River, near Grand Junction, June (Rockwell), Norwood near Coventry, April, 1906 (Warren). Habits. — This Gull is found about lakes and rivers, and has a singular habit of catching grasshoppers and other insects in the air, noticed by both Allen and Goss. Cooke found it breeding quite commonly at San Luis Lakes (7,500 feet) June 18th, 1898, but gives no further details. The nest, as with other Gulls, is placed on the ground, usually on islands in lakes and ponds, and is made chiefly of grasses ; the eggs, 2 to 3 in number, are whitish to clay-coloured, rather evenly spotted with chocolate ; they measure 2-30 x r65. Laughing Gull. Larus atricilla. A.O.U. Checklist no 58 — Colorado Records — Morrison 89, p. 147 ; H. G. Smith 96, p 48 ; Cooke 97, p. 51. Description. — Adult in simamer — Head all round slaty-black, mantle bluidh-groy, rest of the plumage, except the primary quills, wliite, a Franklin's Gull 19 faint rosy tinge on the breast fading after death ; three outer primaries black, the fourth and fifth black toward the end, all but the first usually with a small apical spot ; iris blackish, eyelids and bill carmine, feet dusky red. Length 16-50 ; wing 13-0 ; tail 5*0 ; tarsus 2-0 ; culmen 1'75. In winter there is no hood, and the head is white with a little blackish, and the breast has no rosy tinge ; bill and feet dusky. Young birds are mottled with greyish and brown above, the tail has a broad sub- terminal band of blackish -brown, and the quills are the same colour ; upper tail -coverts white. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Maine to Texas, and on the Pacific coast of Mexico ; in winter to the West Indies and northern South America as far as the Amazona and Peru ; rare inland. This Gull has been reported from Fort Lyon by Captain Thorns (Morrison), while H. G. Smith identified an example killed at Sloans Lake, in the western suburbs of Denver, in December, 1889. These are the only recorded occurrences in Colorado. Franklin's Gull. Larus franklini. A.O.U. CheckUst no 59 — Colorado Records — Cooke 97, pp. 19, 51 ; Felger 09, p. 278 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 110. Description. — Adult — Head all round slaty-black with a white, ring round and chiefly behind the eye; mantle slaty -grey, nearly greyish- blue ; rest of the plumage, except the quills, white tinged with rosy- pink on the breast ; first primary chiefly white on the inner and tip of the outer web, dusky slate on the outer web, and with a rounded black spot on the inner web about 1 -25 inches from the tip ; the next four slaty, paling to white at the tiji and crossed by a subterminal band of black ; eyeUds orange, bill red with a darker subterminal band; legs dusky red. Length 13-5; wing 11-25; tail 4-0; culmen 1-25 ; tarsus 1-70. In winter the hood is absent, the head is white with a few dusky feathers and the breast has no rosy tinge. Young birds have the top and sides of the head and back greyish -brown, the quills dusky tipped with white, and the tail with a subterminal band of dusky ; forehead, eye-spot and under-parts white. Distribution. — Breeding in the interior of North America from Iowa northwards to Manitoba and the interior of the Dominion ; south on migration from the Mississippi Valley to Utah, wintering in Mexico and Central America and as far south as Peru. Though quite a common bird on migration, both in Kansas and Utah, Franklin's Gull is hardly known from Colorado. In fact the c 2 20 Birds of Colorado only record is that of W. G. Smith who took it at Loveland, on May 6th, while Anthony examined one in Denver, stated to have been killed near by. Felgor reports that IVIiss Patten noticed this GuU, May 8th,1905, near Yuma, and Hersey (09) saw one at Barr, October 17th, 1907. Habits. — This beautiful Gull, called by the farmers on the plains of eastern Kansas the "Prairie Pigeon" or " Prairie Dove," is frequently found far from water on arable lands in the spring, foUowdng the plough and picking up worms and insects, while in the autumn it destroys immense numbers of grasshoppers. In Utah, Mr. Bailey tells us that Brigham Young used to offer up prayers that they should be sent to destroy the locusts and destructive insects. It seems strange that it should have been so seldom noticed in Colorado. The nest is placed on the ground, on islands among lakes and rivers or often in marshes and sloughs, and is made chiefly of rushes and grasses. They breed in large communities. The eggs, usually three, vary a good deal, but are generally olive-green to drab, splashed with bold markings of sepia. They measure about 2-1 X 1-44. Bonaparte's Gull. Larus Philadelphia. A.O.U. Checklist no 60— Colorado Records— Ridgway 79, p. 232; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; Cooke 94, p.l82 ; 97, pp. 51, 155, 193 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 48. Description. — Adult in summer — Head all round slaty-black ; a white ring round the eye broken in front ; mantle pearl-grey, rest of plumage white, washed with rosy below ; outer primary white with the outer web and tip black, the next five white, tipped with black ; iris dark brown ; eyelids red, bill black, legs red. Length 13 ; wing 10-0 ; tail 3'6 ; culmen 1*0; tarsus 1-25. In winter the head is white tinged with grey behind, and there is a dusky spot on the ear -coverts and in front of the eye ; the bill is lighter coloured at the base of the lower mandible and the feet flesh. Young birds in the first winter are like the winter birds but have a patch of dusky on the wing-coverts and black on the outer Sabine's GuU 21 and inner web along the shaft of the three or four outer primaries, and a black subterminal bar across the tail with a narrow terminal band of white. Distribution. — Breeding from Manitoba northwards to Hudson Bay and Alaska ; on migration both along the coasts and in the interior of the United States and the coasts of western Mexico. In Colorado Bonaparte's Gull is an occasional visitor on migration, chiefly in the fall. It has been taken about half a dozen times on the plains at the eastern bases of the mountains from Pueblo to Fort Collins in October and November, and by Carter on the spring migration in Middle Park. The records are : Pueblo, November 15th, H. W. Nash (Cooke), near Colorado Springs (Aiken coU.), near Denver on three occasions in October and November (H. G. Smith), Barr Lake, one killed but not preserved, fall of 1907 (Hersey), and Fort Collins (Cooke). Genus XEMA. Resembling the smaller forms of Larus, with hooded head in summer and with a slender bill, but the tail distinctly forked though not for more than the length of the tarsus. One species only. Sabine's Gull. Xemasabini. A.O.U. Checklist no 62— Colorado Records — Ridgway 79, p. 232 ; W. G. Smith 89, p. 176 ; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 48 ; Cooke 97, pp. 61, 155, 193 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 07 p. 198 ; 09, p. 225. Description. — Adult — Head all round deep slaty, bordered by a narrow ring of velvety black ; lower part of neck, tail, under-parts, inner primaries, most of secondaries and greater coverts white ; mantle and the inner secondaries slaty-blue ; outer primaries black, with the half of the inner web away from the shaft and tips white ; eyelids orange, bill black on the basal, yellow on the apical half, feet black. Length 13 ; wing 10'75; tail to fork 3*75, to longest feather 5-0; culmen 1-0 ; tarsus 1-25. In winter the head and neck are white with a little dusky on the ear-coverts and back of the head. Young birds are like the winter birds, but the back of the head and neck as well as the mantle is slaty, most of the feathers edged and tipped with whitish ; the outer primaries are more black and the white tips are small or wanting ; the tail has a subterminal bar of black, becoming narrower towards the outer feathers, and is less forked ; the bill and legs are flesh-coloured and dusky, and the dimensions are smaller — wing 10-25. 22 Birds of Colorado Distribution. — Breeding far north in north-east Asia, and Arctic America from Alaska to Greenland, irregularly south in winter through the United States to the Bermudas. Sabine's Gull occasionallystrays to Colorado during the fall migration. There are about half a dozen well authenticated records both from the plains and the mountains. W. G. Smith obtained a male at Love- land, October 12th, 1889, and H. G. Smith about the same time saw one in the flesh in Denver, killed October 1st ; Carter obtained a specimen from an Alpine lake above 10,000 feet near Breckenridge, September 26th, 1886, and Aiken another at Manitou Park, Teller co., about 8,000 feet, October 12th, 1897 (Cooke). James Cowie shot one out of a flock of six on a lake near Boulder, September 15th, 1907, which is now in the Museum of the University of Colorado (Henderson). There is a young female in the Colorado College Museum, collected by J.G . Frey at Salida, September 26th, 1908 ; and another in the Museum at Denver, taken by Hersey, October 31st, 1896, at Barr, where it is also not infrequent on migration in March. Genus STERNA. Bill long, pointed and compressed, both mandibles of equal length ; wings very long and pointed, the outer primary the longest ; tail strongly forked, always for more than the length of the tarsus, the outer feathers elongated, attenuated and pointed, sometimes to a considerable extent ; tarsus short, less than the middle toe and claw ; toes fuUy webbed. A large genus of world-wide distribution on the seas and inland waters ; about ten species in the United States. Key of the Species. A. Outer web of the outer tail-feather white, inner grey. S. forsteri, p. 22. B. Outer web of the outer tail-feather grey, inner white. a. Dark band on the inner web along the shaft of the primaries broader, occupying about half the web. S. hirundo, p. 24. b. Dark band on the inner web narrower, about a quarter the width of the web. S. paradisaea, p. 24. Forster's Tern. Sterna forsteri. A.O.U. Checklist no 69 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 188 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 51, 193 ; Felger 02, p. 294 ; 09, p. 278 ; Dille 03, p. 74. Description. — Adult in sunxmer — Top of the head black ; upper-parts pearl-grey ; below white ; rump white, tail becoming a httle dusky Forster's Tern 23 on the outer feathers, very long and narrow, white on the outer, dusky- grey on the inner, web ; bill orange-red, dusky at the tip, legs orange - red. Length 15-0 (to end of tail) ; wing 9-5 ; tail to fork 2-5, to longest feather 6-0 to 8-0; culmen 1-5; tarsus -85. In winter the black cap is lost, but the nape is always slightly varie- gated with dusky and there is a black band on either side through the eye- and ear-coverts ; bill and feet duller coloured. Young birds are mottled on the head and back with brownish, the prirnaries are less silvery and the tail brownish and deeply emarginate, but less so than in the adult. Bill srnaller and weaker and brownish-black. Distribution.- — Breeding locally from Texas north through the middle states and Utah to Manitoba and the Fur countries and along the coast to Cobb's Island, Virginia, and in CaUfornia ; south in winter as far as Guatemala and BraziL Forster's Tern was reported as a breeding bird in Colorado as long ago as 1873 by Ridgway, though no definite evidence of the fact was given. In more recent years it has been observed to arrive at Loveland about May 5th from the south, and Felger has found it breeding at Barr Lake near Denver on May 19th, where Hersey informs me there is a colony of about fifty birds in summer. It may be considered a regular resident in summer in parts of north-east Colorado. Habits. — All the Terns have much the same habits. They are all birds of swift and easy flight, coursing through the air like Swallows, generally in the neigh- bourhood of, or over, water. They can often be seen with their heads and bills pointed downwards toward the water, watching for a fish or insect. Suddenly they plunge down but seldom become quite submerged ; turning sharply on the surface, they rise again with the morsel in their beaks. They nest in large communities, generally on a slight elevation in grassy swamps or marshes. The nest is made up of weeds or grasses and the eggs, usually three, are very variable — from whitish or buffy to olive-brown, heavily marked with chocolate. They measure 1"80 x 1*30. They are roving birds having a harsh, grating cry, to which they give vent especially when they are disturbed on their nests. 24 Birds of Colorado Common Tern. Sterna hirundo. A.O.U. Checklist no 70— Colorado Record— Cooke 09, p. 314. Description. — Resembling the Arctic Tern in the arrangement of the coloration of the tail-feathers, but with a longer tarsus averaging longer than the middle toe without claw, and with the dark bands on the inner web of the outer primary much more distinct and wide, averaging -25 to '30 instead of -12 to -15 ; bill red, usually with dusky tip, feet vermilion. Dimensions about the same. Distribution. — A common species found over the greater part of tho world north and south ; breeding chiefly in arctic circumpolar regions. One example, taken May 14th, 1908, at New Windsor by Geo. Osterhout, was sent to Cooke for identification. This is the only Colorado record. Arctic Tern. Sterna paradiscm. A.O.U. Checklist no 71— Colorado Records— H. G. Smith 96, p. 48 ; Cooke 97, p. 51. Description. — Closely resembling Forster's Tern but smaller, though with a longer wing and with the outer web of the outer tail-feather grey or dark and the inner web white, instead of the reverse ; under- parts slightly paler than the mantle but hardly white ; bill red without dusky tip, feet vermilion. Length 14 — 17, varying with length of tail; wing 10-0; tail 2*5, to longest feather 6-5 to 8-5; culmen 1-20; tarsus '65. Distribution. — Breeding in the circiunpolar regions of the Old and New Worlds ; in America from Alaska and Labrador south to Massachusetts. In winter ranging widely throughout the world's coasts to South Africa and South America, as well as in many parts of the United States. The Arctic Tern is a rare straggler in Colorado. An example killed at Marston's Lake near Denver in the spring of 1887 was identified as this species by Ridgway (H. G. Smith) ; while a second, an adult male, was taken by W. G. Smith at Loveland, July 9th, 1889 (Cooke). Genus HYDROCHELIDON. Closely allied to Sterna but with a very short tail, less than half the wing and very slightly forked ; with feeble legs, the webs much indented so that the toes appear to be only half webbed ; lower-parts of the body always black, or very dark grey in the breeding season. Four species, only one in North America. Black Tern 25 Black Tern. Hydrochdidon nigra surinamensis. A.O.U. Checklist no 77 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210 Coues 74, p. 708 ; Drew 83, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; Cooke 97, p. 52 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 225 ; Warren 08, p. 20. Description." — Adult in summer — Head and nape all round and imder- parts to the vent jet black ; under tail-coverts white ; above from tho nape silvery grey, a little duskier on the primaries ; iris brown, bill black, feet reddish -brown. Length 8-5 ; wing 8-30 ; tail 3-40 ; culmen 1 "0 ; tarsus '65. In winter the black of the head and under -parts is replaced by white, but the hind half of the crown is dusky grey and there is a dusky bar from the ear-coverts to the eye ; above as in the summer, but many of the feathers edged with whitish. Young birds resemble the winter adults but have a good deal of brown about the scapulars and a marked black crescent in front of the eye. Distribution. — Breeding from the middle states from Kansas and Illinois north to Hudson Bay and Alaska ; south in winter as far as Chili and Brazil. Along the Atlantic coast on migration only. The Black Tern is a not very uncommon summer resident in Colorado, breeding in communities where suitable conditions occur, chiefly in the eastern plains portion of the State. It is probably still more common on migration. Coues saw a large colony on the Arkansas River near Fort Lyon on June 10th, 1864,, which were probably breeding, and there are eggs in the Colorado College Museum presented by I. C. Hall, and taken by liina on Storms Lake near Greeley, May 26th, 1902. There are a few birds on Barr Lake and several single nesta have been taken by Hersey and Rockwell. Other references are El Paso CO. (Aiken), Boulder co. plains (Henderson), and Bear Lake near Steamboat Springs in Routt co., where Warren saw a dozen or fifteen flying about, June 1st ; this is the only definite record from the western slope. Habits. — The Black Tern is usually seen in flocks of larger or smaller size, flying over or near water, either a river, lake or marsh. " The flight is buoyant in the extreme," says Coues, " and wayward, desultory and uncertain ; perhaps no bird of this country has so great an expanse of wing for its weight, certainly none fly more lightly. In hovering along on the look-out for insects, they hold the bill pointing straight down like other Terns. In the spring I have observed them plunging 26 Birds of Colorado into the water for food, probably small fry, but in the fall they seem to feed chiefly on winged insects," and specially on dragon- flies. They breed, as already remarked, in large companies ; their nests consist merely of a heap of decaying rushes and other vegetable matter, piled up in the shallow water of a lake or marsh. The eggs, 2 to 4, are pale brownish or greenish-olive, thickly blotched and spotted with very dark chocolate ; they are rather pointed at one end and measure TSO x TO. Hall's eggs were fresh and taken somewhat early — on May 26th — the more more usual nesting-time is June. ORDER STEGANOPODES. This order contains a number of swimming and diving birds, such as the Cormorants, Darters, Gannets and PeUcans ; they can be recognized at a glance by a very obvious external character ; the feet are totipalmate, that is, all the toes, including the first or hallux, which is turned forwards more or less parallel to the other toes, are fully webbed. I^Y OF THE Families and Genera. a. Bill shorter than the middle toe, compressed ; gular sac smaU, hardly distensible (Phalacrocoracidcc). Phalacrocorax, p. 26. b. Bill much longer than the middle toe, flattened and depressed ; gular sac large and greatly distensible (PelecanidcB). Pelecanus, p. 28. Family PHALACROCORACIDiE. Characters of the Genus. Genus PHALACROCORAX. Bill subcyhndrical and slightly compressed, the upper mandible strongly hooked at the tip ; nostril rudimentary ; wings short and rounded ; tail of twelve or fovirteen feathers rather short and stiff ; tarsus short and compressed ; all the toes well webbed. Double-crested Cormorant 27 A large and cosmopolitan genus of about forty species, five in the United States. Key of the Species. a _. Larger, wing over 11 -0 ; no white gorget. P. auritus, p. 27. b. Smaller, wing under 11 -0. a white gorget along the edge of the gular sac in the breeding pkunage. P. V. mexicanus, p. 28. Double-crested Cormorant. PJialacrocorax auritus. A.O.U. Checklist no 120— Colorado Records— Ridgway 79, p. 234 (P. dilophua) ; H. G. Smith 86, p. 285 ; 96, p. 48 ; Morrison 89, p. 148 ; Cooke 97, pp. 52, 156 ; Felger 09, p. 279. Description. — Adult — Plumage gloSsy greenish black, the feathers of the scapulars and wings slaty with black borders ; a few long curly feathers above and behind the eye form a double crest ; tail of twelve feathers ; iris green, eyelids blue, bill yellow, darker along the culmen ; gular sac orange and convex in shape posteriorly, feet dull black. Length about 32; wing 12-0; tail 6*0; cuknen 2-10; tarsus 2-20. The crests are lost in the winter and the eyelids are not so blue ; young birds are dark brown, paling on the throat and breast to almost white. Distribution. — The greater part of North America on the coast and in the interior ; breeding from the Bay of Fundy and North Dakota northwards ; south in winter to the Gulf coast. In Colorado this Cormorant can only be regarded as a straggler in the fall migration ; there are about foxn* definite records, all from the neighboiu-hood of Denver in the fall between 1885 and 1891, given by H. G. Smith, and others by Felger. Aiken informs me that he has examined a few examples killed near Colorado Springs. Habits. — Cormorants are generally found about the sea coast, and this species is the only one which is widely distributed in the interior parts of North America. They are expert fishers and swim and dive with great ease ; they seize their prey in their powerful bills under water, and on returning to the surface they toss the fish in the air and swallow it head first. When not fishing, much of their time is spent sitting and sunning themselves on rocks or posts on the beach. They nest in com- munities on the rocks or in the cliffs beside the sea, and 28 Birds of Colorado on trees in the interior, laying pale bluish eggs of oval shape, often covered with a chalky investment. They have been reported to breed in Utah and Wyoming, but not hitherto in Colorado. Mexican Cormorant. Phalacrocorax vigua mexicanus. A.O.U. Checklist no 121— Colorado Record— Felger 01, p. 189. Description. — Resembling P. auritus but smaller — wing 10"0 to 10'5 — and with a white gorget bordering the gular sac behind and almost reaching the eye ; the white nuptial plumes form a packet on either side of the head, and others are scattered on the neck and beUy. Length about 28 ; wing 10"0 ; tail 6'0 ; tarsus and cuknen about 2'0. In winter the gorget and nuptial plumes are absent. Young birds are greyish-brown, paler and whiter below. Distribution. — The coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and the West Indies, north along the Mississippi Valley to Kansas and Illinois. A. H. Felger reports that an adult male of this species was taken at Smith's Lake, fourteen miles north of Denver, October 15th, 1899 ; it was identified by himself and by H. G. Smith. This is the only Colorado record. Family PELECANID^E. Characters of the only genus. Genus PELECANUS- BiU long and flattened, the culmen forming a rounded ridge and ending at the tip in a downward curved hook ; nostrils small and rudimentary ; a very large gular pouch of naked skin depending from between the two somewhat flexible rami of the lower jaw and reaching posteriorly some way down the neck ; wing long, tail short, slightly wedge-shaped, of twenty-two to twenty -four feathers. Eleven species are generally recognized ; three of these occur in the United States. American White Pelican. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. A.O.U. Checklist no 125 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 188 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Beckham 85, p. 144 ; Morrison 89, p. 148 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 52, 193 ; Rockwell 08, p. 157 ; Henderson 09, p. 225 ; Felger 09, p. 279. American White Pelican 29 Description. — Adult — Plumage white throughout, except for the primaries, their coverts, and some of the secorxdaries, which are black ; some elongated feathers on the occiput, breast and lesser wing -coverts straw -yellow ; tail with twenty -four feathers ; iris pearl-white, bill, which bears a horny excrescence on the culmen, orange-red with the ridge of the culmen whitish ; bare skin about the eye, gular pouch and feet orange. Length 60'0 ; wing 24-0 ; tail 6'0 ; culmen 12-0; tarsus 4-5. After the breeding season the excrescence is lost, and the crest is replaced by a dusky spot. In winter the occiput is white and the bill, pouch and feet are yellow not orange. Young birds are like the winter adults, but have a little grey on the top of the head and on the lesser coverts. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly in the western interior of North America, from Oregon and Utah north to Hudson Bay ; in winter south to the Gulf of California and Mexican coasts as far as Guatemala. The Pelican was formerly not uncommon on migration, while a few are said to have bred in Colorado. Of late years, no doubt owing to increase of population, it has been less often seen, nor have I met with any undoubted account of its nesting within the State. It arrives from the south at the end of April, and has been noticed by W. G. Smith at Loveland on the 23rd of that month. On May 22nd, 1898, nine out of a flock of eighteen were killed on Prospect Lake on the confines of Colorado Springs, and a flock of forty was seen near Denver in the spring of the same year. It is an irregular summer resident at Barr but not known to breed (Hersey & Rockwell). In the fall migration it appears to pass through the mountains, and has been observed by Carter at an elevation of 13,000 feet, and there is an example in his collection killed near Breckenridge, August 10th, 1892. It is also recorded from San Luis Valley in October, and from Grand Junction on the western slope, where Mr. Sullivan saw a flock of eight, September 4th, 1904. Habits. — White Pelicans are found on the sea coasts and in the interior, chiefly along the larger rivers and in marshes where there is a plentiful supply of fish, on which they feed almost exclusively ; they fly well with the neck bent and the head close to the shoulders, and often ascend to a great height in the air and there perform wonderful aerial evolutions ; they also swim well and strongly, but are said not to be able to dive. They pursue their prey in considerable numbers in a 30 Birds of Colorado long line, driving the fishes before them into the shallow water and catching them when floundering. They fill the elastic pouches beneath their long bills with great quantities of fishes, which they devour at leisure or carry oflf and disgorge to feed their young. They breed in great communities, generally on islands in lakes. The nest is on the ground, sometimes a simple depression in the sand, sometimes put together with a few sticks and weeds. The eggs, usually two, are oval, white and chalky, and measure 3" 50 x 2-30. Brown Pelican. Pelecanus occidentalis. A.O.U. Checklist no 126— Colorado Record— Smith 10, p. 133. Description. — Adult — Top of the head and a spot on the upper-breast straw-yeUow, a white Hne on either side of the breast ; hind-head and neck brown, rest of the body silvery grey except the primaries, which are black ; under-parts brown streaked with white. Length 50 "0 ; wing 19"5 ; tarsus 2"65 ; bill 11 "0. After the breeding season the bird's head and neck are white tinged with straw-yellow ; young birds are similar but duller. Distribution.— The Atlantic coasts of tropical and subtropical America breeding north to South Carolina ; accidental in other parts of the United States. According to H. G. Smith a single example of this species, now preserved in the State Museum at Denver, was killed on Wood's Lake, Thomasville, Colorado, by IVIr. P. J. Engelbrecht in June, 1908. This is the only record for the State. ORDER ANSERES. This order includes the Ducks, Geese and Swans, and forms a well-marked and clearly circumscribed group of birds. Externally they can be distinguished by their characteristically shaped bill, which is generally broad, flattened and depressed, and is covered by a soft membrane except at the tip of the upper mandible, where there is a hard nail ; furthermore both mandibles have, just inside their cutting -edges, a series of horny The Mergansers 31 lamellae of varying development ; the number of tail- feathers varies from fourteen to twenty-four ; the legs are short and the anterior toes fully webbed ; the hind toe is small and jointed above the level of the others ; the eggs are numerous, white, pale greenish or creamy, and unspotted ; the young are covered with down when hatched, and able to run or swim at once. AU the North American genera are included in a single family — Anatidce. This, for convenience, can be divided into five subfamilies, as follows : — liEY OF THE Subfamilies. A. Tarsus as long as the middle toe without claw ; with reticulate scales all round. a. Neck very long, as long as the body ; lores naked in the adults. Cygninje, p. 71. b. Neck moderate, no naked patch on the lores. Anserinse, p. 65. B. Tarsus shorter than the middle toe without claw, scuteUate in front. a. Hind toe not lobed. Anatinae, p. 35. b. Hind toe lobed. a^ Bill flattened and depressed. Fuligulinse, p. 49. b^ BiU cylindrical and compressed. Merginae, p. 31. Subfamily MERGIN-^. The Mergansers have a narrow, almost cylindrical, bill, with the lamellae only present in the upper man- dible and developed into prominent tooth-like serrations ; tarsi compressed, scutellate anteriorly ; hind toe lobate ; head usually crested ; sexes unlike. IvEY OF THE GeNERA AND SpECIES. A. Bill chiefly red, about as long as the head ; crest low and only in the occipital region (Mergus). a. Nostrils near the middle of the bill, breast all white in S M. americanus, p. 32. b. Nostrils nearer the base of the bill ; breast with a patch of reddish-brown in and is made of grass, leaves and weeds, loosely put together and lined with feathers or down. The eggs, 6 to 10 in number, are bufEy or whitish, usually with a green tinge. They measure 2-30 x 1"60. Dille gives the second week in May as the average time for fresh eggs near Denver. 38 Birds of Colorado Mottled Duck. Anas fulvigula maculosa. A.O.U. Checklist no 134a — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, pp. 177, 188 {Ana3 obsciira) ; Morrison 89, p. 148 : Cooke 97, pp. 53, 156, 194 ; Felger 09, p. 280 ; 10, p. 451. Description. — Resembling a dark-coloured female Mallard ; head and neck buiTy, finely streaked with dusky ; chin and throat Isabella - coloiu- unmarked ; under -parts mottled about equally with dusky and light brown ; feathers of the breast and back with brown centres and margins ; speculum greenish purple framed in black, the feathers narrowly tipped with white ; iris dark brown, bill greenish with a black spot at the base of the lower edge of the upper mandible ; legs reddish- orange. Wing 10-0; tarsus 1-75; culmen 2-25. The sexes are alike, except that the female has no black spot on the mandible. Distribution. — Breeding in Texas and probably north to Kansas and Colorado. A Duck identified formerly as the Dusky or Black Duck of the Atlantic coast, has been recorded on several occasions from Colorado. It was first noticed by Ridgway on the authority of Aiken. Thome took it at Fort Lyon (Morrison) and Osbum on the Big Thompson near Loveland, March 15th, 1889. Cooke in his second supplement (p. 194) considered that these Ducks should be referred to the present subspecies. In the Natural History Museum at Denver there is a Duck taken November 6th, 1907, near Loveland, by Mr. Blaney ; it is mounted, and the bill has been coloured so that it is impossible to make out the spot on the mandible, but the throat is clearly plain and unstreaked, and I have httle doubt that it should be referred to this subspecies, which may therefore be considered a straggler to Colorado. Felger (09) gives several additional records from the neighbourhood of Denver, and in a recently published note (10) considers that Cooke is in error, and that these Colorado Ducks should be referred to A. rvbripes. I have myself carefully examined the example mounted in Denver, and am inclined to support Cooke in his determination. Genus CHAULELASMUS. Closely resembling Anas, with a tail of sixteen feathers, but wing speculiun white, and in the male the greater coverts black, the middle coverts chestnut. One nearly cosmopolitan species. Gad wall. Chaulelasmus streperus. A.O.U. Checklist no 135— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 159 ; Aiken 72, p. 210 ; Henshaw 75, p. 474 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 18 ; Gadwall 39 Tresz 82, p. 245; Beckham 85, p. 144; W. G. Smith 87, p. 169; Morrison 88, p. 140; 89, p. 148; Kellogg 90, p. 86; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 53, 156, 194 ; 06, p. 27; Henderson 03, p. 234; 09, p. 225; Rockwell 08, p. 157 ; Warren 09, p. 13. Description. — Male— General colour including the head, which bears a low crest, neck, upper -back, scapulars and sides brown, speckled and undulated with greyish -white ; lower back plain brown, becoming black on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; belly white with sharply defined velvety black on the abdomen and lower tail-coverts ; wing with a patch of chestnut, velvety black, and white ; iris reddish -brown, bill black, legs dull orange. Length 20-0 ; wing 11-0 ; tail 3-5 ; culmen 1-75 ; tarsus 1-7. The female is smaller — wing 10-0, and brown throughout except on the lower breast and abdomen> which are white and everywhere speckled or variegated with buffy -brown ; the patches of chestnut, black and white on the wing are rather smaller. The young male is lilce the female. Distribution. — One of the most widely spread of Ducks, found through- out EuroiDe, Asia and North America, and wintering south in Africa and southern Asia. In America its breeding range extends from Hudson Bay and southern British Columbia, south to southern Colorado and most of California. In winter it resorts chiefly to the southern states and the lower Mississippi Valley, and to Jlexico as far as Mexico City. In Colorado the Gadwall is a fairly common summer resident and quite common on migration, but has been noticed only, so far as I can ascertain, at Barr in winter. It arrives from the south early and has been noted at Fort Lyon on March 1st and at Love land from March 1st to 12th ; it is not so common apparently on the western slope and was only once seen by Sullivan — on the Gunnison River, March 28th (Rockwell), while at Coventry it has been seen in April (Warren). Breeding records are — Ba?r Lake (Hersey & Rockwell), Estes Park (Kellogg), Middle Park, Carter (Cooke), South Park (Tresz), San Luis Lakes (Aiken & Henshaw), La Plata co. (Morrison), and Calhan El Paso CO. June (Aiken). Habits, — The Gadwall resembles the Mallard in habits ; it is essentially a fresh-water Duck, preferring secluded marshy ponds and reedy streams to large open pieces of water. It feeds largely on vegetable matter, water- weeds, grass, roots and often grain, as well as on insects^ tadpoles, etc., and it is as well - flavoured as the Mallard. 40 Birds of Colorado The nesting-habits are similar to those of the Mallard, though they have been known to breed in trees. The eggs, 8 to 12 in number, are creamy- white and average 2-20 X 1-50. Natural hybrids among Ducks are not uncommon ; W. G. Smith (87) shot, near Loveland, a fine male, the characters of which were equally divided between a Gadwall and a Baldpate. Genus MARECA. Resembling Anas but with a shorter bill, not as long as the head ; tail pointed, of foiuteen feathers, not as long as the wing ; speculum green, top of the head white or whitish. Two species in the United States. Baldpate. Mareca americana. A.O.U. Checklist no 137 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210; Coues 77, p. 51 ; Morrison 89, p. 148 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 54, 194 ; 06, p. 28 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 225 ; Rockwell 08, p. 157 ; 10, p. 29 ; Felger 09, p. 280. Discription. — Male — Crown pure white, sides of the face, cheeks and neck also white or buffy, spotted with duskj- ; chin brown ; a patch from the eye to the naj>e glossy green ; fore-neck, chest and sides of the body cinnamon, sorae of the feathers finely barred with dusky ; lower-breast and abdomen white, abruptly black on the lower tail- coverts ; rest of the upper-parts various shades of brown, some of the feathers, especially the scapulars, finely barred with buffy ; speculum green, bordered by black with a white patch above it ; iris brown, bill greyish-blue with a black tip, feet very similar. Length 20*0 ; wing 10-5; tail 4-75; culmen 1*50; tarsus 1-40. Younger males have the whole head and neck white or buffy and speckled with dusky. Females have the head like the young male ; the colour generally is brown mottled with dusky and the belly white ; on the wing the pattern is the same as in the male, but the white is much restricted and the green of the speculum often faint. Distribution. — Breeding in north -central North America, within a line drawn from Hudson Bay to Lake Michigan, thence west to Nevada and north-west to the Pacific ; south in winter over the southern states and Mexico as far as Costa Rica and the West Indies. In Colorado the Baldpate like the Gadwall is most common on migration, while a certain number remain to breed, and others appear to winter. Green-winged Teal 41 The only definite account of its nesting is that of Coues, who found it with young birds and several other species of Duck on a small lake on the southern edge of North Park, probably about 8,000 feet, shortly after the nesting -season ; there is an adult male in the Ailcen collection taken at Falcon on May 3rd, and Horsey and Rockwell include it as a summer resident at Barr. It was seen on the San Luis Lakes in June by Warren. On migration it was noticed by W. G. Smith at Loveland, March 10th to 13th, and seen by Carter in Middle Park (Cooke), while Sullivan reports it as plentiful in the fall but scarce in the spring at Grand Junction (Rockwell). Felger states that it is not uncommon in winter at Barr. Habits. — Like the Mallard and GadwaU this is a shoal- water Duck, preferring the edges of lagoons and grassy lakes to large pieces of water, and feeding chiefly on vegetable matter, so that it is generally good eating. Goss states that they rob Canvas-back and other deep-water Ducks of the vallesneria grass which grows in deep water, and which they cannot procure for them- selves as they do not dive. The eggs, 6 to 12 in number, are pale buff to nearly white, and measure 2-05 x 1*45. Genus NETTION. Very small duclcs — wing under S-^with a slightly crested head and a narrow parallel-sided blackish bill, a green speculum and grey, buffy-tipped wing -coverts without blue. Two species in the United States. Green- winged Teal. Nettion carolinensis. A.O.U. Checklist no 139— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 210; Henshaw 75, p. 475 ; Beckham 85, p. 144 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 148; KeUogg 90, p. 90; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 54, 194; 06 p. 30; Henderson 03, p. 234; 09, p. 225; Rockwell 08, p. 157; Warren 09, p. 13. Description. — Adult Male — Head and neck all round chestnut, blackening on the chin ; a patch from round the eye to the nape glossy green, ending in a nape crest of chestnut and black ; general colour above and along the sides, grey brown and white in narrow undu- lations ; breast pale cinnamon, with rounded black spots, paling to nearly pure unspotted white on the abdomen ; imder tail-coverta 42 Birds of Colorado black centrally, pale buffj' laterally ; speculum bright green, bordered in front by buffy, below by black and behind with a little white ; a white patch on the sides of the breast ; iris brown, bill black, feet dusky. Length 14-0; wing 7'5 ; tail 2-75; culmen 1-5; tarsus 1*20. The female has no crest and the speculum is less perfect ; the head and neck are streaked with dark and tawny -brown, the throat and lower-parts are white and the back, sides and breast dusky, scolloped and mottled with bufT. Distribution. — Breeding from New Brunswick along the northern tier of states to Oregon, northwards to the Barren Grounds of Alaska, and south along the mountains to New Mexico ; in winter south to the south-western United States, Mexico to Mexico City and the West Indies. The Green-winged Teal is one of the commonest of the migrating Ducks in Colorado, and is also a resident. It is one of the earliest to arrive, reaching Fort Lyon February 20th to March 3rd, Loveland February 21st, and SaUda March 27th (Frey). It is common on the Arkansas near Pueblo in April and September (Beckham), and has been observed as high as Breckenridge on migration by Carter, and at Crested Butte by Warren. On the western slope it is the commonest Duck at Coventry on migration only (Warren) and also in Mesa co. (Rockwell). It has been found nesting at San Luis Lakes by Henshaw and is stated to be a common summer resident in Estes Park by Kellogg, and at Barr by Hersey and Rockwell, where it is also not uncommon in winter. Habits. — "This handsome little duck," writes Goss, " is usually found in small flocks along the edges of shallow, grassy waters, feeding largely on seeds, aquatic plants and insects ; they fatten very fast in the rice- fields, and are very fond of acorns. In exposed situations they feed largely at night, resting by day on bare spots surrounded and hidden by reeds. They are perhaps the best-tasting of our ducks." Henshaw found this species nesting at San Luis Lakes, on June 24th ; the nest was placed under a sage bush thirty feet from the water ; it consisted of a hollow in the sand, lined Avith grasses, and down plucked from the parent-birds' breast. The eggs were pale yellow and measured 1-80 x 1'30. The usual complement is 9 to 12, but as many as eighteen have been found. Blue-winged Teal 43 Genus QUERQUEDULA. Size very small — wing less than 8 ; no sign of a crest ; bill broader than in Nettion ; specukun glossy green, wing-coverts sky blue. Two species in the United States. Blue-winged Teal. Querquedula discors. A.O.U. Checklist no 140 — Colorado Records — Baird 58, p. 780 ; Henshaw 75, p. 477 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 18 ; Beckham 85, p. 144 ; W. G. Smith 87, p. 169 ; Morrison 88, p. 140 ; 89, p. 149 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 54, 194; 06, p. 32; Henderson 03, p. 234; 09, p. 225; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 09, p. 13 ; Rockwell 08, p. 157 ; Felger 09, p. 280. Description. — Male — Crown, base of the bill and chin, dark brown ; a crescent-shaped white mark across the face in front of the eye ; rest of the head and neck ashy -grey with a mauve gloss ; upper -parts dusky brown, scalloped and streaked with buff y- brown ; below vinaceous, heavily spotted throughout with black ; under tail-coverts black ; a white spot on either side at the base of the tail ; wing with a green metallic speculum, bordered in front by white ; the whole basal portion of the wing light blue ; iris brown, bill black, legs dingy yellow. Length 16; wing 7 0; tail 3-0; culnaen 1-5; tarsus 1-20. The female is mainly speckled above, and grey, mottled with dusky, below, but has the characteristic blue, white and green on the wings. The young bird has the abdomen white, and green on the wing absent. Distribution. — The breeding range of this duck is mainly north of a line drawn from Nova Scotia to New Mexico and thence to Oregon and northwards to Saskatchewan, while on migration and in winter it covers a vast extent of country from Virginia and California to Brazil and Chili. In Colorado the Blue-wing is quite common on migration tliroughout the state in spring and autumn. Hersey and Rockwell state that it is far the most common breeding Duck at Barr, arriving late and leaving early. Henshaw writes that he found it equally abundant with the Green-wing at San Luis Lakes and believed that it bred there ; Aiken who visited San Luis Lakes the following year, confirms this. It was taken by Lieut. Bryan on the South Platte in July many years ago (Baird), and Cowie informed Henderson that it breeds on the plains of Boulder co. Mr. Aiken tells me he found a nest, but without eggs, on June 4th, on the Big Sandy Creek near Ramah, about forty miles east of Colorado Springs on the plains, and there is a specimen in the Aiken collection taken on May 3rd at Falcon in El Paso eo. which might have been breeding or preparing to breed. All other observers only seem to have noticed this duck on migration. It arrives from the south rather late. Smith notes it at Loveland from March 25th 44 Birds of Colorado to April loth, and Frey at Salida, March 27th. It returns early in the fall. Goss states that it is very susceptible to cold. It has been noticed on the Arkansas near Pueblo in May and September (Beckham), near Monon, May 6th (Warren 06), and in Boulder co. (Henderson) ; in the mountains at Crested Butte (Warren), and at Breckenridge (Carter) on migration ; on the western slopes in La Plata co. in spring (Morrison), in San Juan in the fall (Drew), at Coventry on migration (Warren 09), and in Mesa co., spring and fall (Rockwell). Habits. — The Blue- wing inliabits sloughs, shallow pools and reedy margins of ponds. It feeds chiefly on vegetable matter, roots, weeds and seeds ; it is specially fond of rice, and its flesh is greatly esteemed. It is generally silent and flies in small, rather densely massed flocks, it also crowds together when it alights to feed, so forming an easy mark for the pot-hunter. The nest is placed on the ground among rushes bordering a pool or marsh, and is made up of grasses and lined with down. The eggs, 6 to 12 in number, are buffy to creamy- white, and measure 1*85 x 1"30. Felger has taken fresh eggs at Barr on June 26th. Cinnamon Teal. Querquedula cyanoptera. A.O.U. Checklist no 141— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 210; Henshaw 75, p. 477 ; Coues 77, p. 51 ; Allen & Brewster 81, p. 198 ; Tresz 82, p. 245 ; Beckham 85, p. 144 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; W. G. Smith 89, p. 77 ; Morrison 89, p. 148 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 54, 194 ; 06 p. 34 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 225 ; Rockwell 08, p. 158 ; Warren 09, p. 13. Description. — Male — Head, neck, breast and sides, rufous -brown, ' darkening on the crown and chin and middle of the abdomen ; under tail-coverts dark brown ; back brown, varied with rufous bars and edges ; wings like the Blue-wing, blue at base, then white, then a green speculum ; iris orange, bill black, feet orange, dusky on the joints and webs. Length 16-50 ; wing 7-75 ; tail 3-50 ; cuknen 1-70 ; tarsus 1-25. The female is Uke the female Blue-wing, but is darker and more spotted on the breast and neck, only the upper-throat and chin being unspotted. A young male is like the female, but the markings below are more longitudinal and streak-like. Distribution. — The Cinnamon is remarkable in having two distinct brooding ranges, north and south of the equator in America. The Cinnamon Teal 45 northern area extends from British Cokimbia to western Kansas and south to northern Mexico, the southern area from central Peru to the Straits of Magellan and the Fall-iland Islands. The winter range of the northern birds extends but Uttle further south to southern Mexico, that of the southern birds north, perhaps to Columbia. In Colorado the Cinnamon Teal is a fairly comnion summer resident from the plains to quite high in the mountains. A considerable number also pass through the State to their breeding-grounds further north. They arrive rather late for Ducks, about the middle of April — Colorado Springs April 9th, Loveland April 13th, Lay AjDril 20th (Cooke), and return late in September. They have been noticed breeding on the southern divide of North Park (Coues), at San Luis Lakes (Henshaw), in the mountains of La Plata co. (Morrison), on the mountain lakes near Coventry (Warren), and in the plains near Loveland (W. G. Smith), and at Barr, where it is common but less so than the Blue-wing (Hersey & Rockwell). Habits. — The haunts and habits of the Cinnamon are very similar to those of the Blue-wing. W. G. Smith gives a good account of the nesting -habits ; according to him a dry spot is usually chosen about a hundred yards from the water, shaded by a bunch of grass ; here a deep hole is made, lined with grass, and down from the breast. The eggs, nine or ten in number, are creamy -white and measure 2-0 x 1*35. The female, while laying, covers over the eggs with down, on leaving the nest, so that it is very difficult to locate them, A clutch of eleven eggs of this species was taken by I. C. Hall on June 1st, near Greeley, and presented to the Colorado College Museum. In this case the nest is stated to have been placed in a slough in over six inches of water and to have been made of rushes. Genus SPATULA. Resembhng Anas in most respects but with a large spoon-shaped bill exceeding the head or tarsus in length, and much wider towards the tip than at the base ; bill laminae numerous and projecting ; tail short and pointed of fourteen feathers. One species only in the United States. 46 Birds of Colorado Shoveller. Spatula clypeata. A.O.U. Checklist no 142— Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210; Henshaw 75, p. 478 ; Coues 77, p. 51 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Morrison 89, p. 148 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 54, 194 ; OG, p. 36 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 225 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 09, p. 13 ; Rockwell 08, p. 158. Description. — Male — Head and neck black, slightly glossed with green on the sides of the face and bearing a shght nape crest ; lower- neck, breast, sonxe of the scapulars and the outer tail-feathers white ; Jiower breast and abdomen rufous ; under tail-coverts black ; wing with the lesser coverts hght blue and the speculum green with a white bar above ; the scapulars white, light blue and black ; iris orange, bill black, legs orange. Length 20; wing 10; tail 3-5; culmen 2-7; tarsus 1-7. The female is spotted and streaked with dusky, but has the wiAg as in the male though duller. Young birds are Uke the female. Tli9 shape of the bill will always distinguish this species in any plumage. Distribution. — The northern hemisphere, south to north Africa, soutliern Asia and AustraUa. In America breeding from Alaska and Hudson Bay south to California and Texas, but not in eastern Canada or the eastern United States ; south in winter from the CaroUnas and the Gulf states to Colimi^bia and through the West Indies. In Colorado the Shoveller is mainly a migrant though a certain number stay to breed, chiefly in the mountains. Cooke states it is a common resident especially on the western slope, but I have found only a few notices of its breeding — near the south divide of the North Park (Coues), and at San Luis Lakes where Aiken and Henshaw both observed it. At Barr it nests, but less commonly than some of the other Ducks (Rockwell & Hersey). It reaches Loveland from the south IMarch 10th to 20th, and has also been observed on migration in Baca co. (Warren), El Paso co. (Aiken), at Breckenridge (Carter), in Boulder co. (Henderson), and at Orchard (Warren). On the western slope it is rare at Coventry in April (Warren), and not often seen in the Plateau Valley of Mesa co. on migration (Rockwell). Habits. — The favourite resort of the Shoveller is a weedy, shallow pool or marsh where it dabbles on the muddy bottom, with its broad bill and head immersed, in search of weeds, insects, snails and Crustacea, which form its food. It is generally in pairs or quite small parties ; it is strong on the wing but has a feeble voice. Its nest is placed on the ground near water or some- Pintail 47 times on a hummock in a marsh ; it is made of grass and down. The eggs, eight to ten or more, are greenish or buflfy and measure 2* 14 x 1'50. Genus DAFILA. Bill shorter than, the head, exceeding the tarsus and also the middle toe and claw, nearly parallel-sided and with a small nail ; neck rather long ; tail of sixteen feathers, graduated for at least one-third of its total length ; in the adult male when fully developed, nearly as long as the wing, the two central feathers produced and pointed. One species only in North America. Pintail. Dafila acuta. A.O.U. Checklist no 143— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 210; Morrison 89, p. 164; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 55, 194; 06, p. 37 ; Henderson 02, p. 234 ; 09, p. 25 ; Rockwell 08, p. 155 ; Warren 09, p. 13 ; 10, p. 29. Description. — Male — Head and upper part of the neck and a Une along the nape forming a crest, brown ; back and a patch on the flanks brown, finely undulated with white ; central tail-feathers elongated, pointed and black ; below, including the fore-neck and a narrow Une on either side of the nape crest, white ; belly a little speckled with dusky ; under tail-coverts black ; wing chiefly grey brown with a green speculum narrowly bordered above by chestnut and below by white, and on the sides by black ; iris brown, bill black, a little greyish on the edge, legs greyish-blue. Length about 26 ; wing ll'O ; tail 8-0 ; cuhnen 2-2; tarsus 1-60. The female is brown above, speckled on the head, mottled on the back with buffy and white ; below paler, almost white on the breast ; sides like the back ; wing with a faint speculum of greenish between two narrow bars of white ; tail about 4-5, shorter than that of the male ; wing 9 '75. Young birds resemble the females. Distribution. — The Pintail is another widely-spread Duck with a circumpolar range ; it breeds in the northern parts of the Old and New Worlds. In America the breeding range is north of a Une running rouglilj from Lake IVIichigan to the Pacific, and west from Lake Michigan to Hudson Bay. They winter to the south as far as Panama and the West Indies. In Colorado the Pintail is a common migrant. It is one of the earUest birds in spring, and has been noticed at Loveland the first week in February and at Grand Junction on February 27th (Rockwell). Except for the Blue-winged Teal, Hersey and RockweU found it the most abundant nesting Duck at Barr, while a few birds stay there aU the winter. Warren saw a female with four one-third grown young near 48 Birds of Colorado Medano Ranch on July 2nd, so that it probably breeds in the San Luis Valley. On migration it has been noticed by Carter in ]\Iiddle Park and by Smith at Coventrj' (Warren), while there are examples in the Colorado College Museum from El Paso co. and from Barr Lake, near Denver, both obtained in March. Habits. — This is a typical fresh-water Duck, haunting wet prairies, mud flats and small pools in preference to large sheets of open water, and obtaining a good deal of its food by dibbhng on the bottom with its head down and its tail and legs sticking up in the air ; it seldom, if ever, dives. The eggs, of a buffy or greenish colour, are 7 to 10 in number as a rule, and are laid in a nest made of grasses and hned with down, placed on the ground, usually under the shelter of a bush. They nest early — early May in south Dakota. I have no dates for Colorado. Genus AIX. Head crested ; bill shorter than the head, hardly equal to the tarsus, narrow and moie or less parallel-sided, with a large terminal and downwardly curved nail, lamelbe few, small and not conspicuous, tail of sixteen feathers broad and rounded at the tips. One North American species. Wood-Duck, Aix sponsa. A.O.U. Checklist no 144 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210 ; Morrison 89, p. Ifi5 ; H. G. Smith 95, p. 48 ; Cooke 97, pp. 55, 156, 194 ; 06, p. 40 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 07, p. 198 ; 09, p. 226. Description. — Male — Head and crest brilhant purple and green with white stripes ; throat white ; chest rich chestnut with rows of white triangles ; sides grey with black and white bars and crescents ; shoulders crossed by Vjlack and white bars ; rest of the upper-parts black, with rich irridescent colours ; iris red, bill pinkish-white, darker at the base, culmen, tip and lower mandible black, feet orange. Length 19-5 wing 9-25 ; tail 4-75 ; culmen 1-35 ; tarsus 1-45. The female has the head dull grey glossed with green ; the crest, crown, sides of the head and the tliroat white ; the chest brown and the belly white ; the back richly glossed with greyish -brown ; wing 8*60 ; iris brown, bill pltmibeous, black on the culmen, legs yellowish. Wood-Duck 49 Distribution. — Breeding throughout temperate North America from Nova Scotia and southern British Columbia, to Cuba, Florida, south Texas and southern California ; wintering in the southern portion of its breeding range. In Colorado the Wood -Duck is distinctly a rare bird, though probably a summer resident when it does occur ; but the nest has not yet been taken in the State. It is occasionally found on the lakes round Denver, and one taken at Littleton on the South Platte May 1st, 1892, is stated by Cooke to be in the collection of Mr. E. J. Oslar ; Hersey reports he took a pair two miles west of Barr Lake in the fall of 1889. It has also been noticed by Aiken in El Paso co. ; by Rowland, Cowie and Werley in Boulder CO. (Henderson) and by W. G. Smith at Loveland (Cooke). Morrison states that it is common near Fort Lewis on the La Plata River, and occurs up to an elevation of 9,500 feet; and though he beUeved it bred, he did not find the nest. Habits. — The Wood- or Summer-Duck — the most briUiantly coloured of all the American species — is found about small lakes, weedy ponds and shady streams? in close proximity to scattered woods, and is only seen on large bodies of water during migration. It is not shy, and often comes to farms and associates with the barn-yard Ducks. Its flight is swift and graceful, and its food consists of insects, seeds and leaves ; it is specially fond of acorns. The nest is placed in a hollow tree, sometimes in the hole of a Woodpecker, sometimes in a natural cavity. It is often quite high up and far from water. The eggs, 6 to 14 in number, are ivory-white and measure 2-0 x 1*50. If the nest is very high up, the parents carry the young birds down to the water in their beaks. Subfamily FULIGULIN^E. The Sea-Ducks have the flattened bill of the River- Ducks, but are distinguished by the hind toe being lobate, i.e. bearing a large membranous lobe ; the legs are rather shorter and placed far back, so that though E 50 Birds of Colorado more awkward on land, they swim and dive with greater facility. The sexes are, as a rule, unlike. Key of thk Genera. a. Tail more than half the wing, the feathers stiS and their bases hardly hidden by the short coverts. Erismatura, p. 64. b. Tail normaL a^ Feathering on the lores or forehead not reaching beyond the posterior border of the nostrils. a* Graduation of the tail less than the length of the bill from the nostril. Marilla, p. 50. b* Graduation of the tail more than the length of the bill from the nostril. a' Anterior edge of the nostril in front of the middle of the culmea. Clangula, p. 56. b* Anterior edge of the nostril behind the middle of the culmen. a* Upper mandible widest behind the nostril, and not elevated or swollen at the base, a* Feathers ending in a straight line across the forehead. Harelda, p. 59. b^ Feathers ending in an acute-pointed triangle on the forehead, a^ Upper mandible constricted to a small nail-like tip. Charitonetta, p. 58. b' Upper mandible rounded at the tip. Histrionicus, p. 60. b* Upper mandible widest at anterior edge of nostril, and elevated or swollen at the base. Oidemia, p. 62. b^ Feathering on the lores or forehead extending forward >> well beyond the posterior border of the nostril. Somateria, p. 61. Genus Marila Bill of ordinary shape without any special swellings or gibbosities, about as long as the head, rLsing high at the forehead ; nail distinct, about one-third the width of the end of the bill and decurved ; tail short and rounded, graduated less than the length of the bill from the nostrils, of 14 to 16 feathers ; tarsus less than two-fifths length of the middle toe and claw ; head not crested ; speculum white or grey. A large cosmopolitan genus with five North American species. Redhead 51 Key of the Species. A. Head and neck brown. a. Bill not longer than the head with a concave culmen. M. americana, p. 51. b. Bill longer than the head ; culmen almost straight, not concave. M. vallisneria, p. 52. B. Head and neck black with a greenish or purplish gloss. a. Speculum white. a^ Larger, wing about 9*0 ; head with a greenish gloss. M. marila, p. 54. b^ Smaller, wing about 8-0 ; head with a purplish glosa. M. affinis, p. 54. b. Speculum grey or silvery ; male with a chestnut collar. M. collaris, p. 55. Redhead. Marila americana. A.O.U. Checklist no 146 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210 ; Morrison 89, p. 165 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 55, 195 ; 06, p. 41 ; Henderson 03, p. 234, 09, p. 226 ; Rockwell 08, p. 158 ; Felger 09, p. 281 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 112. Description. — Male — Head and neck all round rufous-chestnut, on the nape and neck with a coppery -red gloss ; fore-neck, breast, fore- part of the back, rump, upper and under tail-coverts and tail black, becoming white on the middle of the abdomen ; rest of the back, wings and sides of the body silvery, finely undulated with dusky ; longer wing-feathers and speculum silvery, not undulated, iris orange, bill dull blue with the terminal fifth black, feet dull greyish-blue. Length 20-0; wing 9-25; tail 2-75; culmen 1-85; tarsus 1-50. The female is smaller — wing 8-70 — and has the head and neck dull reddish-brown becoming paler on the cheeks and chin, the upper-parts are brownish with the feathers paler-edged ; breast and sides greyish brown, margined with ochraceous, becoming white on the centre of the abdomen. The Redhead closely resembles the Canvas-back ; it can be distin- guished in any plumage by its short bill, less than the middle toe without claw, its concave cvilmen and high forehead, and its nostril well in the basal half of the bill. Distribution.^ — -Breeding along the northern United States and southern border of the Dominion, from Michigan to the Pacific, and in Utah, Nevada and California ; wintering chiefly along the south Atlantic and GuK Coasts and Mississippi Valley south to Mexico City. In Colorado the Redhead is a conamon migrant throughout the State, and one of the earliest to arrive in spring. Felger states that a few e2 52 Birds of Colorado also winter at Barr. It has been seen at Loveland from February 2nd to March 6th ; on the western slope it reaches Grand Junction from February 27th to March 6th, and returns between September 28th and October 22nd, according to Sullivan (Rockwell). It has also been noted from Fort Lyon (Cooke), El Paso eo. (Aiken collection) and Boulder (Henderson), while Warren informs me he saw two in the fall of 1902, on Decker's Lake, near Crested Butte, at about 9,000 feet. This is the only mountain record I have met with. Hersey and Rockwell report that this Duck nests in some numbers at Barr, though it is far more common on migration. A clutch of seven eggs, believed to be this species, was taken by I. C. Hall at Greeley on June 14th, 1903, and were presented by the collector to the Colorado College Museum. Habits. — The Redhead is usually found in considerable flocks on open water, often associating with Canvas- backs and other species ; it is a diving duck and obtains most of its food — aquatic grasses, mollusca, small Crustacea and insects — in this way, though sometimes it dibbles as well in the shallows. It is, as a rule, very good-eating, rivalling to the taste of some the Canvas-back, for which it is often substituted. Its nest is placed on the ground near the water, or some- times among reeds over water like a Coot's. Hall describes the nest he took at Greeley as being placed in a clump of rushes over open water, eight inches deep, and as being made of dry flags and lined with down. The eggs, in this case seven, but often ten in number, are dull white with a greenish tinge and average 2-40 X 1-70. Canvas-back. Marila vallisneria. A.O.U. Checklist no 147 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210; Morrison 89, p. 165 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 55, 195 ; 00, p. 43 ; Felger 02, p. 294 ; 05, p. 421; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 226 ; Rockwell 08, p. 158. Description. — Male — Resembling generally the Redhead but dis- tinguished by the colour of the head and neck which is darker and browner and by the blackish chin and crowTX ; the markings of the back are more silvery ; this colour prevails over the wavy, dusky lines which are much narrower and more broken up ; finally the bill is longer Canvas-back 53 at least equal to the middle toe without claw ; it is straighter, and the forehead does not rise up high behind it, while the nostrils reach the middle of the bill ; iris red, bill blackish throughout, feet greyish-blue. Length 22-0; wing 92-5; tail 27-5; cuknen 2-4; tarsus 1-7. The female resembles the female Redhead, but can be distinguished by the back being barred with fine wavy white lines and by the longer and blackish bill. Distribution. — Breeding from Oregon and Minnesota northwards to Great Slave Lake and Alaska ; in winter eastwards to the Atlantic Coast from Delaware south through the southern and western states and Mexico to the City of Mexico. In Colorado the Canvas-back is somewhat less abundant than the Redhead, but it has been met with on migration over the greater part of the State, especially on the eastern side of the mountains. It arrives from the south early, only a little later than the Redhead. Loveland, February 10th to March 12th, are dates given by Cooke, and it has been noticed in El Paso co. (Aiken), at Orchard, March 26th (Warren), at Fort Lyon (Cooke), and in Boulder co. (Henderson) on the eastern plains ; at Breckenridge (Carter), in the mountains and at Grand Junction, February 20th, by Sullivan (Rockwell). Felger reports that he found it nesting at Barr Lake on June 6th and July 4th, 1900, and this is confirmed by Hersey and Rockwell. Aiken saw a small flock of five on a lake near Limon, May 19th, 1899, which may have contemplated nesting, or were possible late migrants. Cooke behoved that a few birds wintered on the plains of northern Colorado, and Felger confirms this. Habits. — The great reputation of the Canvas-back is due to the fact that in its winter home on Chesapeake Bay it feeds ahnost entirely on the roots and bulbs of the so-called wild celery ( Vallisneria) which grows very abundantly in that estuary ; elsewhere it is no better than any other Duck ; in fact the flavour of all Ducks is entirely dependent on what they have been feeding on. The Canvas-back is generally found in large flocks on considerable sheets of water, and is a strong flyer and a wonderful diver ; when wounded it often escapes in this manner. Owing doubtless to constant persecution, it is exceedingly shy and wary. It resembles the Redhead in its nesting-habits, building very often in shallow water among thick rushes and 54 Birds of Colorado lining its often bulky nest with down. The eggs are said to be rather more greenish in shade than those of the Redhead, and to measure 2' 50 x 1"75. Scaup Duck. Mania marila. A.O.U Checklist ao 148 — Colorado Records — Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 88, p. 140 ; 89, p. 165 ; Cooke 97, pp. 55, 195 ; 06, p. 44; Henderson 03, pp. 107, 110; 09, p. 226; Warren 09, p. 13; Felger 09, p. 281. Description. — Closely resembling M. affinis — the next species — but larger, the head glossed with green instead of purple, and the flanks nearly white with but faint traces of the wavy bars. The female can be distinguished from that of M. affinia by its larger size. Length 19-75; wing 9-0 ; tail 2-80; culmen 2-0 ; tarsus 1-55. Wing of female 8-50. Distribution. — The northern parts of the Old and New Worlds, south in winter ; in America breeding from Minnesota and south-east British Columbia north to Alaska ; in winter chiefly on the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Delaware, in the Mississippi VaUey, and west- wards to southern California. The Scaup is rather a rare duck in Colorado. It has been reported from Boulder co. (Henderson) Barr (Hersey), Longmont (Felger), Breckenridge (Carter), Coventry in April (Warren), and La Plata in fall (Morrison) on migration, while Drew came across it in December in San Juan co., at 9,000 feet, so that perhaps it spends the winter in the southern part of the State. Lesser Scaup Duck. Marila affinis. A.O.U. Checkhst no 149 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 18 ; MorrLson 88 p. 140 ; 89, p. 165 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 56, 195 ; 06, p. 46 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 225. Description. — Male — Head, neck, front half of the breast, and back black ; the sides of the head glossed with purple ; lower-back, rump, upper and under tail-coverts, tail and primaries, dusky brown or blackish ; middle of the back, scapulars, and some of the upper coverts white with narrow wavy bars of dusky ; below white, slightly mottled with dusky on the lower abdomen and sides ; wing with a white patch on the secondaries forming a speculum ; iris yellow, bill dull bluish with nail black, legs slaty. Length 16-5 ; wing 8-0 ; tail 2-25 ; culmen 1 -7 ; tarsus 1 -2. The female is chiefly dark brown with a conspicuous white patch at the base of the bill, a white chin,speculvu]i and abdomen. The male after the breeding season moults to a plvunage like the female but darker. Ring-necked Duck 55 Distribution. — Breeding from Michigan and central British Columbia northwards to Alaska ; wintering south of this to Panama and the West Indies, and specially on the Atlantic from Delaware to Florida. In Colorado the Lesser Scaup seems to be more abundant than the larger form ; it winters at Barr Lake and perhaps elsewhere on the north-eastern plains, while Drew met with it occasionally in winter in San Juan co. It is, however, most abundant and widespread as a transient on migration, arriving fairly early in spring — Loveland March 8 — 19th ; it is also reported from La Plata co. (Morrison), Fort Lyon (Thorne), Salida April 17th (Frey), El Paso co. (Aiken), Longmont October (Henderson), and Breckenridge (Carter). A mounted female in the Aiken collection, taken as late as May 3rd at Falcon, not far from Colorado Springs, was probably a late migrant. Habits. — This Duck, also frequently known as the Black-head or Blue-bill, takes its most usual name from the sand-banks called scaups or scalps, on which it feeds when on the sea coast in winter. In Colorado it is chiefly known as a transient, when it alights on lakes or reservoirs to rest during its northward and southward journeys. It is a great diver and feeds chiefly on mollusca which it procures in this way, though it is also fond of grain and wild rice. Ring-necked Duck. Mania collaris. A.O.U. Checklist no 150— Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210 ; Morrison 89, p. 165 ; Cooke 97, pp. 56 ; 06, p. 48 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 226 ; Warren 09, p. 13 ; 10, p. 79 ; Felger 09, p. 281. Description. — Male — Head and neck all round, except the white chin, black glossed with purple ; a ring of dark chestnut round the lower-neck ; fore-breast and upper-parts black, glossed with greenish and purplish ; below white, finely mottled on the sides and lower abdomen with dusky ; under tail-coverts black ; wings with a silvery speculum ; iris yellow, bill black, u^ith the base and a subterminal band bluish-grey, legs slaty. Length 17-75 ; wing 8-0 ; tail 2-5 ; cuhnen 1 -9 ; tarsus 1 -25. The female has the head and neck umber -brown with whitish cheeks and chin, a white eye-ring and no collar ; rest of the plumage dusky brown, becoming white on the lower-breast and abdomen ; speculum grey as in the male. Distribution. — Breeding from Wisconsin and Manitoba to Athabasca Lake and west of the Rockies from Oregon to British Columbia ; in 56 Birds of Colorado winter south over most of the United States and Mexico to Cuba and Guatemala. This is one of the rarer ducks in Colorado and has only been reported a few times. It ia probably only a migrant. There is an example in the Colorado Museum of Natural History at Denver, taken on a lake near Denver, November 10th, 1898, by B. Hayward. Genus CLANGULA. Bill shorter than the head, about as long as the tarsus, very high at the base, narrowed towards the tip ; nostrils well in front of the middle of the bill ; head pufiy-looking and crested ; tail about half the length of the wing, pointed and 16-feathered ; males with a green head with a white patch ; females plain brown. Two species only. Key of the Species. A. Head glossed with greenish ; cheek spot oval or rounded. C. c. americana, ^ Z o o ■ o Great Blue Heron 83 Distribution. — From Alaska and Labrador south through the West Indies an,d Central America to Venezuela ; a summer resident only, north of the middle states ; south of this, a resident. The Great Blue Heron is found throughout Colorado on migration and breeds in suitable localities, chiefly in the north-eastern part of the State, but also in the mountain parks up to about 8,000 feet. It arrives from the south about the second week of April. Frey saw one at Salida as early as March 30th. It has been observed nesting on the Cache la Poudre Creek near Fort Collins (Cooke), at Windsor (Hall), on Crow Creek, north-west of Greeley (Markman), on the St. Vrain near Lyons, in Boulder co. (Henderson), near Barr (Rockwell & Hersey), in Middle Park by Carter, and in Wet Mountain Valley at about 8,000 feet, by Baker (Cooke). In Mesa co. on the western slope it appears to be common up to 9,000 feet, but has not been found breeding ; while Aiken observed it on one occasion as late as November 27th near Divide in Teller co., at about 9,000 feet. Habits. — This large Heron, often mis-called the " Blue Crane," is chiefly met with along the larger rivers and lakes ; here it can often be seen standing motionles? in the shallows, in a somewhat stilted attitude, watching intently for small fishes or frogs, which it quickly snaps up. The flight though powerful is rather heavy and leisurely, the neck crooked and the head drawn back between the shoulders and the legs stretched out behind. They are solitary birds, except during the breeding season, when they generally nest in commu- nities, called heronries. The nest is usually placed in high trees, but sometimes in bushes or on the ground or among the rocks. In Colorado the higher cotton-woods along the rivers and creeks are usually chosen. A set of four eggs of this Heron was presented to the Colorado College Museum by I. C. Hall. They were taken from a heronry of about 200 nests in high cotton- wood trees near Windsor on the Cache la Poudre River. The nests were thirty feet up, and were made of small twigs put solidly together. The eggs were taken May g2 84 Birds of Colorado 11th, and incubation was somewhat advanced. They are oval in shape, pale greenish-blue in colour and measure 2*60 x 1'80 Heronries are occasionally entirely broken up by a severe hailstorm. Such a disaster occurred to a colony near Lyons in Boulder co., in July 1907 ; the ground under the trees was covered with dead birds. Genus HERODIAS. Closely resembling Ardea, but smaller, wing 16 — 17 ; plmnage white throughout, with a train of decomposed scapulars developed in the breeding season ; no occipital crest. One species only in North America. American Egret. Herodias egretta. A.O.U. Checklist no 196 — Colorado Records— Aiken 00, p. 298 ; Cooke 97, p. 197. Description. — Adult — Plumage entirely white ; a train of long, decom- posed plumes from the scapulars extending ten to twelve inches beyond the tail when fully developed ; no lengthened feathers on the head and neck ; iris and bill yellow, legs black. Length 39-5 ; wing 14-75 ; tail 6-25 ; culmen 4-5 ; tarsus 6-5. The female is slightly smaller — wing 14. After the breeding season the long plumes are lost. Young birds have a black bill and no long plumes. Distribution. — The southern United States and the Pacific slope from Oregon south to Patagonia and the West Indies ; a straggler north as far as Nova Scotia and Manitoba. The only notice of this species in Colorado is that of Aiken, who states : " On May 12th, 1900, Mr. A. Gruber and Mr. F. Cikanck, taxidermists in my employ, reported seeing a single bird in a tall cotton - wood tree five miles south of Colorado Springs. As they are familiar with this species as well as with the more common Snowy Heron, there appears no reason to doubt their identification." Hersey informs me he has one in his collection, taken at Barr in June, 1905. Genus EGRETTA. ResembUng Herodias, but smaller, wing 9-5 — 11-5 ; plumage white with an occipital crest, and the dorsal train of decomposed feathers slightly recurved at the tips. Only one North American species. Snowy Egret 85 Snowy Egret. Egretta candidissima . A.O.U. Checklist no 197 — Colorado Records — Hersey 76, p. 430 ; Morrison 89, p. 166 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 65 ; Cooke 94, p. 183 ; 97, pp. 61, 157, 198 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 13 ; Cary 09, p. 180 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 114. Description. — Phimage white throughout, with decomposed plumes on the occiput, lower-neck and scapulars, the latter recurved when perfect ; iris bare, space on face and toes yellow, bill, legs and claws black. Length 24 -0 ; wing 11-0; tail 4 -0 ; culmen 3 '5 ; tarsus 4 -0. The adults after the breeding season lack the decomposed plumes. Distribution.— From Long Island and Oregon south tlirough the West Indies and Central America to the Argentine ; breeding throughout its range, but only a simimer resident in the middle states. In Colorado the Snowy Egret is a somewhat scarce sumnjer bird. It was first noticed by J. C. Hersey, who reported the capture of a sohtary specimen in a small lake thirty miles north-west of Denver, May 4th, 1876. It is less uncommon than usually supposed, but has not yet been found breeding. L. T. Hersey and Rockwell noticed it at Barr or several occasions in April, May and June, but failed to find the nest. It is chiefly met with along the eastern base of the mountains, but has been taken as high as Twin Lakes and Lead- ville, and was also on the western slopes at Glenwood (Carter). Other recorded locaHties are, near Denver (H. G. Smith), Loveland, Fort Collins and Pueblo (Cooke), Colorado Springs (Aiken), SaUda, spring and fall (Frey), Ivremmling and Coventry (Warren), while there is an example in the Aiken collection taken at Howbert in South Park, May 1st, 1904, at about 8,600 feet. Cary notes it from White River P.O. and La Veta. Habits. — In the south, where they were formerly found in great numbers, the Snowy Egrets were social birds, roosting and breeding in large assemblies, generally in bushes over the water, and scattering during the day to obtain their food — small fishes, frogs or aquatic insects. In Colorado, however, they are never very abundant, and only an occasional wanderer is to be found in the neighbourhood of lakes and rivers. This and the Snowy Egret are the birds which have suffered chiefly at the hands of the plume-hunters, owing to the demand for " aigrettes," which are made 86 Birds of Colorado up from the decomposed plumes developed only in the breeding season. Both birds were formerly to be found in millions in Florida and along the Gulf coast ; now, except in a few specially protected United States bird- reservations, the care of which has been assumed by the National Audubon Society, they are practically ex- terminated. Genus DICHROMANASSA. Egrets of medium size, wing 12 — 14, with very short toes, the middle one barely half the length of the tarsus ; feathers of the head and neck sHghtly elongated and a dorsal train in breeding season : plumage dichromatic with two distinct colour phases independent of age, sex or season. One North American species. Reddish Egret. Dichromanassa rufescens. A.O.U. Checklist no 198— Colorado Records— Cooke 97, pp. 61, 157. Description. — Adult, dark phase — Head and neck rufous-chestnut glossed with vinaceous ; rest of the plmnage dark slaty ; decomposed plumes from the interscapular region reaching beyond the tail ; iris white, bill flesh-coloured, terminal two-thirds black ; legs blue-black. Length 31 ; wing 13-5 ; tail 4-5 ; culmen 4-0 ; tarsus 6-0. In the white phase the plumage is white throughout with a slight speckling of grey on the primaries. Young birds of either phase are similar, but without the decomposed plumes. Distribution. — -Florida, the Gulf states, and Lower California south to Guatemala and the West Indies ; a casual wanderer north to Illinois and Colorado. There is a single example — a young bird of the dark phase — in the Aiken collection, taken in 1875 near Colorado Springs. Another is said by Cooke to have been shot by E. L. Berthoud near Golden in about 1890. These are the only known occurrences in the State. Genus BUTORIDES. Small Herons with wings under 8-0 ; bill moderate, longer than the tartiLS ; tail with twelve feathers ; an occipital crest of lengthened, lanceolate, but not decomposed, feathers ; upper-parts glossy green. A wide-spread genus, found all over the New World, and most of the Old except Europe and Northern Asia. Only one species in North America. Green Heron 87 Green Heron. Butorides virescens. A.O.U. Checklist no 201 — Colorado record— Cooke 09, p. 314. Description. — Crown with a long, soft crest, and lengthened, narrow feathers of the back lustrous green ; wing-quills and tail dusky- greenish with a narrow white edge to the wing ; coverts green with tawny edgings ; neck rich purplish-chestnut with the throat-line variegated dusky and white ; below mostly brownish-ash with white on the belly ; iris and eyelids bright yellow, bill greenish-black, feet dull yellowish-green. Length 12 ; wing 7-0 ; tail 2-5 ; culmen 2.45 ; tarsus 2-05. Distribution. Temperate North America, from Oregon and Ontario south thorough the West Indies and Central America as far as Brazil. Though not uncommon in Kansas, this little Heron has only recently been met with in Colorado. Edward A. Preble of the Biological Siu-vey took one at Loveland, July 23rd, 1895. It has probably been overlooked and should not be really rare. Genus NYCTICORAX. Birds of medium size, wing 12 — 13, with a short neck, stout and somewhat compressed bill ; the culmen, tarsus and middle toe with claw, all being approximately equal ; tail short, of twelve feathers ; tibio-tarsus feathered except for about half an inch ; no elongated or decomposed pkunes except those on the occiput. A cosmopohtan genus with eight or nine species ; only one in North America. Black-crowned Night Heron. Nycticorax nycticorax ncevius. A.O.U. Checklist no 202— Colorado Records— H. G. Smith 87, p. 285 ; 96, p. 65 ; 08, p. 185 ; Morrison 89, p. 166 ; Cooke 94, p. 183 ; 97, pp. 19, 61, 198 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227 ; Markman, 07, p. 155 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159, 10, p. 113. Description. — Adult — Crown and nape, centre of back and scapulars glossy greenish-black ; rest of the upper-parts pale lavender-grey ; below, including the forehead, sides of the face and neck, white ; two or three long filimentous plumes, generally white, froru the occiput ; iris red, bill black, legs yellow. Length 26-0 ; wing 12-5 ; tail 4-75 ; culmen 3-15 ; tarsus 3-20. The female is smaller — wing ll-S ; after the breeding season the occipital plumes are lost. The young birds are greyish-brown with paler edges to some of the feathers, and spotted conspicuously with white ; the crown darker, the under-parts paler, streaked with dusky and bu2y. 88 Birds of Colorado Distribution. — From New Brunswick and Manitoba south through the West Indies and Central America to Brazil and Peru ; breeding through- out its range ; a resident from the southern states southwards. In Colorado the Night Heron is a migrant and a summer resident, and is not uncommon ; it is chiefly met with in the north-east part of the State, along the Platte and its affluents, but also goes up into the mountain parks. It was found breeding at San Luis Lakes by Aiken many years ago, and has been taken in Middle and South Parks by Carter. It is rarer on the western slope where it was seen near Grand Junction, August 22nd, 1904, by Sullivan (Rockwell), while Gilmore met with it at Sweetwater Lake. It reaches Colorado towards the end of April. Smith reports an example taken at Fort Lupton between December 20th and 24th, 1902. It is possible, therefore, that some birds may winter. Additional records are : Fort Collins, breeding (Cooke), Boulder co. (Henderson), Barr Lake (Smith 08, and Hersey & Rockwell) Colorado Springs and Limon (Aiken). Habits. — The Night Heron is a somewhat social bird especially ia the breeding season, when they nest together in large heronries in marshes — sometimes in trees, some- times in bushes, or even on the ground. They are rather silent birds except for a guttural " Qua," whence they get the common name of " Qua-bird." Their food consists of small fishes, frogs and other aquatic animals, and is obtained by wading slowly and with considerable dignity through the shallows, and except when the young require constant attention, is chiefly sought at dusk. The eggs, generally four, are of the usual greenish- blue colour and average 2*0 x 1*50. Rockwell (10) has recently published an interesting series of photographs and notes on the breeding of this bird in the Barr swamps. Genus NYCTANASSA. Resembling Nycticorax in shape, but with a much longer tarsus, easily exceeding the culmen and the middle toe and claw, which are approximately equal ; a dorsal train of partly decomjjosea feathers. Only one species is assigned to this genus. o H < Yellow-crowned Night Heron 89 Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Nyctanassa violacea. A.O.U. Checklist no 203— Colorado Records — Ridgway 79, p. 233 ; Cooke 97, p. 62 ; Warren 09, p. 33. Description. — Adult — Crown and a stripe behind the eye white, tinged with tawny ; rest of the head all round black ; general colour above and below greyish-blue, the feathers of the wings and scapulars with darker centres and paler edges ; an occipital crest of 2 to 3 narrow filamentous plumes, and the scapulars elongated, lanceolate and partly decomposed ; iris yellow, bill and legs black. Length 24 ; wing 12-25 ; tail 4-75 ; culmen 2-9 ; tarsus 3-8. The female is slightly smaller, wing 11-0 ; a young bird is greyish- brown streaked and spotted with bufTy, below streaked brown and white, crown black, streaked with white or buffy. Distribution. — From South Carolina, southern Illinois and Lower CaUforhia south through the West Indies and Central America to Brazil ; casually further north. In Colorado the Night Heron is a very rare straggler ; there was an adult male in Mrs. Maxwell's collection known to have been kiUed in Colorado, and this constituted the only record until recently, when J. W. Frey obtained a single female out of a bunch of five on the Arkansas River just above Salida, May 1st, 1908. This specimen, reported by Warren, was presented by him to the Colorado College Museum. ORDER PALUDICOL^. This order contains the Cranes and Rails of our fauna, together with several other families which do not here concern us. It is such a varied assortment that it is quite incapable of definition by anatomical characters — still less so by external characters, and a reference must be made to the diagnoses of the two families. Key of the Families and Genera. A. Larger birds ; wing over 15 ; toes short and webbed at the base ; hind toe set well above the others (Gruidce). Grus, p. 90. B. Smaller birds ; wing imder 10 ; toe.=; long, slender, not webbed, but sometimes lobed (Rallidce). a. Toes simple, no lateral marginal lobes. a^ Bill longer ; culmen exceeding middle toe and claw. Rallus, p. 93. 90 Birds of Colorado b^ Bill shorter ; culmen less than the middle toe and claw. a* No frontal shield. a' Larger ; wing over 4 ; nostrils about the middle of the bill. Porzana, p. 95. b' Smaller ; wing under 3 ; nostrils nearer the base of the bUl. Creciscus, p. 96. b^ A frontal shield on the front part of the head. Gallinula, p. 97. b. Toes with a series of lateral marginal lobes ; a frontal shield present. Fulica, p, 97. Family GRUID^E. The Cranes are large birds with long legs and necks ; the bill is long and generally exceeds the length of the head ; part of the face is generally naked and often wattled or papillose ; there are twelve tail-feathers and eleven primaries, and the trachea or windpipe is generally convoluted and packed away in a hollow space formed between the walls of the keel of the sternum ; the legs are long, the tarsi scutellate in front, the toes short and webbed at the base ; the hallux very short and elevated above the other toes. The Cranes are externally not unlike the Storks, with which they were formerly often associated, but they differ very essentially in internal structure. Externally they may be distinguished by the grooving of the bill, in which are situated the nostrils, and by the elevation of the hallux above the toes. Genus GRUS. The characters of the family, to which may be added — plumage white or grey in the adult, rusty in the young ; head more or less bare of feathers and not crested. All the three North American species have been taken in Colorado. Key of the Species. A. Pltunage white, primaries black. G. americana, p. 91. B. Plumage slaty -grey. a. Larger ; wing 21 — 22. G. mexicana, p. 92. b. Smaller; wing 18 — 19. G. canadensis, p. 91. Whooping Crane 91 Whooping Crane. Grus americana. A.O.U. Checklist no 20-1— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 209 ; Morrison 89, p. ICG ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 62 ; Felger 09, p. 286. Description. — Adult — Plumage pure white, except the primaries, their coverts, and the alula, which are black ; iris yeUow ; bill dusky- greenish ; bare skin of head which runs back to a point on the occiput, and also on to the cheeks below the eyes, carmine ; legs black. Length about 50 ; wing 24 ; tail 9-0 cuhnen 6 ; tarsus 12. A young bird has the head feathered and the plumage varied with rusty-brown. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly from Iowa to Saskatchewan ; migrat- ing south along the Mississippi Valley to Central Mexico. In Colorado the Whooping Crane was formerly, perhaps, more common. Aiken, thirty- five years ago, noted it as " occasional on migration," but it now seems to be very rare, and I only find two definite records of its occurrence. W. G. Smith observed it at Loveland, April 8th to 16th. There is a moulted specimen in the Museum at Fort Collins, but it is not definitely stated by Cooke where it was obtained. Little Brown Crane. Gi-us canadensis. A.O.U. CheckHst no 205— Colorado Records— Thorne 87, p. 264; Cooke 94, p. 183 ; 97, pp. 62, 198. Description. — Resembling in every respect the SandhiU Crane (G. mexicana) but considerably smaller. Length 36 ; wing 19-5 ; tail 7-75 ; cuhnen 4-40 ; tarsus 8-5. Distribution. — Breeding far north, from Alaska to Hudson Bay, migrating south through Colorado to Texas and Mexico. Most of the Colorado references to this species reaUy belong to the SandhiU, as the two birds have often been confused. The Little Brown Crane, however, passes through Colorado on migration. It was taken by Captain Thorne at Fort Lyon ; there is a mounted example in the Museiun at Fort Collins and also one in the collection of Mr. A. T. Allen, taken near Denver (Cooke), while Aiken tells me he had two brought to him, March 27th and 28th, 1900, which had been killed close to Colorado Springs. In the State Historical Society's collection at Denver there is a male, killed at Hooper, Costilla co., March 27th, 1906, by J. L. Wolfe, and a female from Magnolia, Arapahoe co., about fifteen miles east of Denver, taken by H. Todenwarth. The stomach of the former example contained " about half-a-pint of wheat." C. S. Thompson informs me of the capture of an example at Edwards, Eagle CO., April 1st, 1903. This is apparently the first record for the western slope. 92 Birds of Colorado Sandhill Crane. Grus mexicana. A.O.U. Checklist no 206— Colorado Records— Baird 54, p. 14 (G. canadensis) ; Aiken 72, p. 109 ; Henshaw 75, p, 467 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 18 ; Nash 83, p. 225 ; Beckham 85, p. 144 ; Morrison 88, p. 140 ; 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 62, 198 ; Warren, 04, p. 39 ; 09, p. 13 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159. Description. — Adult — General colour above and below slaty-grey, more or less washed with rusty ; chin, cheeks and throat rather paler, primaries more dusky ; iris crimson, bill blackish, the bare skin of the head, which runs back to form a more or less straight line transversely on the occiput, and hardly extends on to both cheeks, reddish; legs blackLh. Length about 48 ; wing 21 ; tail 10-0 ; culmen 5-25 ; tarsus 9-0. Young birds have the head feathered and a much stronger rusty wash, which however is not lost till after maturity. Distribution.— Southern Canada south to Florida and Central Mexico, not in the eastern states north of Georgia ; wintering along the Gulf and in Mexico ; breeding locally elsewhere. The Sandhill Crane is not a very rare bird in Colorado ; it breeds chiefly in the mountain parks from 7,000 to 9,500 feet, and migrates south in winter. It is stated by Cooke to winter in the Rio Grande Valley, whence it was first taken in the State by Capt. Gunnison in 1853 (Baird) ; but the bulk at any rate of these birds spend a month or so there only, in autvunn and spring, on their way further south and north. It has been observed breeding in the Animas Parks at 7,000 feet by Drew, in Middle Park by Carter, in Routt co. by Cooke, and in Mesa co. by Rockwell, while Warren found it nesting in the north-west corner of Gunnison co., at about 8,000 feet. This is a bird which is soon driven away by closer settlement, and it was no doubt formerly much more abundant. Other records are, Barr Lake (Hersey & Rockwell), Pueblo (Nash), La Plata co. (Morrison), and Wet Mountain Valley (Baker apud Cooke). Habits. — The Sandliill, like other Cranes, prefers an open, treeless country where it can see the approach of enemies from afar. If alarmed it springs up into the air and flies heavily away, giving out its powerful and sonorous cry, which is also often heard when the birds are migrating, far overhead. Cranes are also very remarkable for their dances and antics during the breeding season ; they bow low and Virginia Rail 93 leap, droop their wings, and skip and work themselves into a great state at this time. Warren (04) found a nest on an island in a small lake in north-western Gunnison co., at an elevation of 8,000 feet, on June 5th, 1903 ; the nest was placed on a tussock of grass, and was merely a flat platform about two feet across, chiefly composed of swamp-grass ; on this platform lay two large eggs. These are light greenish- brown in colour, blotched all over with reddish-brown, rather more thickly towards the larger end of the egg, though in shape they are almost elliptical. They average 3-98 X 2-44. Family RALLIDiE. The Rails and Coots, which constitute this family, are marsh or water birds of retiring habits, running through and skulking in grass and reeds. The face is always feathered, the tail is generally very short, and contains ten to fourteen rectrices ; the legs are rather short and the lower portion of the tibia is always bare of feathers ; all the toes are long and slender, and the hind toe is jointed at a higher level than the others. Genus RALLUS. Bill long and slender, the culmen longer than the middle toe and claw ; no frontal shield ; nostrils in a long groove near the base of the bill ; tail short, less than half the length of the wing ; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw, A cosmopoHtan genus, containing the Water Rails ; some eight species and subspecies are recognized in North America. Virginia Rail. Rallus virginianus. A.O.U. Checkhst no 212— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 210; Henshaw 75, p. 468 ; Beckham 85, p. 144 ; 87, p. 124 ; Morrison 89, p. 166 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 63, 158, 198 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227. Description. — Above dusky brown, the feathers of the back edged with olive-brown ; sides of the face ashy-grey, darker round the eye ; 94 Birds of Colorado chin white, becoming pale rufous on the breast ; thighs, abdomen and under tail-coverts ashy-black, barred with white ; wing-coverts chestnut, forming a patch ; iris red, bill dusky, paler on the lower mandible, feet yellowish -brown. Length 9-0; wing 4-25; tail 1-6; cuknen 1 '55 ; tarsus 1 -5. The female is slightly smaller — wing 3-90 ; young birds have the plumage much mottled with black, but the chestnut wing-patch is always present. Distribution. — Breeding throughout temperate North America from Labrador and Vancouver Island, south throughout the United States ; wintering in the southern United States and south to Guatemala and Cuba. In Colorado the Virginia Rail, though seldom seen, appears to be a fairly common stunmer resident in the eastern plains, extending up into the parks to about 8,000 feet. I have not heard of it on the western slopes, though, as it is found in Utah, it probably occurs. It arrives from the south about the second week in April — Loveland, April 9th (H. G. Smith) — and breeds where suitable conditions exist. Apparently a few birds occasionally winter in the State, as an example was brought to Aiken, February 16th, 1899, which was taken at a spring a few miles from Colorado Springs, and this was at the end of one of the coldest spells known for many years. Mr. J. C. Hersey informs me that a few spend the winter at Barr Lake every year, where it also nests quite, commonly. Breeding records are : Loveland and Fort CoUins (Cooke) Boulder cc, plains (Gale), Fountain and San Luis Lakes (Aiken) ; other records are — Pueblo, May 20th and November 3rd (Beckliam), Wet Mountain Valley (Cooke). Habits. — Like all Rails this species is a timid, skulking bird, hiding in the thick reed-beds of swamps and marshes both fresh and salt, and more often heard than seen. It has a kind of grunting note, heard most frequently in the evening or at night when it is more active than in the middle of the day. The Virginia Rail walks with a very deliberate step, with its short tail cocked up, and presents rather a ludicrous appearance. The nest is placed on the ground, usually in wet, boggy places, and is composed of rushes and swamp-grasses woven together ; it is sometimes fixed on a dry tussock, and is generally carefully concealed. A clutch of twelve eggs, taken by I. C. Hall near Greeley, June 1st, 1903, Sora Rail 95 and presented by him to the Colorado College Museum, were slightly incubated. They are pale creamy-white with scattered spots and specks of reddish-browTi. and a very pale lilac, and average r25 x '90. Gale's nest only contained seven eggs — it was taken May 27th, and the eggs were badly incubated. Genus PORZANA. Bill short and compressed, the culmen less than the middle toe and claw, nostrils linear oval, about the middle of the bill ; tail very short as in Rallus ; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw ; toes not webbed. An almost cosmopolitan genus, but as now restricted, with only one North American species. Sora. Porzana Carolina. A.O.U. Checklist no 214 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 187 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 63, 199 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 227 ; Warren 08, p. 20 ; Felger 09, p. 86 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 114. Description. — Male — General colour above olive-brown, most of the feathers with black centres and very characteristic, dead-white edges to others ; crown, face in front of eye, chin, and a narrow throat-jDatch black ; rest of the head and breast ashy-grey ; lower-breast white, tinged with rufous towards the under tail-coverts ; sides and under wing-coverts barred black and white ; iris brown, bill greenish, rather orange at the base in the breeding season, legs greenish. Length 0-75 ; wing 4-25 ; tail 1'5 ; culmen -85 ; tarsus 1-25. The female is slightly smaller — wing 4-0 ; a young bird has no black or ashy on the face or neck ; the chin is white and the throat and breast washed with rufous. Distribution. — Breeding from Newfoundland and British Columbia south over most of the United States ; wintering from South Carolina and the Gulf States to the West Indies and northern Sovith America. The Sora is quite a common siunmer resident in Colorado in suitable localities, breeding from the plains up to about 9,000 feet in the valley of the Blue River (Carter), but chiefly in north-east Colorado. It has been reported from Boulder co. (Henderson), Barr, where is nests plentifully (Hersey & Rockwell), Lay, in Rout co., probably breeding (Warren), Colorado Springs (Aiken) and Salida (Colo. Coll. Mus.), and is probably common elsewhere. Felger found, on September 2nd, 1903, 96 Birds of Colorado a dead bird of this species near the torrainal moraine of the Arapahoe glacier in Boulder co., at an elevation of about 12,500 feet. This was probably an accidental occurrence. Habits. — This little Rail is very abundant in the swamps of the Atlantic states, where large numbers are killed by gunners for the restaurants, and it is known as the " Ortolan." In their habits they are not very different from the Virginia Rail, though more often found in meadow-lands and on cultivated ground. A set of seven eggs taken at Greeley on June 1st, 1903, by I. C. Hall and presented by him to the Colorado College Museum, are quite distinct from those of the Virginia Rail. They are drab with a few large blotches and round spots of purplish and reddish-brown ; in shape they are rather more pointed and they average 1*25 X '91. Gale notes that fresh eggs are found about May 15th, at 5,500 feet, and about July 5th, at 10,000 feet. A nest with fourteen eggs, collected by Bragg north-east of Boulder, Juno 7th, 1904, is in the University of Colorado Museum. Genus CRECISCUS. Hardly differing from Porzatia, except that the bill is more slender and acute, and that the nostrils are nearer the base of the bill than the tip. Two closely allied species are recognized in the last supplement of the A.O.U. Checklist, from eastern and western North America respectively. Black Rail. Creciscus jamaicen&is. A.O.U. Checklist no 216— Colorado Record— Cooke 97, p. 158. Description. — Adult — Above blackish, nape and shoulders dark reddish-brown, back and wings spotted with white ; below slaty-grey, darker and cross-barred with white on the abdomen and under wing- coverts ; iris red, bill black, feet greenish. Length 5 ; wing 2-95 ; tail 1 -35 ; culmen -53 ; tarsus -89. Young birds are paler below, especially on the throat, and the crown is brownish rather than blackish. Florida Gallinule 97 Distribution. — The eastern United States from Massachusetts and Kansas southwards to Jamaica and Cuba, but always a rare bird. The claim of the Black Rail to be included in the Colorado list rests on the statement of Mr. David Bruce of Brockport, N.Y., that he once shot a specimen in May at a pond near Denver. Like all Rails, it is a skulking bird, and is probably not nearly so rare as is generally supposed. It is known to breed in Kansas. Genus GALLINULA. Bill short, stout and rather compressed, running dii'ectly back into a frontal shield on the fore-part of the head ; nostrils elongated ovals near the middle of the bill ; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw ; toes with a narrow lateral membrane, but not webbed or lobed. A widely distributed genus in the Old and New Worlds, with one North American species ; occurring but seldom in Colorado. Florida Gallinule. Gallinula galeata. A.O.U. Checklist no 219 — Colorado Records — Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 63, 158. Description. — Head, neck and under-parts greyish-black ; darkest on the head, whitening on the abdomen ; back brownish-olive ; wings and tail dusky ; outer web of outer primary, a few stripes on the flanks and under tail-coverts, white ; iris red or brown, bill and frontal shield red, the former tipped with yellow ; legs greenish with a red ring round the tibia. Length 14-0 ; wing 6-8 ; tail 3-0; tarsus 2-2 ; cuknen MO, with frontal shield 1-75. The young have no red on the bill or legs, the frontal shield is undeveloped, and the under-parts are more extensively white. Distribution. — From Ontario, Minnesota and California south through the West Indies and Central America to the Argentine. The Florida Gallinule is hardly known in Colorado ; it can only be considered a rare straggler. Allen and Brewster saw one in the flesh in Colorado Springs on May 9th, and E. L. Berthoud informed Cooke he had seen one on Lathrop Lake, near Golden, in 1883. Genus FULICA. Resembling Gallinula generally as regards bill, frontal shield and wing, but the toes long and provided with a scalloped lateral membranous lobe on either side, corresponding to the individual phalanges. A cosmopolitan genus with one North American species. H 98 Birds of Colorado American Coot. Fulica americana. A.O.U Checklist no 221 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 187 ; Henshaw 75, p. 469 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 63, 199 ; Keyser 02, p. 145 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 234, 09, p. 227 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 13 ; Marknaan 07, p. 155 ; Richards 08, p. 38 ; Rockwell 08, p. 158 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 114. Description. — Advdt — Dark ashy-grey above, paler below, darkening on the head and neck to blackish ; edge of the alula, outer edge of the outer web of the outer primary, tips of the secondaries and outer under- tail-coverts white ; central under tail-coverts black ; iris carmine, bill white or fleshy with a spot of reddish-black near the tip and at the base of the frontal shield, legs yeUowish-green. Length 14-0 ; wing 7-6 ; tail 1-75 ; culmen with frontal shield 1-70 ; tarsus 2-0. In winter the aljdomen is whitish owing to white tips to the feathers ; young birds are duUer and paler ; they have the bill dingy and no frontal shield. Distribution. — From New Brunswick and British Columbia south- wards through the West Indies and Central America to northern South America. The American Coot or Mud-hen, as it is more familiarly termed, is a common summer resident in Colorado, breeding plentifully chiefly in the north-eastern plains region and in the mountain parks, but also at very considerable elevations, up to 10,000 feet at least. There is a nestling in the Aiken collection obtained by Aiken at California Gulch near Leadville, between 10,000 and 11,000 feet. It does not seem to be so abundant on the western slopes, where it is noted as not common both near Coventry (Warren) and in Mesa co. (Rockwell). It arrives from the south about the second haK of March. I am told by Hersoy that a certain number spend the winter at Barr Lake, while this is confirmed by Richards, who saw a Mud-hen at Littleton on Christmas Day, 1907. Other breeding records are Loveland (Gale), Greeley (Hall), Middle and South Parka (Carter), Buena Vista (Keyser), and San Luis Lake (Henshaw). Habits. — Coots somewhat resemble Gallinules ia their habits, but they are more social in their ways, and fonder of open water. They like to swim about in small com- panies, nodding their heads in a characteristic fashion as they go, and are easily identified by their shiny-whity beaks. They rise from the water with considerable American Coot 99 difficulty, but when fairly in the air fly quite steadily and strongly, though they always prefer to avoid danger by hiding in the reeds. They are not very good divers. The American Coot nests in colonies among growing reeds in shallow or sometimes in deeper water. The nests which are only a few feet apart, are massive structures of interlaced weeds and rushes, generally floating and anchored among the growing reeds, and high enough out of the water to keep the eggs dry. The eggs, from eight to twelve in number, are pale drab fairly uniformly spotted and dotted with dark bro"wai. A clutch of eight taken by I. C. Hall, May 26th, 1902, near Greeley, and presented to the Colorado College Museum, are rather rough and pointed, and measure 1*95 X 1*3. Gale found fresh eggs between June 5th and 20th about Loveland, while Henshaw states that by June 22nd they had hardly finished laying at San Luis Lakes. ORDER LEMICOL^. The birds included in this order are chiefly shore and marsh haunting forms, such as Snipes, Sandpipers, Plovers and their allies. The members of the order are characterized by a bill which is usually slender, and has a groove on each side with the nostril-opening near its base ; the wings are generally long and there are always eleven primaries ; the legs, too, are generally long and have the lower part of the tibio-tarsus naked ; the toes are usually short and are three or four in number ; the hind toe, if present, is jointed well up above the others ; the anterior toes are fully webbed or not webbed, but most frequently partially webbed. The young birds when hatched, are clothed with down, and able to run about almost at once. H 2 100 Birds of Colorado Key of the Families and Geneea. A. Toes with a marginal web like a Coot {Phaleropodidce). a. Marginal web scalloped at each joint. Lobipes, p. 101. b. Marginal web even and continuous, not scalloped. Steganopus, p. 102. B. Toes without a marginal web. a. Tarsus with reticulate scales before and behind. a^ Bill long, far longer than the head ; without a dertnun {RecurvirosiridcE). a^ Bill flattened and up-curved. Recurvirostra, p. 104. b* Bill acute, slender and straight. Himantopus, p. 106. b^ Bill as long as, or less than, the head, ending in a hard convex swelling — the dertrum {Glmradriidce). a^ A small hind-too present. Squatarola, p. 130. b^ No hind toe. a' Upper-parts spotted, below black in summer. Charadrius, p. 131. b' Above plain coloured, below white. a* With black bands or patches on the fore-neck, a^ Tail less than half the wing, nearly even. iEgialitis, p. 134. b^ Tail at least half the wing, strongly graduated. Oxyechus, p. 132. b* Without black bands or patches. Podosacys, p. 135. b. Tarsus with transverse scutes in front and behind (Scolopacidcs). a^ Hind toe present. a- Ear-opening below the eye. a' Three outer primaries attenuated. Philohela, p. 107. b^ Three outer primaries normal. a* Sixteen tail-feathers, plumage streaky. Gallinago, p. 109. b* Tweh'e tail-feathers, plumage mottled. Macrorhamphus, p. 111. b^ Ear-opening behind the eye in the normal position. a^ Toes cleft to the base, without webs, a* Bill about equal to the tarsus. Pisobia, p. 113. b^ Bill distinctly longer than the tarsus. Pelidna, p. 116. b' Toes always webbed to a greater or less extent, a* Cuhnon distinctly shorter than the tarsus, a* Tail long, about half the wing, graduated. Bartramia, p. 125. b^ Tail short, loss than half the wing, even. Totanus, p. 120. American Coot 101 b* Culmen approximately equal to the tarsus. a^ Tail unbarred. a^ Larger ; wing over 5-0, bill longer than the head. Micropalama, p. 112. b^ Smaller ; wing under 4-0, bill hardly as long as the head. Ereunetes, p. 117. b* Tail barred with dusky and white — on the outer feathers, at any rate. a'' Larger ; wing over 7. a' A white patch on the wing and at the base of the tail. Catoptrophorus, p. 123. b^ No white patches on wing and tail. Limosa, p. 119. b* Smaller ; wing under 6. zP Axillaries and under wing-coverts banded white and dusky ; lower breast plain white. Helodromas, p. 122. b^ Axillaries and under wing-eoverts plain white, abdomen spotted. Actitis, p. 126. b^ Three toes only, without webs. Calidris, p. 118. c. Tarsus with transverse scutes in front and reticulated at the sides and behind. a^. Bill long and slender and down-curved. Numenius, p. 128. b^. Bill short, conical and straight (Aphrizidce). Arenaria, p. 136. Family PHALEROPODIDiE. The Phalaropes are a small family of birds, resembling the Sandpipers in general form and structure, except that their anterior toes are bordered by a well-developed marginal web, sometimes cut into lobes, as in the Coots and Grebes. The females are larger and more brightly coloured than the males and, as is generally the case under these circumstances, the latter perform the duties of incubation. Genus LOBIPES. Bill long and slender, though shorter than in Steganopus, tapering, acute and pointed, the culmen shghtly exceeding or equal to the tarsus and middle toe and claw ; tail short and rounded ; legs comparatively short, and only a short portion of the tibio-tarsus bare ; toes margined with a membrane scalloped at each joint ; the middle and inner toe united basally to the second joint, the middle and outer to the first joint. 102 Birds of Colorado Northern Phalarope. Lobipes Idbatus. A.O.U. Checklist no 223— Colorado Records — Drew 81, p. 249 ; Morrison 88, p. 140 ; 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 63, 199 ; Warren 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 13 ; Henderson 09, p. 227 ; Felgor 09, p. 287. Description. — Female in summer — Above dark slaty, becoming dusky on the wings and tail ; back and scapulars with a few streaks of tawny ; a white wing-bar ; a large rusty patch on either side of the neck nearly meeting below ; under-parts chiefly white ; the sides of the breast and flanks marked with dusky ; iris dark brown, bill and feet black. Length 7-5 ; wing 4-25 ; tail 2-0 ; culmen, -85 ; tarsus -75. The male is smaller and duller. In winter there is no rusty or tawny ; the upper-parts are grey or ashy, variegated with white edges ; below throughout, including the forehead and a stripe above the eye, white ; a dusky stripe below the eye to the ear-coverts. Young birds are dusky above and often show buffy edges to the scapulars. Distribution. — Circumpolar, breeding far north in both hemispheres, wintering in north Africa and south Asia in the Old World. In America breeding from Alaska to Hudson Bay and Greenland, south in winter as far as Guatemala. In Colorado this species is only known as a migrant, passing through the State in May and returning in October. It crosses the mountains as well as the plains, and has been reported from Howardsville, 9,500 feet. May 22nd (Drew), Middle Park, May 26th, and Breckenridge (Carter), Coventry and near Steamboat Springs, June 1st (Warren), in the mountainous half of the State ; in the plains from Colorado Springs, May 14th and 29th (Aiken coll.), Loveland, May 1st to 9th (Cooke), Barr Lake, May, September (Felger) and Boulder co. (Henderson). Habits. — The Phalaropes are all more abundant along the coast than inland. They swim lightly and easily, picking among the floating debris for their food. The male undertakes the chief duties of incubation, and as is generally the case, this habit is correlated with smaller size and duller markings. ■ Genus STEGANOPUS. Bill long and slender, sUghtly flattened and depressed, the culmen about equal to the tarsus, both clearly exceeding the middle toe and claw ; tail short and doubly emarginate ; toes with an even, unscalloped marginal web, united basally only, not beyond the first joint in the case of the middle and inner ones. Wilson's Phalarope 103 Wilson's Phalarope. Steganopus tricolor. A.O.U. Checklist no 224 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 187 ; Morrison. 89, p. 167 ; Cook© 97, pp. 19, 63, 199 ; Henderson 08, p. 107 ; 09, p. 227 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Warren 09, p. 14 ; 10, p. 29 ; Hersey & RockweU 09, p. 114. Description. — Female in summer — Crown ashy -grey, becoming white on a narrow stripe along the neck ; a black band from the eye along the sides of the neck, becoming chestnut posteriorly and continued as scattered patches on to the scapulars ; rest of the upper-parts slaty- grey, dusky brown on the wings ; upper tail-coverts white ; below white, the lower part of the neck and sides of the chest washed with rufous ; iris dark brown, bill and legs black. Length 9-5 ; wing 5-1 ; tail 2-0; ciihnen 1*3 ; tarsus 1-2. The male is rather smaller — wing 4-8 — and less brightly marked. In winter there is no black or rusty ; the vipper -parts are piu-e ashy-grey edged with whitish ; below, the upper tail-coverts, Hne over the eye and forehead, whit 3 ; breast and sides washed with dusky. Young birds are dusky brown above, the f-^athers edged with bufiy-rufous ; below white, the breast and lower-neck washed with rufous. Distribution. — Breeding from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, south to Utah and Illinois ; south in %vinter as far as Patagonia. Wilson's Phalarope is a fairly common migrant in Colorado, while a certain proportion of the birds stop through the summer and breed in the north-oast of the State along the lower Platte Valley, and perhaps at San Luis Lakes, whence there is a young bird of the year, taken July 10th, in the Aiken collection. Warren recently found it common at Medano Ranch in June. In other parts of the State it is chiefly known as a migrant. It reaches Loveland about the last week of April. Breeding records are Fort Collins (Cooke), Loveland (Gale) ; Barr Lake (Hersey & Rockwell) ; on migration, Middlo and South Parks (Carter), Salida, May 4th (Frey), Glenwood Spring (Cooke), and Coventry (Warren). Habits. — ^This Phalarope is almost always found near water, where they either swim about in a very buoyant manner or run in shallows and moist grass, picking up small mollusca and insects which form their food. Gale found three nests on Jvtne 19th, near Loveland ; they consisted merely of a little depression in the ground near a lake, lined with a few grasses and contained four 104 Birds of Colorado eggs. He believed that a second brood was usual, and that the first eggs were laid about May 20th. On another occasion he watched a large number of these birds on a lake near Boulder. Some of the birds had paired and kept near the shore where they were busy feeding, but the larger number were swimming about in the centre of the lake. These he subsequently watched performing a series of aerial evolutions under the leadership of one bird — up, around and zigzagging to and fro across the lake. He believed that these birds were preparing to go further north. The eggs, usually four in number, are rather pyriform in shape ; they are greenish or olive-bro^vn, rather thickly spotted and blotched with sepia or blackish-broA\Ti, and measure I'lO x 80. Family RECURVIROSTRID^. This small family comprises the Avocets and Stilts, characterized by their long legs and bills, which latter are either straight or up-turned ; tarsus without scutes, covered wdth reticulate scales ; toes three or four, semi- palmate or nearly fully webbed. Genus RECURVIROSTRA. Bill long and pointed, much longer than the head, both mandibles flattened and up-curvod towards the tips ; legs long, the tarsus about twice the length of the middle too and covered with reticulated scales all round ; hind toe small but clawed, front toes about half -webbed. A cosmopolitan genus of four species, only one of which is North American. American Avocet. Recurvirostra americana. A.O.U. Checklist no 225— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 209 ; Coues 74, p. 4G0 ; Henshaw 75, p. 448 ; Drew 81, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Goss 91, p. 152 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 64, 199 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227 ; Markman hi, p. 156 ; Warren 09, p. 14. American Avocet 105 Description. — In summer — Head and neck all round pale cinnamon ; paling to w hite on the front of the face and below behind the breast ; lower-back and upper tail-coverts white ; tail pearly-white ; wings chiefly black with two longitudinal bands of white formed by the edges of some of the coverts, secondaries and outer scapulars ; iris pink or brown, bill black, legs dull blue. Length 17-0 ; wing 9-0. ; tail 3-0 ; culmen 3-7 ; tarsus 3-7 ; but dimensions varying considerably. In winter the head and neck are pearly-grey. Young birds are like the summer adults, but have tawny edgings to the black feathers and a more or less straight bill. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly from Alberta and Manitoba to south- western Texas ; in winter south as far as Guatemala, Cuba and Jamaica. In Colorado the Avocet is common on migration, and is also an abundant suromer resident in suitable localities, breeding along the shores of the alkali lakes, in the South Platte valley of the north-east plains, and in the mountain parks up to about 8,000 feet. It nests abundantly at San Luis Lakes, where it was noticed by Aiken, Goss and Cooke, and also along the Arkansas near Fort Lyon (Coues) and in South Park (Carter), while Gale and W. G. Smith took nests near Loveland, and Rockwell and Hersey at Barr. Other records are : Arkansas River (Aiken) and Coventry (Warren), where, as seems always the case on the western slope, it is not at all common. It is noted from Fort Lyon as early as March 28th, and from Loveland, April 9th, and in the fall at Salida by Frey, September 26th. Habits. — The favourite resort of this Avocet are the alkaline lakes which are so abundant throughout the dry western districts of North America. Here it wades along in the shallow water, probing with its curiously shaped bill in the soft mud. It also swims with perfect ease and considerable grace, often alighting on the water from above. Where they have not been much molested they are not shy, and fill the air with their harsh cries when their breeding-places are being invaded. The nests are placed near the shores of the lakes, and consist of a slight depression lined with a few grasses or weeds. The eggs, generally four in number, are somewhat pjTiform in shape, and olive-drab heavily blotched with purplish-brown in colour. They measure about r90 X 1*30, but vary considerably not only in 106 Birds of Colorado dimensions but in colour and shape. Dille gives June 12th as an average date for fresh eggs ; Henshaw at San Luis Lakes found by June 21st most of the eggs already hatched, but Goss took a clutch of four at the same place as late as July 5th. Genus HIMANTOPUS. Bill very long, slender and pointed, about twice as long as the middle toe and claw ; tail short ; legs very long, stretching far beyond the wings and tail ; tarsus about three times the length of the middle toe and claw, covered with a fine netv.ork of hexagonal scales ; hind toe absent, front toes moderate, basally webbed. An almost cosmopolitan genus with about seven species ; only one is found in Xorth America. Black-necked Stilt. Himantopus mexicanus. A.O.U. Checklist no 226 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 450 ; Drew 81, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, p. 64 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159 ; Felger 09, p. 287 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 115. Description. — Adult female — Above, including the crown, sides of the face round the eye, back of the neck, centre of the back and mngs, glossy black ; below, including the front of the face, a spot above and behind the eye, riunp and upper tail-coverts white ; tail pearly-grey ; iris red, bill black, legs red drying yellow. Length 14-0 ; wing 8-5 ; tail 2-4 ; cuknen 2-3 ; tarsus 3-9. The male is rather larger — wing 9-25 ; culmen 2-70. Young birds have the upper-parts ashy-brown, the feathers margined with bufiy or whitish, and the tail with dusky markings. Distribution. — Breeding chieflj' from Minnesota and Oregon to Florida and Texas, south in winter as far as Peru and the West Indies. The Stilt is api^arently a rare bird in Colorado, except in the south. It was first found nesting in the State by Henshaw at the San Luis Lakes many years ago, and the only other definite notices of its occur- rence are those of Rockwell, who quotes Miss Eggleston to the effect that it is an irregular and rather rare migi'ant at Grand Junction, and of Hersey and Rockwell who once saw it at Barr. Neither Gale, Carter nor G. W. Smith mentions it, nor does it ajipear to reach Wyoming. Henderson's Boulder record seems a doubtful one, but there is an example in the State Historical Society's Collection at Denver, shot near Fort Logan in April, 1899 (Felger). Black-necked Stilt 107 Habits. — Henshaw found the Stilt associating with the Avocet and closely resembling it in nearly every respect, except that it does not swim readily, though other observers state that it occasionally does take to deep water ; as its toes are not webbed and its legs very long, this is as one would expect. Notwithstanding its long legs it is a graceful bird, and flies well and strongly, with head partially drawn back and its legs extended behind. As already stated Henshaw found a single nest at the San Luis Lakes, June 21st ; it resembled in every way that of the Avocet, and was merely a depression in the ground lined with grasses ; it contained four eggs resembling those of the Avocet but smaller ; they measured 1"74: x rSO. Family SCOLOPACID^. This is the most extensive family of the order and contains the Snipes and Sandpipers. The bill is long, nearly always exceeding the head, and is generally covered with soft, sensitive skin throughout, and never ends in the hard swelling or dertrum so characteristic of the Charadriidce ; it is straight or slightly up- or down-curved ; nostrils exposed, generally near the base of the nasal groove, which extends for half or three-quarters the length of the bill ; tail of twelve feathers (except Gallinago) ; tarsus always scutellate in front and, with the exception of Numenius, behind as well ; four toes present except in Calidris', webbing variable. Genus PHILOHELA. Bill long, straight and slender, covered with a soft and sensitive skin and slightly swoUen at the tip ; culmen about twice the length of the tarsus ; wings short and rounded, the tliree outer primaries attenuate and falcate and abruptly shorter than the foiirth ; tail short 108 Birds of Colorado and rounded of twelve feathers ; legs short ; tibio-tarsus feathered aknost to the joint, the tarsus scuteUated in front and behind ; hind toe present, front toes without web ; eye very large and placed far back, the ear-opening below and slightly in front of it. This genus contains only one species, and is distinguished from that containing the Old World Woodcocks by the attenuation of the three outer primaries. American Woodcock. Philohela minor. A.O.U. Checklist no 228— Colorado Records— H. G. Smith 86, p. 283 ; 96, p. 65 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 64, 158 ; Fisher 01, p. 447 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227. Description. — Adult — Above mottled black, dusky brown and bufiy ; hinder-part of crown black with narrow transverse bars of buff ; primaries plain dusky ; below pale-rufous ; iris dark brown, bill light brown, paler at the base, legs reddish-brown. Length 10-5 ; wing 5-25; tail 2-25 ; culmen 2-5 ; tarsus 1-25. The female is larger — wing 5-50, culmen 2'75. Distribution. — -Southern Canada and the eastern United States from the Atlantic to Manitoba and eastern Texas, breeding throughout its range ; wintering chiefly on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. In Colorado the Woodcock is only known from the Platte Valley and from Denver along the foothills northwards, where it may be regarded as a scarce summer resident. It was first reported by H. G. Smith who saw an example in a gun-store in Denver, which was killed near the town about August 12th, 1885. Four or five additional specimens have been noticed from Denver or Boulder co., while Cooke reports that H. Horner observed a pair with three young ones, only about a week old, one of which was taken July 3rd, 1897, near Timmath ; so there can be httle doubt that, occasionally at any rate, it nests in Colorado. Habits. — The Woodcock is a crepuscular bird, feeding chiefly at dusk and in the night, and keeping concealed during the day in thickets and rank grass. It inhabits marshy or moist country, and lives almost exclusively on worms which it draws out of the mud with its long and sensitive bill. It has an enormous appetite — o, Woodcock weighing six ounces is said to consume at least its own weight in earth-werms in twenty-four hours. Owing to its Wilson's Snipe 109 excellent flavour, it commands a high price as a game- bird, and has in consequence been nearly exterminated through the greater part of its range. The nest, a loose structure of grass and old leaves, is placed on the ground in a higher part of the swamp, out of reach of the rising water. The eggs, usually four in number, are buffy, mottled and spotted with reddish- broAvn, and measure about 1*60 x 1"16. They lay very early in the south, but judging from our only record, June 10th would be about the date in Colorado. Genus GALLINAGO. Resembling Pliiloliela in most respects, but the ear-opening little further back below the middle of the eye and without attenuated primaries ; tail short, rounded, of sixteen feathers in the American species ; markings on the head longitudinal rather than transverse. A nearly cosmopohtan genus with some twenty species ; only one in North America. Wilson's Snipe. Gallinago delicata. A.O.XJ Checklist no 230 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 209 {G. wilsoni) ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 18 ; Thome 83, p. 46 ; R.V.R.S. 86, p. 5 ; Beckham 87, p. 121 ; Morrison 86, p. 107 ; 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 64, 158, 199 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159 ; Warren 09, p. 14 ; Dille 09, p. 86. Description. — Male — Above chiefly black, mottled and variegated with buffy and white ; crown black with a median buffy stripe ; primaries and their coverts dusky, the outer one white-edged ; below, the breast speckled dusky and white, the abdomen pirre white, the flanks and under wing-coverts barred black and white ; tail-feathers sixteen in number, the outer ones barred with black ; iris brown, bill brown, paler at the base, greenish-grey in the flesh ; legs like the bill. Length 9-25 ; wing 4-SO ; tail 2-10 ; cubnen 2-25 ; tarsus 1-25. The female is slightly larger — wing 5-25, culmen 2-5. Distribution. — Breeding from Alaska and Newfoundland to the most south in winter as far as the West Indies and northern South America, northerly row of the States and a little further south in the mountains ; though often wintering further north, even in Colorado and Wyoming. The Snipe is far from uncommon in Colorado ; it is perhaps most common on migration when it is found aU over the State ; it is also 110 Birds of Colorado frequently to be met with during the winter where there are springs which remain unfrozen, both in the plains and the mountains up to 9,500 feet, at which elevation " R.V.R.S." saw two on the edge of the ice along the Animas River near Silverton, January 2nd, 1886. It is perhaps loss conmaon in summer, but has been found breeding in the mountain parks up to about 9,500 feet. Dille has recently stated that it nests in the plains about ten miles north-east of Boulder, and Hersey and Rockwell found one nest, Jime 20th, 1908, at Barr. The following are other breeding records : Middle Park at 9,000 feet, Sprague (Cooke), Twin Lakes (Scott), San Luis Lakes (Aiken), and San Juan CO. (Drew). In winter it has been reported from Boulder, just outside the city limits, by Henderson ; near Colorado Springs, where fairly common, by Aiken ; SaUda in January (Frey), Fort Lyon (Thorne), Sweetwater Lake by Gilmore and Routt co. by Bonnet (Cooke), and Plateau Valley (RockweU). Habits. — The Snipe is an unsocial bird, and is nearly always found solitary or perhaps -udth only one companion. It prefers open, moist ground where it can probe in the mud with its long and soft, sensitive bill for worms, which form the greater part of its food. When flushed it rises very suddenly, with a startled cry of " Scaipe," and flashes off with zigzag turns and twasts. It is therefore a difficult bird to kill on the wing, and for the young gunner it is a moment of great satis- faction when he brings down his first Snipe. Snipe are somewhat nocturnal in their habits, though not to such an extent as the Woodcock ; still they feed and migrate chiefly at night or during thick weather. During the breeding season and occasionally in the fall as well, the Snipe rises high in the air and then darts down again with great velocity, at the same time making a curious vibrating rushing sound. The noise is usually known as " drumming" or "bleating." The explanation is rather doubtful, but it appears to be caused by the rapid vibration of the webs of the outer taU-feathers as they are dra\\'n through the air. Long-billed Dowitclier 111 The nest is a mere depression in the grass, generally on or under a sheltering tuft ; it is lined with a few leaves. The eggs, 3 to 4 in number, are somewhat pyriform in shape, and are olive to brownish with bold markings of dark umber and sharp, scratchy lines of black. They measure 1*55 x 1*15. Scott's nest was found in June near Twin Lakes. There is no more definite information on the nesting -date for Colorado. Genus MACRORHAMPHUS. Bill and position of ear -opening Snipe-like, otherwise resembling a Sandpiper ; wings rather long and pointed ; tail of twelve feathers doubly emarginate ; legs long, tarsus exceeding middle toe and claw ; tibia naked for about an inch above the joint ; toes webbed basally, most fully betv/een the middle and outer toe ; tail-feathers barred. The genus contains only one species, forming two subspecies. The western race, which is found in Colorado, is rather larger, has a longer bill, and is rather more highly coloured. Long-billed Dowitcher. MacrorJiamphus griseus scolopaceus. A.O.U. CheckUst no 232 — Colorado Records — Henshav/ 75, p. 453 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 65 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 115. Description.- — Female in sununer— Above, except the rmnp and lower- back, speckled and mottled with black, brown and buff ; a dusky stripe from the eye to the bill ; rump white, upper tail-coverts barred with black ; tail barred black and white ; below bright cttmamon, speckled on the throat, barred along the sides and on the under tail- coverts with dusky ; iris hazel, bill and feet greenish-dusky. Length 11-0 ; wing 5-8 ; tail 2-5 ; culmen 2-8 ; tarsus 1-55. In winter there is no cinnamon and the bird is grey-brown above, the feathers edged paler, below grey on the neck and breast, paling to white on the abdomen, a white sviperciliary line to the bill and spot below the eye. The male is similar but smaller ; wing 5-70 ; culmen 2-45. Distribution. — Breeding fi'om Alaska to British Cokunbia, south and south-east in winter to Florida and Central Mexico. In Colorado the Dowitcher is only known as a migrant, and has been reported only from the plains portion of the State east of the Rocky 112 Birds of Colorado Mountains. It arrives from the south about the beginning of ^lay, and has been noticed at Fort Lyon, ^lay 2nd, by Thorne, near Colorado Springs (Allen & Brewster), near Denver, where common in May (Henshaw), at Barr, where it is common on migration (Hersey & Rockwell), and at Loveland, where it was seen by Smith, April 29th. A female in winter plumage, taken October 4th at Barr Lake by Warren, is preserved in the Colorado College Museum. Henshaw's record of an example taken by himself at Denver, July 24th, 1873, is obviously a mistake, as on that date, by his own account, he was far away in New Mexico, near Fort Wingate. Habits. — The Dowitcher (i.e. Deutsche! or German Snipe) is found about marshes and lagoons. It is usually met with in small flocks, but in other respects is not unlike the Snipe, except that it has slightly webbed toes and swims well. Genus MICROPALAMA. Bill long and slender, slightly widened at the tip ; ear-opening normal, behind the eye ; wings long and pointed ; taU doubly emarginate; toes distinctly webbed basally ; reseixxbUixg Macrorhamphus generally, but distinguished by its plain, unbarred tail, and the position of the ear-opening. Only one species is known. Stilt Sandpiper. 3Iicropalama himantopus. A.O.U. Checklist no 233— Colorado Records— Thome 87, p. 264 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Osbvu-n 93, p. 212 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 65 ; Cooke, 97, pp. 19, 65, 199 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227 ; Hersey & RockweU 09, p. 115. Description. — Female in siommer — Above mottled black, dusky, tawny and white ; the primaries and most of the coverts plain dusky ; the upper tail-coverts white, spotted with dusky ; tail ashy-grey, edged and centred with white ; ear-coverts chestnut ; below white, streaked anteriorly, barred posteriorly, with dusky and tawny ; iris brown, bill and feet dusky greenish. Length 8-5 ; wing 5-4 ; tail 2-0 ; culmen 1-65 ; tarsus 1'70. In winter the adults are ashy-grey above without black or tawny, but with white edges to the feathers ; under-parts and a line over the eye white, slightly suffused with dusky and finely streaked with darker on the throat and breast. The male is slightly smaller — wing 5-0; bill 1-5. Pectoral Sandpiper 113 Distribution. — A rare bird, breeding far north and only known, to do so along the shores of the Arctic Ocean and in the Mackenzie Province ; south in winter through the United States chiefly east of the Rocky Mountains, to the West Indies and South America as far as Peru and Brazil. The Stilt-Sandpiper is a rare migrant in Colorado, and has been chiefly met with on the plains east of the range. It appears to arrive late from the south ; the earUest date is May 14th, when Aiken took a female near Colorado Springs. The other records are : Fort Lyon, May 22nd, Loveland, May 20th, Middle and South Parks and Brecken- ridge (Carter), near Denver in the fall (Smith), Botilder co., record rather doubtful (Henderson), Barr, common on migration (Hersey & Rockwell). Genus PISOBIA. Bin moderately long and slender, about equal to the tarsus ; wings long and pointed ; outer prunary usually the longest ; tertials also lengthened and pointed ; tail rather long and doubly emarginate ; the two central tail-feathers usually projecting ; tibia bare towards the joint ; tarsus with transverse scutes before and behind ; hind toe present, front toes long, slender and cleft to the base. A large genus of highly migratory birds, breeding chiefly far north in both hemispheres, and wintering in the temperate and tropical zones. All the four regular North American species pass through Colorado. Key of the Species. A. Rump and upper tail-coverts black, at any rate centrally. a. Larger ; wing 5-4 ; breast dark ashy, and heavily streaked with dusky. P. maculata, p. 113. b. Medium ; wing 4-8 ; breast lightly stiSused with ashy, streaking faint. P. bairdi, p. 115. c. Smaller ; wing 3-3 ; chest spots heavier. P. minutilla, p. 115. B. Rump dusky, upper tail-coverts white. P. fuscicollis, p. 114. Pectoral Sandpiper. Pisohia maculata. A.O.U. Checklist no 239 — Colorado Records— Ridgway 73, p. 187 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, p. 65 ; RockweU 08, p. 159 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 115. Description. — Adult in summer — Above black, the feathers edged with pale ochraceous-bufi ; rump and upper tafl-coverts black, lightly tipped with buffy ; middle tail-feathers longest, pointed and margined 114 Birds of Colorado with buffy ; outer tail-feathers brownish-grey, narrowly edged with white ; under-parts white, neck and breast washed with ashy and heavily streaked with black and buffy ; iris brown, bill greemsh- brown, feet yellowish. Length 9-0 ; wing 5-40 ; tail 2-40 ; tarsus 1-0 ; culmen l-l. In winter the ochraceous-buff of the upper-parts is replaced by rufous, and the breast is heavily washed with bufEy ; the female is slightly smaller — wing 5-10. Distribution. — Breeding in northern Siberia and Alaska, south in winter through the United States, chiefly along the Mississippi Valley, to Chili and Patagonia ; occasional in Europe. The Pectoral Sandpiper is only a migrant in Colorado in spring and autumn. It is stated by Cooke to be common, but if so it seems to have escaped the notice of most observers. Morrison observes that he took five examples in La Plata co., and that it was found as high as 13,000 feet ; it is common on migration at Barr (Horsey & Kockwell) ; Miss Eggleston classes it as an irregular naigrant at Grand Junction (Rockwell). These are the only definite notices of the species. It is not represented in the Aiken collection, nor do Carter or H. G. Smith seem to have come across it. White-nimped Sandpiper. Pisobia fuscicollis. A.O.U. Checklist no 240. — Colorado Records — Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 65, 158 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 228. Description. — Male in summer — Above ashy-brown with conspicuous dusky centres and rufous edges to most of the feathers ; wings and tail dark brown ; the lateral tail-feathers rather paler ; the upper tail- coverts white ; below white, the lower-nock, breast and sides faintly washed with dusky and spotted and streaked with the same ; iris dark brown, bill and feet dusky, the former rather reddish at the base of the lower mandible. Length about 6-0; wing 4-C ; tail 1-9; culmen -85 ; tarsus -90. The female is similar. Distribution. — Breeding in Arctic America chiefly north of Hudson Bay, westward to the Mackenzie River ; south in winter through the United States east of the Rocky Mountains as far as Patagonia and the Falkland Isles ; occasionally in Europe. Like the previous species this Sandpiper pa&ses through Colorado on migration, and is far from common. It has only been met with in the plains east of the mountains, and is reported from Fort Lyon by Thome and from Boulder co. by Henderson, while there is a pair in the Aiken collection, killed May 17th, 1878, by Aiken on Horse Creek, about forty miles east of Colorado Springs, on the plains. Baird's Sandpiper 115 Baird's Sandpiper. Pisohia bairdi. A.O.U. Checklist no 241— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 152 ; Trippe 74, p. 485 ; Henshaw 75, p. 455 ; Drew 85, p. 18, Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 65, 200 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159. Description. — Female in spring — Above mottled black, dark ashy, pale tawny and whitish ; the rump and central upper tail-coverts dusky, the lateral ones white ; tail-coverts very long, extending to within -5 of tip of the tail ; central tail-feathers dusky, projecting slightly, lateral ones lighter, narrowly edged with white ; below white, except for a broad band across the lower-neck and chest which is washed with pale ashy and finely spotted with brown; iris dark brown, bill and legs black. Length 7*0; wing 4*8; tail 1*9; cuhnen I'O ; tarsus "85. In autumn both young and adults aro rather more ashy, and there is a shade of huffy in the chest wash. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly on the Barren Grounds from Hudson Bay to Northern Alaska ; south in winter through the Middle States to Patagonia and Chili. Like the other Sandpipers of the genus, this bird is only a transient in Colorado, though it is far more common than the other two species already mentioned. On the spring migration it is chiefly niet with on the plains, but in the fall at the end of August and beginning of September, it resorts to considerable elevations in the mountains, to feed on grasshoppers and other insects, which are more abundant higher up in late siunmer. Morrison beUeved that this Sandpiper nested in Colorado, but he was probably mistaken, though they are absent in the north for a very short time. There are examples in the Aiken collection from Limon, dated May 24th, and from Fountain Valley below Colorado Springs, dated July 29th ; this leaves only a few days over two months for the journey to the Barren Grounds and back and the duties of incubation , Spring records are : Lovoland, March 29th, April 19th (Cooke), Horse Creek, May 17th (Aiken coll.), Grand Junction, in the fall as well (Rockwell) ; autumn are : Mt. Evans, 13,000 to 14,000 feet, end of August (Trippe), Tennessee Gulch, Lake co., 10,000 feet, August 20th (Aiken coll.). Palmer Lake (Allen), Piedra Lake, September 12th (Henshaw). Least Sandpiper. Pisohia minutilla. A.O.U. CheckUst no 242 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 187 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 65, 200 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159 ; Felger 09, p. 289. Description. — Adult — Very similar in coloration and markings to P. bairdi, but very much smaller, and the spots on the chest generally 116 Birds of Colorado rather larger and perhaps a little darker ; more richly coloured on the back. Length 5-10; wing 3-3; tail 1-5; culmen '65; tarsus -70. Distribution.— Breeding from Quebec to south Yukon northwards, south on migration through the greater part of the United States, to winter along the Gulf coast and in South America to Peru. In Colorado a fairly common transient visitor in spring and autumn, arri\ing from the south in the second half of April, passing chiefly through the plains and the mountain parks up to about 7,000 feet. The following are records : Monon, May 2nd (Warren), Fort Lyon and Loveland, April 19th (Cooke), Colorado Springs and Lincoln co. (Aiken coll.), Barr (Horsey & Rockwell) in the plains ; Salida, April 28th (Colo. Coll. Mus.), South and IVIiddle Parks (Carter) in the parks ; Grand Junction, common in spring and fall (Rockwell) on the western slopes. Felger notes it as not uncommon through the summer at Barr, but has no evidence of its breeding. Habits. — All the Sandpipers have very similar habits ; they are mostly seen in small flocks running along patches of sand or mud by the sides of rivers or lakes ; they are nervous and active, and when flushed fly off quickly with a little shrill " Peep, peep " of alarm. Genus PELIDNA. Bill rather long and slender, slightly decurved, much longer than the tarsus, which slightly exceeds the middle toe and claw ; in other respects Uke Pisobia ; plumage with a white wing-bar and a black patch on the abdomen in the breeding season. Only one circumpolar species ; European and American birds are sufficiently distinct to form two subspecies. Red-backed Sandpiper. Pelidna alpina sahlialina. A.O.U. Checklist no 243a — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 187 ; 79, p. 233 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 66. Description. — Adult in summer — Above rufous with dusky centres and white tips to moat of the feathers ; wings and tail dusky ashy, the former with a white wing-bar and white edges to some of the secondaries ; below white, a black patch covering most of the abdomen ; fore-neck and chest streaked with dusky ; iris dark brown, bill and feet black. Length 8-25 ; wing 4-75 ; tail 2-0 ; culmon 1-6 ; tarsus 1-05. In winter the birds are plain ashy-grey above, generally with darker shaft-streaks ; bolow white with tlio foro-neck and chest suffused with Semipalmated Sandpiper 117 ashy aud streaked. Young birds are very similar to the summer adults, but have the belly spotted with black, not with a continuous black patch. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly on the Barren Grounds from Hudson Bay to northern Alaska and Siberia, migrating chiefly along the coasts to winter in south California, the Gulf and South Atlantic States. A very rare migrant in Colorado, only twice recorded. There was an adult in winter dress in the Maxwell collection supposedly from Colorado, and W. G. Smith obtained two examples at Loveland, April 28th and May 9th. Genus EREUNETES. Bill about as long as the tarsus, rather stout for the family ; toes bagally webbed and broadly margined ; in other respects like Pisohia. Two North American species closely allied to one another, comprise this genus. Both are recorded from Colorado. a. Bill longer. E. mauri, p. 118. b. Bill shorter. E. pusillus, p. 117. Semipalmated Sandpiper. Ereunetes fusillus. A.O.U. CheckUst no 246 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 454 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 66. Description. — Adult in siunmer — Above, including the upper tail- coverts ashy-brown with dusky centres and some tawny edges ; central tail-feathers and primaries plain dusky ; below white with a few small dusky streaks on the lower-neck and chest ; iris dark brown, bill and legs greenish-black. Length 5-5; wing 3-65; tail 1-5; culmen -80; tarsus -75. In winter the upper-parts are nearly plain ashy-grey, and the spots on the breast faint or obsolete ; young birds have a slight wash of buffy but no spots on the breast, and a good deal of white edging on the scapulars. It can be distinguished at once from P- minutilla, which it closely resembles in plumage by its basally- webbed toes. Distribution. — Breeding from Labrador and Hudson Bay to northern Alaska, south through the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, to winter in the Gulf States, West Indies and eastern South America. This Uttle Sandpiper is not unconmion on migration in eastern Colorado, chiefly on the plains but ranging up as high as the naountain parks ; it has been noticed by Carter in South and Middle Parks. It reaches Colorado about the end of April or beginning of May, and has 118 Birds of Colorado been seen at Fort Lyon, May Ist (Thome), near Pueblo, May 17th (Beckham), in El Paso co., ]\Iay 1st (Allen & Brewster), at Horse Creek, May 17th (Aiken coll.), and at Loveland, May 6th (W. G. Smith). I have not heard of any fall records though it doubtless returns south through the State. Western Sandpiper. Ereunetes mauri. A.O.U. Checklist no 247.— Colorado Record— Cooke 97, p. 66 {E. occidentalis). Description. — Closely resembKng E. pusillue but with a much longer bill, averaging -88 in the male and 1-05 in the female, against -72 and -84 respectively. Distribution, — Breeding chiefly in western Arctic America ; south on migration mostly in the west but also on the Atlantic coast, in winter to Central and South America. In Colorado this Sandpiper is of rare occurrence on migration. Cooke gives only three records : Loveland, May 12th and July 4th (Osburn), and near Pueblo in the fall (Lowe). Genus CALIDRIS. Bill moderate, about equal to the tarsus ; resembling Pisobia in other respects, but with no hind toe ; anterior toes cleft to the base, without webs. The genus contains only the SanderHng, a cosmopolitan species. Sanderling. Calidris leucophcea. A.O.U. Checklist no 248— Colorado Records— Cooke 94, p. 183 ; {Calidris arenaria) ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 65 ; Cooke 97, pp. 66, 158 ; Horsey & Rockwell 09, p. 115. Description. — Adult in summer — Above mottled black, white and tawny-rufous ; wings with the primaries dusky, paler on the inner web, and with white shafts, secondaries also with a good deal of white ; rump and upper tail-coverts dusky centrally, white on the sides ; below white, the throat and breast sometimes slightly spotted with dusky and tawny ; iris, bill and legs black. Length 7-5 ; wing 4-8 ; tail 2-0 ; cuknen -95 ; tarsus -95. Adults in winter have no tawny ; upper-parts ashy-grey, generally with dvisky shaft-stripes and lighter edges ; under-parts pure white. In any plumage the absence of tho hind toe at once distinguishes this from other Sandpipers. Distribution. — Breeding far north ; eggs have been taken on the Arctic Coast near Franklin Bay, in Mackenzie and in Greenland ; on migration Marbled Godwit 119 south along the coasts or across the continents to winter in South America, South Africa, South Asia and Australia, besides occun-ing as a wanderer in most of the islands of the three great oceans. In America it chiefly winters along the coast from Vii-ginia and California to ChiU and Patagonia. In Colorado the Sanderling is a rare transient visitor in spring and autumn. It was first noticed from Colorado by Cooke, who reported an example in the Museum at Fort Collins, killed in the neighbourhood. Other instances are Horse Creek, May (Aiken coU.), Sloan's Lake, Denver, May (H. G. Smith), Barr, May 31st and in the fall (Hersey & Rockwell), Loveland, September 24th and 30th and May 12th, Pueblo, October 1st (Cooke). Genus LIMOSA. Rather largo birds — wing 7 to 9 ; with a long bill slightly up- curved, the culmen slightly exceeding the tarsus ; wing long and pointed ; tail short and even ; legs long, tarsus far exceeding the middle toe, scutellate in front and behind ; toes short, rather flattened, basally webbed, especially between the inner and outer ones. An almost cosmopolitan genus with two common North American species. The Black-tailed Hudsonian Godwit has not been met with in Colorado, though known from Kansas. Marbled Godwit. Limosa fedoa. A.O.U. CheckUst no 249 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 457 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 66, 200 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Adult Male— General colour cinnamon, lieavily barred and mottled with dusky above, the rump, tail-coverts and tail plainly barred rufous and dusky ; below finely barred with dusky on the chest and sides, streaked on the throat, and white on the chin ; primaries chiefly dusky, shaft of the outer one white ; lining of the wings and axillarios chestnut ; iris dark brown, bill black on its terminal, reddish- brcwn on its basal, half ; legs ashy-black. Length 17-5 ; wing 9-0 ; tail 3-3 ; culmen 2-9 ; tarsus 2-8. The female is rather larger — wing 9-5, culmen 4-5. There is no seasonal change, and the young birds are slightly paler and have the breast and sides unmarked. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly in the upper Missouri Valley from Iowa to southern British Columbia, and migrating south in winter to Guatemala. The Marbled Godwit is a rare bird in Colorado, and has not yet been found breeding ; it is probably only a migrant. 120 Birds of Colorado It passes through Colorado at the end of April, and has been noticed at Loveland, April 20th and May 1st, by W. G. Smith. It also ranges into the mountains, since Carter observ'ed it at Breckenridge. The only other definite records are : San Luis Lakes, where a single example was taken by Aiken, October 1st, 1874 (Henshaw), and Barr, where it has been noticed at various dates in May and July by Hersey and Rockwell. Genus TOTANUS. Bill long and slender and straight or nearly so, longer than the head, but the cuhnen shorter than the tarsus ; the lateral grooves on the bill only extending for half its length ; tail short, nearly even and barred ; legs long, tibia nearly half their length ; tarsus, which far exceeds the middle toe and claw, scutellated before and behind ; hind toe present ; web between the middle and outer toe fairly well developed, between middle and inner toe almost obsolete. This genus, as restricted, contains four or five species breeding in the northern parts of the Old and New Worlds. The two North American species commonly met with both occur in Colorado. Key of the Species. A. Larger ; wing 7 to 8. T. melanoleucus, p. 120. B. Smaller ; wing 6 to 7. T. flavipes, p. 121. Greater Yellow-legs. Totanus melanoleucus. A.O.U. Checklist no 254 — Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 152, 159 ; Tresz 81, p. 244; Drew 85, p. 18; Morrison 89, p. 168; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 66, 200 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 228 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159 ; Felger 09, p. 289. Description. — Adult in sumnjer — Above ashy-grey and dusky black, mottled with white, rather more streakily marked on the head ; vipper tail-ooverts white, sometimes with a few narrow bars of dusky, tail ashy to white barred with dusky ; primaries plain dusky black, the shaft of the outer one white ; below white streaked about the fore-neck and breast, barred on the sides and flanks with dusky ; iris and bill brown, legs chrome-yellow. Length 13 ; wing 7-75 ; tail 2-75 ; culmen 2-20 ; tarsus 2-60. The sexes are alike. In winter the birds are dark ashy-grey without black above and more white below, with fine ashy-grey streaks on the throat and upper-breast only. Distribution. — Breeding apparently from Anticosti to British Columbia and south in the Missoiu-i Valley to Iowa, but breeding records are very Yellow-legs 121 scarce ; south on migration, throughout the United States to winter along the Gulf Coast and south California, and thence to the Argentine and Chili. The Greater Yellow-legs is a fairly common migrant throughout the State both in spring and autumn, in the plains and mountain parks ; it has been noticed by Rockwell as high as 10,000 feet on the Grand Mesa. It reaches Loveland the first week in April from the south, and Rockwell saw one as early as March 28th, at Orchard. It has not yet been found nesting in the State, but there is no reason why it should not do so, and Felger has noticed it at Barr every month from March to October. Additional records are Boulder co. (Henderson), Palmer Lake, August 5th, and South Park (Allen), Middle Park (Carter), Wet Mountain Valley (Baker) and Fort Lyon, Thome (Cooke). Habits. — The Yellow-legs is in no way different from other Sandpipers in its habits ; it is found in small flocks or pairs, as a rule, along the shores of lakes or in marshy- ground where it wades along the shallows in search of snails, worms, minnows and other aquatic animals which form its food. WTien disturbed it rises with a loud whistling cry, often wheeling round and circling back again to the same spot. The nest is usually placed on the ground near a marsh and constructed chiefly of grasses. The eggs, four in number, are greyish -white, spotted or blotched with dark brown, and measure about r75 x TSl. Yellow-legs. Totanus flavipes. A.O.U. Checklist no 255— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 152 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 66, 200 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 228 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Closely resembling T. melanoleucus in plumage but very decidedly smaller in all dimensions. Length 9-25 ; wing 6-50 ; tail 2-4 ; cuhnen 1'4 ; tarsus 2-1. Distribution. — Breeding far north on Hudson Bay and the Barren Grounds ; south on migration, most abundantly through the eastern United States, and wintering from the Gulf States to Patagonia. Occasionally in Europe. The Yellow-legs is only known as a migrant in Colorado ; in its movements and dates it follows closely the Greater Yellow-legs, in the 122 Birds of Colorado company of which it is frequently found. It comes back early from the north — in fact it was taken on July 23rci by Thome at Fort Lyon, and may possibly have been breeding there. Other records are : Pueblo, May 8th (Beckham), El Paso co.. May 7th (Aiken coll)., Barr Lake where very common, and observed through May, June and July, but not known to breeed (Hersey & Rockwell) ; Loveland, April 15th (W. G. Smith), while Carter noticed it in Middle and South Parks, and Rockwell on the Grand Mesa, at 10,000 feet, in the mountains. Genus HELODROMAS. Bill moderate, slightly exceeding the head ; tarsus short, slightly exceeding the middle toe and claw, approximately equal to the culmen ; resembling Totanus in most respects, but the sternum with only one notch instead of two posteriorly, and lajang its eggs in trees in the deserted nests of other birds. This genus contains one Old World and one New World species, the latter separated into an eastern and western race. The western one is characterized by its larger size and greyer wings. Western Solitary Sandpiper. Helodromas solitarius cinnamormus. A.O.U. Checklist no 256a— Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 152, 159; Henshaw 75, p. 459; Tresz 81, p. 244; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 67, 200 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 228 ; Rockwell 08, p. 160 ; Cary 09, p. 180 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Adult — Above dark olive-brown, streaked on the head, speckled elsewhere with white ; primaries and edge of the wing rather darker, almost black ; central tail-feathers and their coverts like the back with a few white spots at the edges ; lateral tail-feathers and their coverts white, barred with black ; below white, the throat and breast streaked, the sides and under wing-coverts closely barred wuth dusky ; iris brown, bill and legs dusky-greenish. Length 8-5 ; wing 5-15 ; tail 2-0 ; culmen 1-3 ; tarsus 1-25. The sexes are alike ; there is but little seasonal change, but the tone is more aahy and there is less white speckling above in winter. Young birds have distinct cinnamon spots above instead of white. Distribution. — Western North America, breeding in northern Alberta and probably south to Colorado and Utah, wintering in California and probable south to Peru. Western Solitary Sandpiper 123 In C!olorado this Sandpiper is a fairly comnaon transient visitor, while some birds stay through the summer and probably breed, though eggs have not been taken in the State. ||,,; It reaches Colorado about the last week in April, and is most common in the plains though noticed as high as Breckenridge by Carter, and at Pennsylvania Lake at 8,500 feet, August 27th, by Felger (Henderson). Summer and possibly breeding records are : Grand Junction, June 22nd , (Rockwell), near Ivremmling, July 13th (Cary), Pueblo, July 27th (Henshaw), South Park, Juty, and Palmer Lake, Augus (Allen) ; while on migration it has been taken at Salida, April 25th (Colo. Coll. Mus.), El Paso CO., May 1st (Allen & Brewster), Barr Lake in the fall (Hersey & Rockwell), and Loveland, April 20th (W. G. Smith). Habits. — The solitary Sandpiper is fond of quiet ponds among the mountains surrounded by forest, and is then rather solitary in its habits, but during migration it is often seen in flocks. It wades with graceful move- ments along the shallows in search of mollusca, insects and worms, for which it probes with its bill. It is some- what silent, differing in this respect from the Yellow-legs or Tatlers. It has only quite recently been discovered (" Ibis," 05, p. 158) that they make use of the nests of other birds in which to lay their eggs. Evan Tompson, a collector employed by Walter Raine, took three clutches in June, 1903 and 1904, in northern Alberta ; they were found in the nest of an American Robin, a Bronzed Grackle, and a Cedar Bird respectively. In each case the clutch was four, and the eggs, which averaged r36 x '98, were pale greenish-white, spotted and blotched with shades of brown and purple. In this matter the Solitary Sand- piper follows the Green Sandpiper of Europe. Further search will probably result in the discovery of eggs in Colorado. Genus CATOPTROPHORUS. Large birds — wing 8 to 9 — with the general characteristics of Toianus ; bill longer than the head, cuknen about equal to the tarsus ; 124 Birds of Colorado lega moderate, but tarsus clearly exceeding middle toe and claw ; webbing between the toes more extensive ; base of the tail and a patch on the wing white. One species confined to America with an eastern and western race, the latter averaging larger and paler. Western Willet. Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus. A.O.U. Checklist no 258a — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 187 ; Henshaw 75, p. 457 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 67, 200 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; Horsey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — In summer — Above ashy-grey, streaked with dusky to a varying degree, chiefly along the centres of the feathers ; upper tail-coverts white, some of the longer ones barred with dusky ; primaries dusky, white on the basal half, making a conspicuous white wing-patch ; most of the secondaries white ; below white, fore-neck spotted, breast and sides marked with transverse bars of dusky, often a Uttle pale rufous as well ; iris brown, bill dusky, legs bluish. Length 14-5 ; wing 8-75 ; tail 3-2 ; culmen 2-5 ; tarsus 2-6. In winter the birds are nearly uniform ashy above, and white below, shaded on the fore-neck with greyish. Young birds are darker and more brown above, the feathers edged with ochraceous. Distribution. — Breeding from Manitoba and Alberta south to Texas, west of the Mississippi ; in winter further south into Mexico. The Willet is fairly conunon in Colorado on migration, while a certain number of birds are said to remain to breed, both in the plains and mountains up to 12,000 feet (Morrison), though I have not been able to find any definite account of the nest and eggs being taken in the State. It arrives from the south about the first week in May and has been noticed at Monon, April 28th (Warren), Fort Lyon, May 2nd (Thorne), near Colorado Springs, May 1 — 7th (Aiken coll.), Denver, May 10th (Henshaw), Barr, common in spring (Hersey & Rockwell), and Love- land, April 27th, May 5th (W. G. Smith) — in the plains — and at Crested Butte, May (Warren), and Breckenridgo (Carter) — in the mountains. Morrison found it common near Fort Lewis in September, and Aiken procured a bird of the year, August 29th, close to Leadville. Habits. — This large and conspicuous bird is found about marshes and lakes, where it obtains its food among the stones and weeds. It is very restless and noisy, especially when its breeding-places are invaded. Upland Plover 125 Xests, according to Goss who found this bird breeding at Lake Como, Wyo, are placed in tussocks of grass, near the water's edge, and are bulky structures ; the eggs are usually four, somewhat pyriform in shape, buffy to greyish-white in colour, spotted and blotched with bro^\^l and purplish; they average 2*10 x 1*55. They doubtless nest in Colorado, thougli nothing is known of their doing so. Genus BARTRAMIA. Of moderate size — wing G to 7 ; bill short and slender, about equal to the head, but distinctly shorter than the tarsus ; tail long, about half the wing, strongly graduated ; tarsus seutellated, exceeding the middle toe and claw ; outer toe webbed, inner one cleft ; plumage highly variegated, tail barred. One species only ; accidental in Europe. Upland Plover, or Bartramian Sandpiper. Bartramia longicauda. A.O.U. Checklist no 261— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 152 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, p. 67 ; Rockwell 08, p. 160 ; Cary 09, p. 180 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Above dusky black, variegated with tawny edges to the feathers, especially on the middle of the back and wings ; rump and upper tail-coverts plain dusky, central tail-feathers brown banded with darker, lateral ones tawny-brown with irregular bars of dusky and white tips, primaries jalain dusky barred with white on the inner web ; below soiled white, the fore-neck, breast and sides marked with streaks of dusky, becoming bars posteriorly ; axillaries and under wing-coverts transversely barred with dusky ; iris dark brown, bill yellowish with dusky tips, legs dull yellow. Length 11-0 ; wing 64 ; tail 3-0 ; culmen 1-15 ; tarsus 1-85. There is no seasonal change of plumage, and the young are very similar to the adults. Distribution. — Breeding from Yukon and Ontario south to Utah, Kansas and Virginia ; wintering far south, chiefly in South America on the Argentine plains. Accidental in Eiirope. In Colorado this Sandpiper does not ajjpear to be well known, though it is probably a common siunmer resident on the eastern plains of the State. It does not occxir in the mountains or foothiUs. On the western 126 Birds of Colorado slope Rockwell observed a single bird on a sage-brush flat in the Plateau Valley at about 6,800 feet, in Mesa co., while Gary heard and saw a good many individuals on niigration near Lay and Meeker in August. Messrs. Allen and Brewster noted a good many specimens brought into market in Colorado Springs, April 28th. This is the only dated record for its arrival in the spring. Hersey and Rockwell found a nest with fresh eggs, June 28th, 1907, near Barr, where it is not uncommon. Habits. — The Bartramian Sandpiper, or Upland Plover as it is more frequently kno\vn, although a wader by- structure, prefers the dry upland prairies and cultivated fields. It lives chiefly on grasshoppers and also eats berries, and is consequently very fat and delicate and a much esteemed bird for the table. The nest, according to Goss, is placed on the open prairies in a depression or sheltered by a tuft of grass, and is lightly constructed and difficult to find. The eggs, four in number, are greyish-white to pale buff, spotted all over, chiefly at the larger end, with various shades of brown. They are somewhat pyriform in shape and measure 1*75 x 1'27. Genus ACTITIS. Small Sandpipers, wing under 4-5 ; bill, head, tarsus and middle toe with claw, all about equal ; tail rather long, about haK the length of the wing ; outer toe basally webbed, inner one cleft ; no white on the nmap or central tail-feathers ; spotted below. One Old World and one New World species only. Spotted Sandpiper. Actitis macularia. A.O.U. Checklist no 263— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 152, 159, 164 ; Aiken 72, p. 210 ; Coues & Trippe 74, p. 501 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85 p. 18 ; Tresz 81, p. 245 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Beckham 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 88, p. 140 ; 89, p. 168 ; Kellogg 90, p. 86 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 67, 200 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 14 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Rockwell 08, p. 160 ; Horsey & Rockwell 09, p. 116, Description. — Female in summer — Above bronzy-bro%\Ti, lightly streaked on the head, crosa-barred on the back and wings with dusky ; Spotted Sandpiper 127 primaries dusky ; secondaries and their coverts white tipped, both the former with white bars ; lateral tail-feathers with white ; stripe over the eye and under-parts white, the latter with large rounded dusky spots ; axillaries and under wing-coverts white with a brown bar across the latter ; iris dark brown, bill waxy-yellow, black at the tip and along the cubnen, logs oUve-grey, Length G-TH ; wing 4'1 ; tail 2-0 ; culmen -95 ; tarsus -90. The male is sUghtly smaller, and the black spots not so ni^unerous ; in winter the spots are absent and the breast is washed with grey, and the back is less glossy. Distribution. — Breeding from Alaska and Labrador south over the greater portion of the United States ; wintering in the southern United States and south to Brazil. In Colorado the Spotted Sandpiper, with the exception of the Killdeer Plover, is the commonest wader ; it ranges from the plains quite to the timber line, wherever there is a small pool or stream suitable to its wants, and nests everywhere though perhaps most abundantly at the higher elevations. It arrives from the south at the end of April or the first week in May and loaves again in September, though some remain a good deal later into the cold weather. Breeding records are : Boulder CO. 10,000 to 11,000 feet (Gale), Barr (Hersey & Rockwell), Brecken- ridge (Carter), Montgomery (Allen), Salida, arriving May 5th and breeding (Froy), Lily (Warren 08), Mesa co. (Rockwell), San Juan co. (Drew), La Plata co., up to 13,000 feet (Morrison). Habits. — This Sandpiper is often known as the " Peet- weet " from its note, or the " Teeter " or " Titups " from its way of balancinj^ itself on its legs a,nd elevating and depressing its tail with clockwork regularity ; it is rather solitary in its habits, and more than two are seldom found in one spot. Its flight is also rather striking, the wings appearing to be turned downwards all the time as it skims along the mud flat. The nest is placed on the ground in a slight depression near a lake or stream ; it consists only of a few blades of dry grass, slightly put together. The eggs, nearly always four in number, are rather pointed in shape and creamy or olive-drab in colour, spotted and blotched with brown and purplish ; they average TSO x I'O. Gale found fresh eggs between June 10th and 20th, 128 Birds of Colorado at elevations of 10,000 to 11,000 feet near Gold Hill ; Warren's nest and eggs were taken June 30th, while Allen's nest at 12,000 feet was found as late as July 24th. Genus NUMENIUS. Bill long, sometimes abnormally so, slender, down-curved and arched, the tip of the upper mandible slightly knobbed and projecting beyond the lower ; legs stout, tarsus covered in front with transverse scutes, elsewhere with reticulate scales ; hind toe well developed, a basal web between the anterior toes best developed between the middle and outer. A cosmopolitan genus of about nine species, three of which are common in North Anaerica, The smallest of these, the Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis), is not yet known from Colorado, but should be looked for as it is quite common on spring migration in Kansas. It is included in the key. Key of the Species. A. Large — wing 10 to 12, bill 4 to 8 ; primaries varied with rufous. N. americanus, p. 128. B. Medium — wdng 9 to 10, bill 3 to 4 ; pi'imaries varied with rufous or whitish. N. hudsonicus, p. 129. C. Small — wing under 9, bill 2 to 2*5 ; primaries without rufous. N. borealis. Long-billed Curlew. Numenius americanus. A.O.U. Checklist no 264 — Colorado Records — Say 23, vol. ii., p. 4 ; Aiken 72, p. 210 (2V. longirostris) ; Henshaw 75, p. 461 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 67, 200 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 228 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 09, p. 14 ; Rockwell 08, p. 160 ; Felger 09, p. 290. Description. — Adult — General colour above pale tawny rufous, mingled with dusky black ; streaky on the head and neck, more barred on the back ; primaries plain dusky on the outside web, barred with rufous on the inside ; below pale tawny with narrow dusky streaks on the fore-neck and chest, becoming nearly white on the throat ; bill black, paler on the lower mandible ; legs dark bluish-gi-ey. Length of a male 20; wing 11-0; tail 3-9; culmen 5-6; tarsus 3-0. The bill of a female taken the same day measures 7-5. There is little seasonal or sexual variation in the plumage, but the intensity of the rufous and the length of the bill varies a good deal with individuals. Coues states tho bill varies from four to eight inches in extreme cases. Hudsonian Curlew 129 Distribution. — Breeding from British Columbia and Alberta south to Arizona and Oklahoma, but chiefly in the prairie states ; wintering in the Gulf States and south to Guatemala. It is rare and only a migrant in the North Atlantic States. In Colorado this Curlew is a fairly common summer resident chiefly on the prairie portion of the State though mounting up into the parks to about 7,500 feet. It arrives from the south about the middle of April ; Salida, April 29th (Frey), Loveland, April 10th to 15th (W. H. Smith). It has been noticed in Baca co. (Warren), near Pueblo (Lowe), Fremont co. (Aiken coll.), Boulder co., breeding (Gale), Middle and South Parks, breeding (Carter), and is stated to be abundant near Fort Lewis by Morrison, while Rockwell believes that it is rare in Mesa co., whence he has only one record : Plateau Valley, 6,500 feet, in the spring of 1905 ; Felger states that it is a common summer resident about Barr Lake. Habits. — The Curlew is as often found on the dry upland prairies as in marshy places near water ; its food consists chiefly of worms, small mollusca, and insect larvae, and it probes for these with its long bill where the ground is soft enough. It has a loud whistling note, and if disturbed on its breeding-grounds, its harsh cries of alarm resound. Gale found nests on several occasions near Gold Hill. He gives May 1st to 15th as the date for fresh eggs. The nest is only a flight depression in a dry meadow bottom, and is lined scantily with a few blades of grass. The eggs, usually four in number, are rather ovate and not so pyriform as those of other waders. They are buffy to olive-drab, blotched and spotted with several shades of brown, and average 2*85 x 1*85. Hudsonian Curlew. Numenius hudsonicus. A.O.U. Checklist no 265 — Colorado Records — Beckham 85, p. 143; Thome 87, p. 264 ; Morrison 89, p. 181 ; Cooke 97, p. 07 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Resembling N. americanus, but decidedly smaller and with a shorter bill ; top of the head more or less uniform blackish- brown with a median and two lateral stripes of whitish ; general colour 130 Birds of Colorado paler nifous than in N. americanus, but with the inner webs of the primaries marbled with paler. Length 18 ; wing lO-O ; tail 3-75 ; cuhnen 3 '6 ; tarsus 2'7. A mounted example in the Aiken collection taken in the fall does not show the median pale stripe on the crown very clearly ; it is probably a bird of the year. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly far north in the Barren Grounds from Hudson Bay to northern Alaska, south on migration to wdnter in the Gulf states and Lower California and through the West Indies and Mexico as far as Brazil and ChUi. The Hudsonian Curlew is a rare migrant in Colorado, hitherto only recorded on one or two occasions from the plains east of the mountains. Beckham first reported an example which he examined, and which was said to have been shot near Pueblo. Thorne, and subsequently Morrison, noticed it near Fort Lyon on April 30th, 1885, and in early May, 1888, respectively. Hersey and Rockwell report it as rare in the fall migration at Barr. There is a single example in the Aiken collection, taken September 23rd, 1900, near Colorado Springs. Family CHARADRIID^. A large family containing the Plovers and their allies, in which the bill never exceeds the length of the head and is generally shorter ; it ends in a characteristic convex, homy terminal portion — the dertrum ; tarsus reticulate without scutes ; toes, except in Squatarola, always three in number ; webbing between the toes variable. (For key of genera, see p. 100.) Genus SQUATAROLA. Resembling in every respect Charadrius, but with a small and distinct hind toe, contrary to the general rule in the family. This genus contains only the Grey or Black-bellied Plover, a bird of wide distribution in both hemispheres. Black-bellied Plover. Squatarola squatarola. A.O.U. Checklist no 270 — Colorado Records— Ridgway 79, p. 232 ; H. G. Smith 86, p. 285 ; 96, p. 65 ; Morrison 89, p. 181 ; Cooke 94, p. 183 ; 97, pp. 68, 201. Description. — In summer — Above mottled blackish and ashy-white ; upper tail-coverts chiefly white ; tail barred black and \vhite ; primaries dusky with white on the inner webs ; forehead, Une over the eye and American Golden Plover 131 down the sides of the neck, wing linings and under tail-coverts, white ; rest of the lower parts from the chin to the abdomen, including the axillaries, black ; iris brown, bill and legs black. Length 9-75 ; wing 7-25 ; tail 2-5 ; cukaen 1-1 ; tarsus 1'75. A minute hind toe present measuring •!. In winter, and as generally seen in Colorado, the upper-parts are speckled dark brown and white, with a few spots of tawny ; and below white, washed with grey and slightly striped with dusky on the fore- neck and breast ; the axillaries, however, always black ; iris brown, bill black, legs dark bluish. Distribution. — Breeding far north beyond the Arctic circle in both hemispheres, south in winter chiefly along the sea coasts in America as far as Peru and Brazil. This Plover is rather a rare migrant through Colorado, and has generally been noticed in the fall on its way south. H. G. Smith reported two from near Denver, one a young male killed October 22nd, 1888. Cooke shot one near Fort Collins, October 28th, and W. G. Smith noticed it at Loveland. There is an example from Barr in the Museum at Denver, and one from near Colorado Springs in the Aiken collection. All the records hitherto are from the plains east of the mountains. Genus CHARADRIUS. Bill moderate, about as long as the middle toe and claw, tip swollen forming a " dertrum " ; wings long and pointed, the outer primary clearly the longest ; tail short, slightly rounded, less than half the length of the wing ; tarsus and bare part of the tibia with reticulate scaling throughout ; a basal web between the middle and outer toes ; hind toe absent. There are several species of Golden Plovers, but only one commonly occurs in North America. American Golden Plover. Charadrius dominicus. A.O.XJ. Checklist no 272 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 187 {C.pluvialis virginicus) ; Morrison 89, p. 181 ; Cooke 97, p. 68 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Summer — Above blackish, spangled with golden-yellow and white ; below, including the base of the bill and sides of the face to the eyes, black, bordered above by white ; tail barred brown and grey ; wings dusky, paler at base ; hning of winga and axiUaries ashy- grey ; iris dark brown, bill black, legs dusky. Length 10 ; wing 7-0 ; tail 2-5 ; culmen -85 ; tarsus 1'7. K 2 132 Birds of Colorado In -winter and juvena] plumage very similar to the above, but with less yellow ; below whitish, streaked and mottled on the sides of the neck and body and on the breast with dusky, but the axillaries always ashy-grey. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly on the Barren Grounds from Hudson Bay to northern Alaska, south in winter to the Argentine Pampas, passing mostlj' down the Atlantic coast and Mississippi Valley. There is very Uttle information about the occurrence of the American Golden Plover in Colorado. Ridgway included it in his list of Colorado birds, and Cooke states that a few pass in the spring and fall over the plains of Colorado below 5,000 feet. Hersey and Rockwell find that it is not uncommon at Barr during migration. There is no Colorado example in the Aiken collection. Genus OXYECHUS. Bill rather slender ; tail long, at least half the length of the wing graduated an inch or more ; pliunage with two black bands across the chest. One American species. Killdeer. Oxyechus vociferus. A.O.U. Checklist no 273— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp 152, 159 ; Aiken 72, p. 209 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Tresz 81, p. 243 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 15 ; Nash 83, p. 225 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; 87, p. 124 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 181 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 68, 201 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 228 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 14 ; Marlonan 07, p. 156 ; Rockwell 08, p. 160 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Adult — Above brown, with an ohve tinge, a white frontal band running back through the eye, bordered above by black ; a white collar also bordered by black ; rump and upper tail-coverts rufous ; wings dusky with a good deal of white on the secondaries and coverts ; tail dusky, rufous and white ; below white, with two black bands across the chest ; iris brown, eyelids orange-red or scarlet, bill black, legs pale flesh. Length 9-5 ; wing 6-4 ; tail 3-75 ; culmen -8 ; tarsus 1-3. The sexes are aUke ; young birds are rather duller above, and the feathers margined with rusty and the black bands are greyish. Distribution. — Breeding throughout temperate North America from British Columbia and Ontario southwards ; wintering in the Gulf States and southern CaUfornia south to northern South America. Killdeer 133 The Killdeer is perhaps the commonest of all the waders in Colorado ; it is a summer resident, arriving from the south early in March and breeding throughout the State, from the plains to about 10,000 feet, between April and June. It leaves again for the south late in October. Breeding records are : Barr (Hersey & Rockwell), EL Paso co. (Aiken) and Baca co. (Warren), in the plains ; Breckenridge (Carter) and Twin Lakes (Scott), in the mountains ; Mesa co. (Rockwell) and La Plata co. (Morrison), on the western slope. H. G. Smith in- formed Henderson that he saw three just east of Boulder, December 31st, 1904 ; possibly a few individuals winter in the State. Habits. — This little Plover, which gets its common name from its shrill two-syllabled whistle, is commonly found in Colorado, not only near water but in high, dry prairies and mesas. It is not specially gregarious, and is generally met with in pairs, except at migration time. As a rule it is not very shy and is easily approached, while it is bold and most demonstrative in defence of its young. It makes its nest on the ground, very generally near water on the sand, but at other times m meadows or cultivated fields and even in quite dry, high places. The nest, a poor affair of a few twigs is arranged in a depression. The eggs, almost always four in number, are buffy or drab, with spots and heavy blotches of dark purplish or blackish-brown, most numerous at the larger end. In shape they are very pyriform and pointed, and they average TS x 1'05. The nesting time appears to extend over a long period in Colorado. Gale found eggs exceptionally early in April, and gives as an average date, April 20th to May 20th ; an egg in the Colorado College Museum, presented by I. C. Hall, was taken so late as June 24th, near Greeley, and is stated to have been fresh and unincubated. Possibly two broods are raised. Both parents share in the labours of incubation. 134 Birds of Colorado Genus iEGIALITIS. Bill of varying size ; tail never reaching half the length of the wing, hardly graduated ; webbing of toes rather variable ; with only one, or an incomplete, black bar across the chest. A considerable genus of wide distribution ; three species and one subspecies are common in the United States, and two of these, ^. meloda circumcincta (the Belted Piping Plover), and ^. nivosa (the Snowy Plover), should occur in Colorado. The former is a common bird of the Mississippi Valley and has been taken at Cheyenne, and is recorded by Dawson (99) from Julesburg ; it is well known in Nebraska. The latter is common in Utah, and was found nesting by Goss in south-west Kansas. Both are included in the key. Key to the Species. A. Inner and outer toes webbed to the second joint ; bill short, black and orange in colour. JE. semipalmata. B. Web only between the middle and inner toe to the first joint. a. Bill short and stubby, black and orange ; a narrow black collar across the fore-neck, JE. circumcincta. b. Bill slender and black, no collar, merely a patch of dusky on either side of chest. JE. nivosa. Semipalmated Plover, ^gialitis semipalmata. A.O.U. Checklist no 274— Colorado Record— Cooke 97, pp. 68, 201. Description. — Adult — Above brownish-grey, below pm-e white ; a black ring round the fore-neck, bordered above by a white half-collar on the back of the neck continuous with the white throat below ; front of the face black, with a white patch across the forehead ; wing chiefly dusky, with white on the secondaries and coverts ; tail mostly white- tipi^ed, out«r-feathors nearly all white ; iris hazel, eyelids bright orange, bill black, orange at base ; legs pale flesh. Length 7'10 ; wing 4-75; tail 2-3; culmen -52; tarsus -95; toes webbed to the second joint. In winter the black on the head and neck is replaced by the brown of the back ; young birds have the feathers of the upper-parts edged with bufly. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly from Labrador to Alaska ; south in winter to the Gulf coast and southern California, and thence to the West Indies, Chile and Patagonia, The Semipalmated Plover is a rare straggler on migration in Colorado. It was obtained at Loveland by H. G, Smith, May 6th, 1890, and at Grand Lake, Middle Park, in the fall by Carter. There is an example Mountain Plover 135 at the Colorado Museum of Natural Historj'- at Denver, taken by Hersey at Barr in the spring, where it is rare. Genus PODASOCYS. Resembling ^Egialitis, but without black bands or patches on the breast ; tail short, less than half the wing, square ; tarsus long, about half as long again as the middle toe and claw ; toes very short, the outer one basally webbed. This genus contains only one species. Mountain Plover. Podasocys montana. A.O.U. Checklist no 281— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 152, 159 ; Aiken 72, p, 209 ; Coues 74, p. 456 ; Henshaw 75, p. 447 ; Tresz 81, p. 244 ; AUen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; DiUe 86, p. 29 ; 03, p. 74 ; W. G. Smith 88, p. 187 ; Morrison 89, p. 181 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 68, 201 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 10, p. 30 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Henderson 09, p. 228 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Male — Above pale brown, feathers edged to a varying extent with rusty or yellowish ; a black band across the front of the crown of varying width and piu-ity ; wings dusky, white on the shafts and on the bases of some of the inner quills ; tail dusky, paler on the outer feathers, edged with white ; frontal band and lower-parts white, a black stripe from the eye to the base of the bill and a rather faint grey or tawny band across the chest, but no black ; iris brown, bill black, legs pale brown. Length 8-0 ; wing 5-9 ; tail 24 ; culmen -9 ; tarsus 1 '6. The sexes are alike ; in winter there is no black crown or loreal bands, and the rusty or buff is more evident. Distribution. — Western North America, from Dakota and Texas westwards, hardly north of the United States boundary ; wintering from Texas and northern California to central Mexico. The Mountain Plover, in contradistinction to its name, is a common summer resident on the eastern plains of Colorado, though extending up into the parks to about 8,000 feet. It is fairly abundant in the San Luis Valley (Henshaw), where Warren also saw a female with two haK-grown young on July 19th ; South Park (Tresz) and Middle Park (Coues). It arrives from the south about the middle of April, though noticed as early as March 26th at Fort Lyons and March 18th at Love- land, and retxirns south late in October. It has been reported in addition from Greeley (Dille), from Barr, where it is very common on dry prairie (Hersey & Rockwell), from El Paso, Lincoln and Huerfano cos. (Aiken coll.), from Fort Lyon, eggs June 9 (Thome), and from Baca CO. (Warren). I have not heard of it anywhere on the western slope. 136 Birds of Colorado Habits. — This Plover is chiefly found about the dry, grassy prairies and mesas and also in sage-brush country, and is quite independent of the presence of water. It is a rather solitary bird, though after the breeding season may be met with in small parties of ten or twelve ; it subsists chiefly on insects and especially locusts and grass- hoppers, of which it must destroy enormous numbers. It has a whistle-like note, reminding one of a Curlew according to Dille, and when disturbed or molested in the breeding season, has the power of shamming bemg crippled or wounded, and at the same time shrieks as if in great agony. The nest is a depression in the ground, sometimes lined with a few stray grasses, sometimes without lining ; it is situated on the dry prairie as a rule. The eggs, nearly always lour, are not so pointed as those of most Plovers ; they are olive-drab, spotted and dotted especially at the larger end with shades of brown, but not blotched. They measure 1'45 x riO. Dille gives May 29th as the average date, for fresh eggs in the plains ; it is perhaps a little later in the mountain parks, as Allen noticed newly-hatched young on July 28th in South Park. Family APHRIZID^. This family was first formed by Coues to contain the Surf-birds and Turnstones. They have a stout, rather short, bill, a scutellated tarsus and four toes ; the anterior ones without webs. Genus ARENARIA. Bill moderate, conical and tajDering, culmen about equal to tarsus ; no dertrum or swelling towards the tips of the mandibles ; tail of twelve feathers slightly rounded ; tarsus short, about equal to the middle toe and claw, with a few transverse scutes in front, otherwise reticulated ; hind toe present ; no webs. Ruddy Turnstone 137 Two species are known, one nearly cosmopolitan, the other confined to the coasts of North America. Ruddy Turnstone. Arenaria interpres morinella. A.O.U. Checklist no 283a— Colorado Records— H. G. Smith 96, p. 65 ; Cooke 97, pp. 69, 201. Description. — Male in smnmer — Above, including the wings, varie- gated with chestnut, black and a httle white ; upper tail-coverts white ; tail chiefly black, but white at the base and tips of the feathers ; below white with a black patch on either side of the fore-neck, surrounding white patches on the throat and either side of the head and neck ; iris and bill black, feet orange-red. Length 9-0 ; wing 6-0 ; tail 2-25 ; culmen 9- ; tarsus l-O. The female has less chestnut and the black is duller. In winter the upper-parts are brown, the feathers edged with fulvous or grey ; below white with the breast dusky, mottled with whitish. Distribution. — Breeding far north from the Mackenzie River to perhaps Melville Island ; south on migration chiefly along the coasts as far as Patagonia and Chile ; rare inland. The Turn&tone is a rare straggler to Colorado ; H. G. Smith reported one from Sloans Lake near Denver, killed April 26th, 1890, and R. Borcherdt obtained eight out of a flock on Berkeley Lake, also close to Denver, May 18th, 1900. One of these latter specimens is exhibited in the Colorado Museum of Natural History in Denver. Hersey took one out of a bunch of three at Barr, September 9th, 1907. ORDER GALLING. This order contains the game-birds, such as Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys, Brush-Turkeys and Curassows ; they can easily be recognized by their short, arched bills, their strong legs, well adapted to walking, and their rounded, rather feeble wings ; the tarsus is often armed, especially among the males, with a strong, sharp spur ; the hallux is always present, and in all the Colorado species is jointed above the level of the other toes ; the wing has ten primaries, but the number and arrangement of the tail-feathers is subject to considerable variation. The nest is usually placed on the ground, and the young, 138 Birds of Colorado when hatched, are covered with do^vn and able to run and fly almost at once. Key of the Families and Genera. A. Head completely feathered. a. Tarsus bare and not feathered (Odontophoridce). a^ Head without a true crest, tail shorter, about | of wing. Colinus, p. 138 b^ Head with a full, soft crest ; tail longer, about * of wing. Callipepla, p. 141, c^ Head with an upstanding club-^aped crest, distinct from crown -feathers. Lophortyx, p. 142. b. Tarsus always more or less feathered (Tetraonidce). a^ Tarsus feathered for half its length ; with shoulder rufis, Bonasa, p. 147. b^ Tarsus feathered to the bases of the toes at least, but toes not completely feathered. a- Tail long, about equal to the wing, highly graduated and attenuated. Centrocercus, p. 153. * b^ Tail long, about i of wing ; not attenuated, slightly rounded. Dendragapus, p. 145. c^ Tail short, less than | of wing. a^ Tail strongly graduated, middle tail-feathers projecting ; no tufts. Pediocaetes, p. 151. b' Tail moderately graduated, middle -tail-feathers not projecting ; neck tufts present. Tympanuchus, p. 150. c^ Tarsus and toes densely feathered throughout. Lagopus, p. 148. B. Head and neck naked ; tarsus not feathered {Meleagridce). Meleagris, p. 155. Family ODONTOPHORID^. Head fully feathered ; tarsus bare and without a spur ; hind toe jointed above the level of the others ; plumage never metallic. Genus COLINUS. Feathers of the crown lengthened and erectile, but hardly forming a true crest ; tail of twelve feathers about f the length of wing. The genus is confined to North America, and goes as far south as Yucatan. There are two species only in the United States ; the Bob-White 139 tjrpical fonn of one of these only is found in Colorado. It is possible that the Texan subspecies (C. i\ texanus) may reach south-east Colorado. It is distinguished by its slightly smaller size — wing 4-4, by its heavier brown barring below, and its less reddish tone above. Bob-white Colinus virginianus. A.O.U. Checkhst no 289— Colorado Records— Drew 85, p. 14 ; Morrison 89, p. 181 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Bendire 92, p. 1 ; Cooke 97, pp. G9, 201 ; DiUe 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 228 ; Judd 05, pp. 9-46 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; Rockwell 08, p. 160. Description.- — Male — Above and the fore-neck chiefly rufous-chestnut, variegated and mottled with grey, black and tawny-yellow ; the rump and tail chiefly grey ; the edges of the tertials chiefly tawny ; a strong superciliary line and the throat white, bordered by black ; rest of the under-parts whitish with transverse double crescentic bars of black, and a few stripes of chestnut on the sides ; iris brown, bill dark brown, paler at the base of the lower mandible, legs brownish-grey. Length 9-0 ; wing 4-5 ; tail 2-6 ; culmen -55 ; tarsus 1-15. The female has the suiaerciUiun and throat buffy-yellow with less black around, and is less distinctly marked generally ; it is a trifle smaller — wing 4-35. Distribution. — Eastern North America from Maine and southern Ontario to northern Florida, westwards to south Dakota and eastern Colorado. The Bob-white did not extend much beyond central Kansas in the middle of last centvuy, but with the spread of settlement it has extended its range westwards over the prairies to the eastern portion of Colorado ; while at the same time it has been introduced by human agency all along the foothills-country from Pueblo to Fort CoUins. It is also to be found in Estes Park and Wet Mountain Valley, at La Junta and near Grand Junction, where it has doubtless been introduced as well. Bob-whites are not uncommon in the south-east corner of the State (Warren), but whether these are the eastern or Texan form is uncertain. It is probably a resident throughout its range. Habits. — The Bob-whites prefer fairly open, cultivated lands, meadows and pastures, with patches of bush and briars where they can take shelter. They are generally to be found in small coveys or parties, which do not range very far from where they were raised. In the spring the coveys break up into pairs. The Bob-white, which is often called the Quail or Partridge in the east, 140 Birds of Colorado derives its name from its call-note. This is usually uttered by the male when perched on a rail-fence or a low limb of a tree. The coveys very often roost in the open on the ground in a soHd circle Avdth heads out and tails in, and like all Gallinaceous birds dust themselves in little pits to get rid of vermin. The food consists of about 80 per cent, of vegetable matter, 15 per cent, of animal matter ; the latter, chiefly eaten in the summer and fed to the young birds, consists mostly of beetles and grass- hoppers ; the former of seeds and weeds. They are there- fore most valuable birds to the farmer, and should be encouraged and protected in every way. They are also a very valuable sporting bird, lying well to a dog and rising when flushed with dash and vigour, besides being exceedingly well- flavoured and wholesome for eating purposes. The nest is placed on the gromid ; it is a simple affair consisting of a saucer-shaped excavation, sheltered by a patch of weeds or grass, and lined with a little grass or small twigs. The number of eggs is large, usually 12 to 15, and as many as forty-two eggs have been found in one nest, though these are probably the production of several hens. They are pyriform and pointed in shape, and white in colour, and average 1*25 x 1"0. Dille gives June 5th as the average date for a clutch of fresh eggs, while Gale states May 20th to June 10 is the usual time. A clutch of fifteen eggs taken by I. C. Hall near Greeley, and presented to the Colorado Museum, were obtained as late as July 24th, and are described as being unincubated. But the Bob-white varies very much in this respect, and eggs have been taken in every month in the year, except December, in various parts of the United States. Scaled Quail 141 Genus CALLIPEPLA. Crown with a full, soft and depressed crest ; tail of fourteen feathers ; about I the length of the wing ; plmnage of the iinder-parts scaly in appearance. Only one species of this genus is recognized, confined to south-west United States and Mexico. Scaled Quail. Callipepla squamata. A.O.U. Checklist no 293 — Colorado Records — Lowe 95, p. 298 ; Anthony 95, p. 388 ; Cooke 97, pp. 69, 202 ; Bailey 03, p. 112 ; Judd 05, p. 61 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 10, p. 30 ; DiUe 09, p. 87. Description. — Adult — Above slaty-blue, washed with tawny on the wings and middle-back ; feathers of the upper-back and breast edged with black, producing a scaly appearance ; crown with a full, soft crest, tipped with white ; inner tertiaries edged with white ; below the throat is pale yellowish-white, the sides are slaty, streaked with white and the abdomen is mottled with brown and white ; iris hazel, bill black, legs brownish. Length 10 ; wing 4-5 ; tail 3-25 ; culmen -5 ; tarsus 1'2. A young bird has the upper-parts marked with black bars and white mesial streaks, while the breast is brownish with white triangular streaks. Distribution. — A resident from southern Colorado, south through western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to the valley of Mexico. The Scaled Quail was first found in Colorado by Lowe, who on June 10th, 1895, killed one in the eastern foothills of the Wet Mountains. Apparently they have always been abundant in the cedar country to the south of the Arkansas River, in Las Arimas and western Baca co., but diu-ing the last ten years they have been spreading north and east. In 1899-1900 they were very common near Rocky Ford (Cooke), and last summer (1908) there were quite a nvmiber round about Colorado Springs, while on June 2nd and 8th of that year a pair were killed near the summit of Pikes Peak — a most remarkable instance of their wandering propensities. They are also spreading eastward into south-western Kansas, and are well known at Monon and Springfield (Warren). Habits. — This bird, also known as the Cotton-top and Blue Quail, and sometimes rather erroneously as the Scaled Partridge, is chiefly found in open and arid country where the yucca, cactus and sage-brush flourish. It is 142 Birds of Colorado often far from water. In the autumn it forms small coveys, probably several families joining together, and thus remains till pairing time. Along the Arkansas Valley they are rather domestic and keep near the farms all the winter, and often nest in the gardens or close by. The food consists of about 30 per cent, insects, chiefly grasshoppers and beetles, and 70 per cent, vegetable matter, principally weed-seeds, but they undoubtedly eat a certain quantity of plant tips and buds as well. The nest is placed on the ground and consists merely of a slight depression lined with a little grass, but gen- erally somewhat concealed by a bush or tuft of grass. The eggs, usually eleven or twelve, are thick-shelled, somewhat lustreless and sub-pyriform or ovate ; they are white to pale buff, very finely marked, as a rule, with pin-points of reddish brown. I have no nesting dates for Colorado, but further south eggs have been taken as early as April, and as late as September. Genus LOPHORTYX. Crown with a crest of several upstanding club-shaped, imbricated black feathers at least an inch long, rather smaller in the female ; tail normally of twelve, sometimes of ten or fourteen, feathers, about 4 the length of the wing. Three species and subspecies of this genus are found in the United States and Mexico. Key of the Species. A. Lower-breast scale-like ; the edges of the feathers black. a. Occiput brown, separated from the whitish forehead by a black band. L. califomicus, S p. 143. b. Occiput and forehead dull brown. L. californicus, ? p. 143. B. Lower-breast bufiy -white, with a black patch on the belly. L. gambeli, J p. 144. C. Lower-breast and belly buffy-white, faintly streaked ; no black patch. L. gambeli, ? p. 144. California Quail 143 California Quail. Lophortyx calif or nicus. A.O.U. Checklist no 294^Colorado Records— Drew 85, p. 14 ; Cooke 97, pp. 69, 202 ; Judd 05, p. 47 ; Rockwell 08, p. 47 ; Cary 09, p. 180. Description — Male — Above slaty-blue with an olive wash on the wings and pale tawny edges to the secondaries and tertiaries ; head with a characteristic club-shai>ed crest of several glossy-black feathers ; forehead whitish, continued as a line over the eye, bounded posteriorly by black ; occiput brown ; . ides of the face and throat black, bordered by white ; sides and back of the neck mottled with black edges and white spots ; breast slaty-blue ; rest of the under-parts tawny-olive, rufous, white and black, the latter chiefly in narrow cross-bands. Length 10-0 ; wing 4-5 ; tail 3-75 ; culmen -5 ; tarsus 1-15. The female has the head dull brown above and the throat rather paler and streaked, but no definite markings ; it is also without the rufous on the abdomen ; young in first plumage have white, black- bordered shaft-Unes above, angular white spots on the breast and obscure grey bars on the belly. Distribution. — The lower transition and upper sonoran zones of the Pacific coastlands from Oregon to Monterey co, in California. Intro- duced into Washington and British Columbia and many other parts of the world. The California Quail has been introduced and has increased and thoroughly established itself in many parts of Colorado, especially in the neighbourhood of Denver, Colorado Springs and Grand Junction. About the last-mentioned place they have become so abundant that the farmers are beginning to complain. They have spread up the Gunnison Valley as far as Hotchkiss, and have also been introduced and have spread in Montezuma co. Habits. — Miss Eggleston, quoted by Rockwell, says : " A few years ago these birds were introduced near Grand Junction, and have multiplied rapidly. They make their nests under the piles of pruned branches from the orchards and bring out large broods. One hen has been seen with twenty-three chicks, of two distinct broods. They are very tame, sitting on the fence -posts or trees by the roadside, and caUing noisily to one another. They feed early in the morning, and large numbers of them can be driven from the gardens." The California Quail undoubtedly does eat and damage grapes, though in other respects it does useful 144 Birds of Colorado work in devouring grass-seeds. It roosts in bushes, not on the ground, and is not so good a sporting-bird as the Bob-white. The nest is a depression, hghtly lined with grass, and generally sheltered by brushwood or a rock. The eggs, 12 to 16 in number, are white or buffy, irregularly spotted all over with brown and drab. They average 1-25 X ro. Gambel's Quail. LopJiortyx gambeli. A.O.U. Checklist no 294 — Colorado Records — Morrison 89, p. 181 Cooke 97, pp. 70, 202. Description. — Male — Front half of crown and crest black, with a few white lines on the forehead ; posterior half chestnut-brown, a white transverse line across the crown, another running back from the eye, and a third surrounding the black throat ; general colour above ashy- blue, with dark shaft-lines to the feathers round the neck ; breast like the back ; other under-parts bitffy, rich chestnut streaked with white on the flanks, and a black patch in the middle of the belly ; iris brown, bill black. Length 6-5 ; wing 4-75 ; tail 3-75 ; culmon 45 ; tarsus 1-15. The female has the head plain greyish-browTi, a little whiter on the chin, ; the crest is dark brown and not recurved, and the black belly- patch is absent, but the lower-breast and belly are faintly streaked with brown. Distribution. — From Western Texas to southern California north to southern Utah and Colorado, south to Sonera in Mexico. The claim of Gambel's Quail to admission to the Colorado list seems rather doubtful ; Morrison gives it as rare in the south-west part of the State, and Cooke in more detail says that IMorrison shot three, forty miles south-west of Fort Lewis, This would certainly take one well over into New Mexico, so that although it most probably occurs within the State boundary, it does not appear to have been actually taken. Family TETRAONID^. Head fully feathered ; tarsus partially or completely feathered and without a spur ; hind toe jointed above the level of the others ; plumage never metallic. Dusky Grouse 145 Genus DENDRAGAPUS. Large birds without crests or any specially lengthened feathers, but with a bare space on the neck, ordinarily concealed by feathers but capable of inflation into a driom or tympanum ; tail long, even or sUghtly rotmded, about | of the wing, of eighteen to twenty feathers normally ; tarsus feathered to the toes. This genus contains one western species with three local races con- fined to the pine forests of the Rocky Mountains. Dusky Grouse. Dendragapns obscurus. A.O.U. Checklist no 297— Colorado Records— Pike 10, ii., p. 458 (Coues' ed.) ; Say 23, ii., p. 14 ; Allen 72, pp. 159, 164 ; Trippe 74, p. 399 ; Henshaw 75, p. 435 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Tresz 81, p. 189 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 181 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Bendu-e 92, p. 41 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Biu-nett 96, p. 64 McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 70, 202 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 09, p. 228 ; Judd 05, p. 41 ; Oilman 07, p. 153 ; Warren 08, p. 20 RockweU 08, p. 161. Description. — Male — Above mottled, dusky and slaty-blue, most blue on the hind-neck, the wings with a little tawny as well ; tail slaty- black with a terminal band of pale slaty ; below slaty-grey, varied with white on the sides and abdomen ; chin and throat white, spotted with slaty ; iris orange-brown, bill black, feet blue-grey, comb over the eye and neck -drum yellow. Length 20 ; wing 9-5 ; tail 7*5 ; culmen •8 ; tarsus 1 -8 ; weight about three to five pounds. The female is a good deal smaller — length about 17'5, wing 8-5 ; and has more dark-brown and buffy mottling on the back and chest. Young birds are like the female, but have in addition white shaft-marks and tips to many of the feathers, and the two central tail-feathers mottled and barred with dusky and tawny. Distribution. — The Rocky Mountains region from Montana and Idaho and the Black Hills of Dakota, south to the White Mountains of Arizona and to New Mexico. A resident throughout its range. In Colorado the Dusky Grouse is a resident, found throughout the year in the mountainous portion of the State, chiefly in the pine forests from about 7,000 feet to timber line. It has been noted from Estes Park (Kellogg) to the Wet Mountains (Lowe), and from Mesa co. (Rockwell) to La Plata (Morrison). It was undoubtedly killed by Pike on the slopes of Cheyenne Mountain near Colorado Springs, who alludes to it as the " Pheasant." Habits. — The Dusky Grouse, also knoA\Ti as the Blue or Grey Grouse, and more famiharly as the Fool-hen, 146 Birds of Colorado keeps to the heavy spruce timber most of the year. It is a solitary bird, never forming large flocks, though after the breeding season often seen in coveys or family parties along the mountain meadows. During the winter it remains in the thickest spruces, where it feeds on the pine needles and buds, and where its presence can often be detected by the debris collected underneath. The food consists chiefly of vegetable matter, about 93 per cent, according to Judd ; this is mostly made up of berries, especially those of the Kinnick-kinnick (Arctostaphylos), and of pine needles, buds and flowers ; the animal matter, about 7 per cent., is chiefly grass- hoppers, taken at high elevations in the fall or late sum- mer, when they are to be met with even above timber line. In the spring especially the male makes a curious booming or rumbling sound. It is said to most nearly resemble the sound caused by whirling a rattan cane round and roimd through the air. The production of this sound is connected with the two naked patches on each side of the neck. These are hollow vesicles in connexion with the air sacs, and are inflated to the size of half an orange at this time and are most con- spicuous, while at ordinary times they are concealed by the overlaying feathers. The nest, which has been described by Henshaw and Burnett, is placed on the ground, generally in an open glade, but sheltered or somewhat concealed ; that found by Burnett was placed in a hollow under two old logs, It is a simple structure of dried grass or pine needles ; the eggs, eight or nine in number, are whitish to buffy, with fine spots or dots of chocolate fairly evenly dis- tributed. They average 2"0 x r40. Fresh eggs may be looked for about the middle of June at the higher elevations, earlier at lower elevations, according to Grey Ruffled Grouse 147 Gale. Henshaw's nest, which contained seven eggs about to hatch, was found on the Upper Rio Grande on June 18th. Genus BON AS A. Head with a full, soft crest ; base of the neck with a ruff of black, fan-shaped feathers, concealing a rudimentary drum ; less developed in the female ; tail of normally eighteen feathers, long, nearly equalling the wing, truncate and sHghtly rounded ; tarsus half bare of feathers, covered in front by two or three rows of scutes. One species only, confined to North America, but forming three local races, makes up this genus. Grey Ruffled Grouse, Bonasa umbellus umbelloides. A.O.U. Checklist no 300b— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 181 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 181 ; Cooke 97, pp. 70, 159, 202. Description. — Above variegated brown, black, white and grey, chiefly the latter, spotted with i^aler dark-edged cordate or arrow-headed markings on the back and rump ; tail-feathers grey, vermiculated with black and with a subterminal black band ; below whitish, tinged with tawny, with brown cross-bars on most of the feathers ; fore-neck and throat mingled brown, grey and white ; on each side of the neck covering the shoulders a tuft of broad, soft, spreading, glossy, greenish- black feathers — the ruff or ruffle. Length about 17-0 ; wing 7*25 ; tail 6'50 ; cuknen '70; tarsus 1'65. The female is smaller— wing 6-75 — and has the ruffle less developed or even obsolete. Young birds are somewhat similar, but with more brown and without ruffles. Distribution. — The Rocky Mountains region of North America from Alaska and Yukon to Utah and Colorado. The Ruffled Grouse is a very rare bird in Colorado, but appears to be a resident at lower elevations in the mountains. An example was shot and others seen about eighteen miles south of Denver in December, 1894 (Cooke) ; Mr. L. D. Gilmore saw five near Sweetwater Lake in Garfield co., January 3rd, 1898, and several more subsequently, while Cooke was fortunate enough to see a family of old and young birds, August 12th, 1899, on the South Fork in Estes Park, which seems to point to their having bred in Colorado. There is no other definite record. Habits. — The Ruffled Grouse is celebrated for its " drumming," a performance carried out by the male l2 148 Birds of Colorado on a specially selected spot — a log or flat rock generally. The sound is caused by the rapid vibration of the wings, and is sometimes kept up for hours and resembles the sound of a kettle-drum. It is only indulged in by the male, and is a love-call to attract the female. Genus LAGOPUS. No crest, ruff or tufts ; only a naked comb over the eye ; tail short, about f of wing, of fourteen rectrices nearly covered up by the coverts ; tarsi and toes densely feathered to the claws ; plumage white in winter. A considerable genus containing three well-marked North American and three well-marked European species, as well as a good many less well-defined species and subspecies, all restricted to the boreal zone. White-tailed Ptarmigan. Lagopus leucurus. A.O.U Checklist no 304— Colorado Records — Baird 58, p. 636 ; Allen 72, p. 1G4 ; Aiken 72, p. 209 ; Batty 74, p. 390 ; Coues & Trippe 74, p. 426 ; Brewer 74, p. 348 ; Henshaw 75, p. 438 ; Coues 76, p. 263 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Drew, 81, p. 141 ; 84, p. 392 ; 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p.181 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Bendire 92, p. 83 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 70, 202; Warren 00, p. 169; 08, p. 20; Osgood 01, p. 180 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 228 ; Henshaw 05, p. 315 ; Judd 05, p. 47. Description. — In summer — Above, including the head, fore-neck and breast, mottled, barred and spotted with black, white and tawny ; tail, wings, belly and legs white, sometimes yellowish and discoloured, the white of the tail partially hidden by the long coverts ; iris hazel, comb over the eye red, bill black. Length 12-0 ; wing 6-75 ; tail 4 '5 ; bill -37 ; tarsus 1-20. In late summer after the post-nuptial moult, the dark parts are more uniformly grey with finer markings ; in winter pure white throughout. The moults take some little time to complete, so that specimens in every intermediate stage are frequently met with (see Plate 3). Distribution. — The Rocky Mountains at high elevations, chiefly above timber line, from British Colim^bia south to the Cascade range in Oregon and the Taos range in New IMexico. This Ptarmigan is fairly abundant throughout the higher mountain ranges of Colorado, and is a resident there all through the year. It breeds above timber hne from about 11,500 feet to the summits of the mountains, while in winter it stays about timber line though sometimes driven down to lower levels, perhaps 9,000 feet, by heavy storms. It [_E. R. Warren, Phot. THE PTARMIGAN AT CRESTED BUTTE. (1) IN SEPTEMBER (2) IN MARCH. [148 White-tailed Ptarmigan 149 was first taken in Colorado by Dr. Anderson, attached to Captain Marcy's party when marching from Fort Bridgor in Utah to Santa Fe, probably on the Cochetopa Pass, in January, 1858. It has been found nesting near the Chicago Lakes by Trippe and Evan Lewis (Brewer, Trippe and Bendire), near Breckenridge by Carter, near Crested Butte by Warren, in Saguache co. by Anthony (Bendire), and in the San Juan Mountains, San Juan co., by A. D. Wilson (Coues), and appears to be generally distributed. Habits. — ^This bird, generally known in Colorado as the "Mountain Quail," is with the Leucostictes the highest-ranging and most alpine of all the birds in the State. It is, where not molested, very tame and easily approached, and is chiefly met with among the rock- slides and bare, almost vegetation-free country lying above timber line. It is with difficulty flushed, and even where this is accomplished it flies but a short distance, and generally tries to escape by running and squatting among the rocks which it so closely resembles. Its food consists chiefly of leaves, stalks and flowers of alpine plants, and grasses, especially of Caltha leptocephala, the Rocky Mountain marsh -marigold. During the winter it feeds on the buds and needles of pines and willows. Its note is a loud cackle ; and it is somewhat gregarious, keeping in flocks of twenty up to one hundred individuals throughout most of the year, except in the breedmg season. The white plumage begins to change in March, but the summer-dress is seldom complete until the end of May or beginning of June. After the breeding is over the complete post-nuptial moult, common to nearly all birds, takes place, and the white wing- and tail-feathers are replaced ; later on, in October, a special moult of the dusky and grey feathers of the back commences, and the birds gradually assume the pure white winter -dress. The nest is generally near the summit of a ridge, and is merely a depression among the rocks, lined with a 150 Birds of Colorado little dried grass, a few white feathers from the breast of the female and sometimes a few leaves ; the eggs, usually eight in number, are oval and buff, of a light creamy or darker reddish shade ; the markings are few and well defined as a rule, and are of a darker reddish- brown ; in size they average 1*70 x r20. Trippe's nest contaraing eight eggs was taken on June 28th. Evan Lewis's at the same place, of only four eggs in which incubation had commenced, on June 19th ; while Wilson's nest from the San Juan mountains, containing five or six nearly fresh eggs, was not taken till July 15th. The male does not apparently take part in incubation, nor is a second brood raised. Genus TYMPANUCHUS. Head slightly crested ; neck with two long tufts of feathers covering a bare yellow tympanum or wattle capable of distention, like a small half-orange ; tail short, graduated, less than half the wing, of eighteen feathers, rather stiff and truncated ; tarsus feathered in front and at the sides ; toes bare and webbed at the base. This genus contains three species and one additional subspecies, and is practically confined to the United States. The Lesser Prairie Chicken (T. pallidicinctus) should be looked for in south-east Colorado. It occurs in south-west Kansas and Oklahoma. It is smaller — wing less than 8-5 — and paler and more bleached than the common form. Prairie Chicken. Tympanuchus americaniis. A.O.U. CheckUst no 305 — Colorado Records — Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 181 ; Cooke 97, pp. 159, 202 ; Horsey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Male — Above variegated with black, brown, tawny and white ; the latter chiefly on the wing, the markings mostly in irregular bands ; below paler, more regularly banded, chiefly white and brown, throat pale yellowish, sometimes speckled with darker ; primaries and tail-feathers nearly plain brown ; tail narrowly ti]iped with white ; a pair of neck-tufts of several long, stiff feathers, dusky and tawny, about 3 -5 in. long ; iris brown, bill dark brown, feet yellowish. Length 18'5 ; wing 9-0 ; tail 3-5 ; culmen -7 ; tarsus 1-85. Columbian Sharp- tailed Grouse 151 The female resembles the male, but is smaller — wing 8-5 — and has quite inconspicuous neck-tufts. Young birds have the feathers of the upper-parts with rather conspicuous white mesial streaks. Distribution. — The Mississippi Valley from Louisiana and Texas north to Manitoba and west to the borders of Colorado, east to Indiana and Kentucky ; migratory over the northern part of its range. Like the Baltimore Oriole, the Cardinal and the Blue Jay, the Prairie Chicken is gradually extending its range westwards with the opening up and settlement of the western prairies and the cultivation of the ground. Though included by Drew and Morrison in their Colorado lists, the first definite recorded instance of its occurrence seems to be that of J. S. Robertson of Barton, just two miles within the Colorado border line in the extreme north-east of the State, who had seen them twice on his farm in 1897 ; later on, in 1900, Otto Derr wrote to Cooke that at Wray the Prairie Hen is a not uncommon breeder. Horsey and Rockwell state that in 1907 a pair nested fourteen miles north- east of Denver, near Barr, and in the following year two pairs raised eighteen young. It may be considered an uncommon resident in the north-eastern part of the State. Genus PEDIOC^TES. Head slightly crested ; a naked jjatch over the eye bearing numerous yellow papillae ; no tufts or ruffs, but a semi-concealed bare patch on the neck forming a rudimentary tympanum ; tail short, less than half the wing, of eighteen feathers strongly graduated, the centra] pair narrow, square-tipped and projecting about an inch beyond the others ; feathering on the tarsus extending about half way down the toes, confined to the front and sides ; tees with a lateral fringe of horny processes. One species only, with two additional local races confined to North America. Key or the Species. A. More rusty and tawny in tone. P. p. campestris, p. 152. B. More buffy and greyish in tone. P. p. columbianus, p. 151. Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse. PedioccBtes phasianellus columbianus. A.O.U. CheckUst no 308a— Colorado Record— Gary 09, p. 181. Description. — Hardly differing from P. jO. campestris, but with the ground-colour buffy-greyish or pale greyish with little if any rusty tinge. 152 Birds of Colorado Distribution. — Western America, from British Columbia to northern California, and east to western Colorado, Cary identifies a Grouse taken by him in August, 1906, near Hahn's Peak in northern Routt co., with this subsj^ecies, and concludes that all the Sharp-tailed Grouse of western and sotithern Colorado should be referred to this form. He noticed the Sharp-tailed Grouse also in San Miguel, Dolores, Montezuma and Archuelta counties up to an eleva- tion of 9,500 feet, and concluded that they were this subspecies. Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. Pedioccetes phasianellus campestris. A.O.U. Checklist no 308b— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 152 ; Aiken 72, p. 208 ; Morrison 87, p. 58 ; 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 182 ; Ridgway 87, p. 192 ; Osburn 93, p. 212 ; Cooke 97, pp. 71, 159, 203 ; Gihnan 07, p. 153 ; Rockwell 08, p. 161 ; Warren 09, p. 14 ; Henderson 09, p. 228. (Some of these may refer to the other subspecies.) Description. — Above tawny, mottled with black, white and reddish markings, rather fine except on the scapulars, the white chiefly on the wing-coverts ; primaries and their coverts plain brown with white spots, chiefly on the outer web ; throat buffy, rest of the under-parts white ; fore-neck and breast with niunerous brown U-shaped spots, extending over the flanks to the lesser extent ; four middle tail-feathers like the back, mottled tawny and rtifous, others chiefly white ; iris brown, bill and feet horny-brown. Length 18 ; wing 8-75 ; tail 3-0, to end of longest tail-feather 4-0 ; culmen -6 ; tarsus 1-75. The female is smaller — wing about 8>0. A young bird is rather lighter and has white shaft-markings above. Distribution. — The prairie region of middle America from Manitoba to Texas and New Mexico, east to Winconsin, west to Colorado ; pro- bably a resident throughout. In Colorado this bird is by no means common. It was apparently more so in former days, but it is a species which prefers wild country and retreats before settlement, and it is now but seldom met with. It was chiefly an inhabitant of the prairie country east of the mountains, and was abundant formerly about Loveland (Osburn). It is occasion- ally met with in the wilder parts of Routt co. There is an example in the collection at the Capitol in Denver from Wray, presented October 19th, 1903, by B, E. Sisson ; Aiken observed ono near Limon in May, 1899, and Carter found it breeding in Middle Park at 7,500 feet. In south-west Colorado near Fort Lewis both Oilman and Morrison state that it is fairly common among the scrub-oaks on the mesas at about 7,500 feet, but whether it is the present subspecies or P. p. colunibianus, the characteristic form of the Great Basin region, is at Sage-Hen 153 present uncertain. Gary believes the Routt co. bird is referable to the other subspecies. Habits. — The Sharp-tailed Grouse is very generally mis -called the " Prairie Chicken " in the north-west. It is a bird of the prairie in summer, retiring in winter to ravines and wooded lands, and often roosting beneath the snow when the wea,ther is severe. The food consists chiefly of vegetable matter — about 90 per cent. ; it is a great browser, devouring leaves, buds and flowers of various bushes and trees, while in La Plata CO. it chiefly feeds on the acorns of the scrub-oak. In the breedmg season the males give a dancing display before the females. A nest, described by Oilman, was found on May 11th : it was a slight depression in the ground lined with grass and feathers, and hidden and sheltered by a small scrub-oak. The eggs were eleven in number ; these were creamy-buff to pale olive-browii, plain or very finely spotted with reddish-brown. They average 1'7 x 1*24, and are small for the size of the bird. Genus CENTROCERCUS. Head hardly crested ; neck with a large protuberance in front capable of great distention, covered above by long hair-like filamentary plumes and below with scaly, stiff feathers ; tail as long as, or even exceeding the wing, very strongly graduated, composed of 16 to 20 stiff, narrow, acuminate feathers. Only one species ; confined to the dryer parts of western North America. Sage- Hen. Centrocercus urophasianus. A.O.U. Checklist no 309— Colorado Records— Fremont 45, p. 284 ; Baird 58, p. 624 ; Aiken 72, p. 209 ; Henshaw 75, p. 437 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 182 ; Cooke 97, pp. 71, 203 ; Warren 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 14 ; Rockwell 08, p. 161. Description. — Male — Above mottled tawny, black and a little white, markings finest on the head, primaries and their coverts plain brown ; below, chin and the lower-breast black ; under tail-coverts black with 154 Birds of Colorado white tips ; breast covered with scaly, stiff, worn feather-bases from which project black, hair-lil-ce filaments ; a patch of downy white feathers on either side of the neck cover the naked tympanum or air sac, which is enomaously inflated under sexual excitement ; flanks and leg feathers mottled like the back. Bill black ; air-sacs yellow. Length 30-0 ; wing 13-0 ; tail 12-0 ; culmen l-o ; tarsus 2-25 ; weight up to 9^1bs. (Morrison). Before the breeding season the breast of the male is black. The female is much smaller than the male — length about 20, wing 11-0 ; the throat and breast are mottled like the back, but with more white, the air-sac is present but quite small, and there are no specially modified feathers. Distribution. — The sage-brvish plains of western North America from south British Columbia and North Dakota, south to south-east California and New Mexico, A resident with a shght vertical migra- tion in some parts. In Colorado the Sage-Hen is a resident chiefly in the drier sage-brush plains of the north and west of the State, but goes up to a certain extent into the mountains and breeds as high as 9,000 feet at Dillon (Carter)* and near Twin Lakes (Henshaw & Scott) ; but it does not seem to occur at all in the eastern plains. The following are localities : Grand, Routt and Gunnison cos. (Warren), Mesa co. (Rockwell), near Cortez (5Iorrison), the lower Trinchera Valley in Costilla co. (Brunner in litt.). Habits. — The Sage-Grouse or Sage-Hen is the largest American game-bird except the Turkey, and is remark- able in many respects. It is almost entirely confined to the sage-brush {Artemesia) areas, and its diet is largely confined to the shoots and leaves of these desert plants, and as a result — ^unless drawn immediately after it is killed — its flesh is far from palatable. The mating season begins early, and the courting habits are very remarkable. The males strut round with the yellow air-sacs enormously distended, so that the whole head and neck are balloon-like in appearance. With tail standing erect they scrape their breasts along the bare ground and finish the performance by expelling the air from the sacs with a chuckling, rumbling • It was probably in this neighbourhood that it was seen by Fremont, June 20th, 1844. Merriam's Turkey 155 sound. This courting act, according to Bond, is continued daily during the pairing and nesting season. The nest is a depression with a Httle grass lining or sometimes nearly bare, and is usually sheltered by a sage bush or clump of grass. The eggs, about eight in number, are olive-buff to greenish-brown, spotted with chocolate-brown ; the colour is superficial and easily removed from a freshly laid egg. The size averages 2*20 x 1*50. They roost on the ground often in the same place, as can be told by their droppings, and in winter they pack into parties of fifty to one hundred birds. Family MELEAGRIDIDiE. Characters of the single genus. Genus MELEAGRIS. Head and. upper-neck naked and earunculate, with an erectile process on the crown ; tarsi naked with scutes in front and behind, that of the male spurred ; tail broad and rounded of 14 — 18 feathers ; plumage lustrous and iridescent. This genus contains two species only, and is confined to North America. The domestic bird is without doubt derived from the Mexican race {M. gallapavo Linn.) and the Colorado bird is more closely allied to it than to the wild Tvu-key of eastern North America (M. g. silvestris). Merriam's Turkey. Meleagris gallopavo merriami. A.O.U. Checklist no 310d— Colorado Records— Pike 10, Vol. ii., pp. 442, 462 (Cones' ed.) ; Ridgway 73, pp. 186, 195 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 182 ; Cooke 97, pp. 71, 203 ; Oilman 07, p. 153 ; Warren 09, p. 14 ; Felger 09, p. 191. Description. — Male — Head and neck bare, dull bluish, with an erectile process hanging from above the bill ; chest with a bristly tuft ; feathers of the under-parts metallic bronzy-green and reddish, tijjped with velvet-black ; feathers of the lower -back and rump inetallic tipped with black ; tail, tail-coverts and feathers of the lower-rump tipped with bnffy-whitish ; iris brown, bill dusky, legs dusky red. Length 48 to 50; wing 20-5; tail 16-0; culmen 1-6; tarsus 5-26. The female is sinxilar but duller and smaller. 156 Birds of Colorado Distribution. — The Rocky Mountains region of the United States from Colorado through New Mexico and Arizona to northern Mexico. Turkeys were formerly abundant tliroughout the greater part of Colorado. Pike, in 1806, on his march up the Arkansas Valley to what is now Caiion City, several times alludes to them, and fed his soldiers on those he was able to shoot ; they are still to be met with occasionally in the less -accessible parts of the State. Morrison, in 1888, found them abundant along the Pine River in La Plata co. One was taken on the Buckhorn in Larimer co. in 1861 ; R. Borcherdt killed three out of a flock of twenty- five in the fall of 1868 on Plum Creek, south of Denvef (Felger) ; they doubtless still exist in the south-eastern corner of the State south of the Arkansas River, while Warren states that C. H. Smith, of Coventry, saw one in the San Miguel cailon in January, 1898. There is a mounted male example of a Colorado Turkey in the Colorado Museum of Natural History at Denver. It was killed by Carter near Canon City in January, 1878 ; another specimen, a mounted fenaale in the State Historical Society's collection, was obtained near Durango in the winter of 1895 by A. J. Allen, and both these seem undoubtedly referable to this subspecies ; but it is possible that the Turkeys of the lower Arkansas Valley may be the eastern race {M. g. silvestris), distinguished by their deep rusty tail-tips and the rich-dark chestnut of the lower -rump and tail-coverts. Habits. — Merriam's Turkey seems to be more of a mountain bird than the Turkey of the eastern states. It feeds on insects, berries and plant tops, and is specially fond of acorns. The nest is placed on the ground, generally sheltered somewhat, and is lined with leaves, weeds and grass. The eggs, eight to fourteen, are white, dotted with reddish-brown evenly distributed, and measure 2*75 x 1'90. ORDER COLUMB^. The Pigeons form a well-marked group, having no close well-defined relationships, except with the Old World Sand-Grouse. They are birds of moderate size with short legs, and toes without a trace of a web. The bill is very character- istic, the distal portion being slightly swollen and hard, and the proximal portion, in which the nostrils open, Band-tailed Pigeon 157 covered by a soft skin, forming what is called a cere. There are eleven primaries ; the number of tail-feathers varies from twelve to twenty ; the hind toe, which is always present, is jointed on a level with the other toes. The young, when hatched, are naked and helpless, and are entirely dependent on their parents for some con- siderable time. There are only three Pigeons found in Colorado ; they can be distinguished as follows : — Key of the Species. A. Large — wing 8 to 9 ; a rounded tail and a white collar. Columba fasciata, p. 157. B. Smaller — wing 6 to 7. a. Tail wedge-shaped ; black spots on the scapulars. Zenaidura m. carolinensis, p. 159. b. Tail rounded ; a white patch on the wing. Melopelia asiatica, p. 161. Genus COLUMBA. BiU soraewhat short and stout ; the soft basal portion roui^ded ; no black spots on the scapulars ; tail of twelve feathers about f the length of wing, nearly even, the feathers broad and rounded ; tarsus about half feathered and scutellate. A cosmopolitan genus with a very large number of species ; only two are at all common in the United States. Band-tailed Pigeon. Columba fasciata. A.O.U. Checklist no 312 — Colorado Records — Say 23, ii. p. 10; Henshaw 75, p. 429 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 6 ; KeUogg 90, p. 87 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 65 ; Cooke 97, pp. 72, 160, 203 ; Dille 09, p. 87 ; Henderson 09, p. 228. Description. — Male — Head all round and under-parts lavender-grey, paling to white on the abdomen and under tail-coverts ; a narrow white half-collar on the nape ; back slaty-blue becoming dusky on the wings, and with a patch of iridescent green behind the collar ; tail with a dusky black transverse band, the terminal portion paler than the back ; eye with a red ring, bill yellow, black at the tip ; legs yellow. Length 14-0; wing 8"25 ; tail 4-75; cubnen -7; tarsus 1-0. The female is like the male but rather duller ; the lavender of the head and under-parts is obscured by brown, and the white collar and 158 Birds of Colorado metallic patch are less weU developed or even absent ; the young bird is like the female, but has Ughter edges to the feathers and no collar or metallic patch. Distribution. — The Rocky Mountain region east to the Pacific, from British Columbia southwards to Guatemala ; a siunmer resident orly north of Arizona and New Mexico. In Colorado the Band-tailed Pigeon is a not uncommon summer resident of rather irregular distribution, chiefly in the mountains from 6,000 to 10,000 feet from Estes Park (Kellogg & Cooke), and the moun- tains about Glenwood (Cooke) southward. Other recorded localities are : A gulch near Geld Hill, Boulder co. (Gale), Mountains above the Platte Valley (Say), Platte Caiion (Smith), South Park, breeding (Carter), Wet Mountain up to 10,000 feet (Lowe), Del Norte (Henshaw), Durango, breeding (Cooke). Habits. — This Pigeon is particularly fond of the acorns of the various kinds of oaks growing in Colorado, and its distribution probably largely depends on the presence of these ; but it also eats berries in the summer before the acorns are ripe, and possibly other seeds as well. It generally goes about in smaller or larger flocks, and has an Owl-like hooting note. Morrison is the only Colorado observer who describes the breeding habits ; he found nests both on the ground as well as in scrub-oak bushes ; they all contained only one glossy white egg, measuring 1'63 x 1*09, The nest is a slight platform of twigs on a flat tree limb, while sometimes the nest of another bird is utihzed. In some cases two eggs are laid. The egg is described by Bendire as a pointed elliptic alovate, and averages 1-55 X 1*10. I have not found any nesting date for Colorado, but in Arizona eggs have been met with every month in the year, and several broods are probably raised. Genus ZENAIDURA. Bill shorter than the head, slender and weak ; a bare space round the eye ; tail long, about equal to the wing, of fourteen very strongly graduated feathers, which are tapered and somewhat obtusely pointed ; tarsus not feathered, scutellate ; black spots on the scapulars. Mourning Dove 159 This genus contains two slightly differing subspecies, spread over North America and the West Indies respectively. Mourning Dove. Zenaidura macrura carolinensis. A.O.U. Checklist no 316— Colorado Records— Baird 58, p. 604; Allen 72, pp. 152, 159, 181 ; Aiken 72, p. 208 ; Henshaw 75, p. 431 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Tresz 81, p. 188 ; Stone 81, p. 45 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 6 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; 94, p. 267 ; 01, p. 276 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 73 , 203 ; Keyser, 02, p. 43 ; DiUe 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 229 ; Warren 06, p. 20 ; 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 14; Gilman07,p. 153 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Rockwell 08, p. 161. Description. — Male— Above, including the middle tail-feathers, oUve- brown, the wing-feathers dusky with a slaty-blue wash and the inner secondaries and scapulars with black spots ; outer tail-feathers slaty with a median black bar, and tips of the four outer ones white ; head cinnamon-bluish on the occii^ut and nape, and a black spot below the ear-coverts ; sides of the neck irridescent pink ; below lavender-pink, becoming cirmamon posteriorly ; iris dark brown, skin round the eye bhiish, bill black, legs red, drying yellowish. Length 12-25 ; wing 6-1 ; tail 6-0 ; culmen -6 ; tarstis -75. The female is a httle smaller — wing 5-75, and the colour less bright ; a young bird lacks the iridescence and black spots, and has pale edgings to many of the feathers. Distribution. — North America from southern Ontario and British Colmnbia to Panama ; a summer resident north ; a resident through- out the year south of about 36". The Movirning Dove is a very abundant simimer resident throughout Colorado, in the plains and up to about 7,000 feet. At higher altitudes it becomes much more scarce. It was found breeding at Breckenridge at about 9,500 feet by Carter, while Drew states that it occasionally wanders as high as 12,000 feet. It arrives from the south about the middle of April though often seen earlier, and leaves in September. A few birds doubtless winter in the State ; Lowe saw a flock of fortj^ on January 7th, near Beulah, and Gale states that a certain number winter in Boulder co., while at Grand Junction it has been seen as early as February 26th, and as late as November 2nd (Rockwell). Habits. — This Dove, also frequently known as the Carolina Dove and Turtle-Dove, is of very wide distribu- tion and seems readily to adapt itself to its surroundings. It is found everywhere, but is perhaps most abundant 160 Birds of Colorado in the cotton-woods along the river valleys in the plains and foothills. It is a bird of strong flight, and the rapid strokes of its wings make a whizzmg sound. It has a very mournful, cooing note, which soon becomes annoying and tiresome to man, but which appears to gratify its mate. The food consists chiefly of seeds and berries and it doubtless takes a toll of the grain fields. The nesting season begins early, and eggs can be found from the end of May till the beginning of September, and doubtless two or three broods are raised in a season. In the plains the nest is most frequently placed on the ground ; in the mountains, according to Gale, more often in bushes and trees, but the nesting -sites chosen vary very considerably. Two fresh eggs taken by I. C. Hall, and presented to the Colorado College Museum, were found on June 1st near Greeley, in a flat nest of small twigs, placed on a heap of old, dead rushes in a marsh. Gale found nests at the angle where a branch joins a tree-trunk, upon the longitudinal branch of a bunch of undergrowth, upon the crown of an old stump, and upon the ground. The nest is a slight affair of a few twigs and sometimes a Httle dry grass. The eggs, generally two in number, though often only one, are pure glossy-white, generally nearly oval, and measure about 1*1 x "9 Genus MELOPELIA. Bill slender and lengthened, about equal to the tarsus ; a bare space round the eye ; tail shorter than the wing, of twelve broad, rounded feathers ; tarsus naked and scutellate ; no black spots on the scapulars, but a white patch on the wing. Only one North American species found along the southern border of the United States. White-winged Dove 161 White- winged Dove. Melopelia asiatica. A.O.U. Checklist no 319 — Colorado Records — Berthond 77, p. 83 (Jlf. leucoptera) ; Cooke 97, pp. 73, 160, 203. Description. — Male — General colour above, including the middle tail- feathers, olivo-brown ; top of the head and neck dull pinkish, an irridescent patch on the sides of the neck and a stooly-blue sjwt below the ear-coverts ; primaries dusky with a narrow white edging ; wing with a broad white bar from the carpal joint to the longest coverts ; nump and under-parts bluish ; outer tail-feathers slaty-blue, then slaty-black, then squarely tipped with ashy-white ; iris jxu'ple, bill black, legs pinkish-purple. Length 12-0 ; wing 6-5 ; tail 4-5 ; culmen and tarsus -87. The female is similar, but smaller and duller coloured. Distribution.- — The southern United States from Florida, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, south to Costa Rica and the West Indies. The White-winged Dove is only of accidental occurrence in Colorado. It is essentially a bird of the hot and dry lower sonoran and tropical zones. Berthoud reported that he saw a flock of a dozen and killed one or two in July, 1809, in Cub Creek in Jefferson co., at timber Une — a very remarkable record. Cooke states that one was shot by Mr. A. D. Baker in the Wet Mountain Valley in September, 1889. These are the only known instances of its occurrence. ORDER ACCIPITRES. This order contains the Eagles, Hawks, Vultures, American Vultures or Condors, and other diurnal birds of prey. They are characterized as follows : Bill stout, strong and hooked, with a soft-skinned cere at the base within which open the nostrils ; lores generally naked and bristly, never forming a regular rutf or facial disk as in the Owls ; eyes not forwardly directed as in the Owls, but looking out laterally as in other birds ; with a few exceptions, wing with ten primaries, tail with twelve rec trices ; legs generally rather short and stout, with three toes in front and one behind, cleft or only basally webbed, provided with strong curved and sharp pointed claws, adapted for grasping their prey. M 162 Birds of Colorado Key of the Families ajstj Genera. A. Head and neck naked (Cathartidce). Cathartes, p. 163. JB. Head and neck feathered. a. Outer toe not reversible, claws never all the same length (Falconidce). a^ Large ; whig over 17'0. a^ Tarsus feathered to the bases of the toes. Aquila, p. 181. b* Tarsus feathered about half way down. Haliaeetus, p. 183. b^ Smaller ; wing less than 17. a- Nostrils rounded, with a bony tubercle , edge of bill distinctly toothed. Falco, p. 184. b^ Nostrils without a bony tubercle ; edge of bill never toothed, though often festooned, a^ Legs with the tibia always exceeding the tarsus. a* Only the outer two primaries emarginate on the inner web. a^ Tail forked to half its extent ; tarsus reticulate throughout. Elanoides, p. 165. b^ Tail about even ; tarsus with transverse scutes in front. Ictinia, p. 165. b* Three to five of the outer primaries emarginate. a^ Face with an Owl-Uke ruif ; tarsus with scutes anteriorly and posteriorly. Circus, p. 166. b^ Face without ruff. a* Tarsus half feathered, with scutes in front only. Buteo, p. 173. b^ Tarsus feathered to the toes. Archibuteo, p. 178. b' Legs with the tibia and tarsus about equal. a* Tarsus feathered about } ; middle toe very long, without claw exceeding the outer toe with claw. Accipiter, p. 168. b* Tarsus feathered about i ; middle toe shorter, without claw not exceeding the outer toe with claw. Astur, p. 171. b. Outer toe reversible, claws all approximately the same length (Pandionidoe). Pandion, p. 192, Family CATHARTID^. Head and neck naked ; bill hooked, comparatively- weak ; nostrils large, oval and completely pervious owing to the absence of the inter-nasal septum ; toes long, basally webbed ; claws rather weak, slight^ curved and Turkey- Vulture 163 obtuse ; hind toe slightly elevated above the level of the others. Genus CATHARTES. Characters of the family : tarsus long, naked and covered with reticulated scales. Several species of Turkey -Vultures are recognized, but only one occiu-s in the United States. Turkey-Vulture. Cathartes aura septentrionalis. A.O.U. Checklist no 325— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 152, 159, 181 ; Tresz 81, p. 188 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 7 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; 94 ; p. 267 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 73 ; Henderson 05, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229 ; Warren 06, p. 20 ; 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 14 ; Gihnan 07, p. 154 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Rockwell 08, p. 161 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Adult — Pliunage black throughout, glossy in parts, and some of the feathers edged with dark brown ; wing and tail-feathers ashy below ; iris brown, bill white, head and neck naked but for a few bristles, crimson to pale carmine ; feet flesh-coloured. Length 27 ; wing 20-0 ; tail 10-5 ; culmen with cere 2-0 ; tarsus 2-25. The female resembles the male, but is slightly smaller ; young birds are darker than adults and have the bill and skin of head dark ; nestUngs are covered with white down. Distribution. — From southern New England, Manitoba and British Colimibia southwards to the Slexican border, where it merges with a smaller subspecies found throughout Central America and the West Indies. In Colorado the Turkey-Vulture is a fairly common summer resident, both in the plains and moimtains up to 12,000 feet, at which elevation it was noted by Morrison in La Plata co., and by Lowe in the Wet Mountains. It is specially abundant, according to Rockwell, in the Plateau Valley of Mesa co., where it arrives normally about April 15th, though at a lower elevation at Grand Junction it has been seen as early as March 18th and as lato as September 27th. To the east of the mountains it arrives about the same time. Other locaUties are : Weld CO. (Markman), Boulder co. (Henderson), Barr, not uncommon (Hersey & Rockwell), El Paso and Fremont cos. (Aiken coll.), Baca, Las Animas and Routt cos. (Warren) ; it appears to be generally distributed. Habits. — ^The Turkey-Vulture, more commonly known as the " Buzzard " or " Turkey-Buzzard," is a carrion M 2 164 Birds of Colorado feeder and a scavenger, and in the south is a most valuable aid to sanitation. When a carcass is found, the Buzzards assemble and gorge themselves to repletion ; they retire to a perch close by to roost and digest, and return again and again until the bones are picked quite clean. When in the air they sail and circle high with out- spread wings, on the look-out for a meal. They have no note or cry beyond a hissing, wheezy sound. Buzzards, though not usually gregarious, often use a common roosting -place — Rockwell describes such a roost in a grove of trees on Plateau Creek, where he has seen as many as fifty of these birds assembled at night time. Morrison found them breeding in the La Plata mountains at an elevation of about 12,000 feet. The nest was merely a ledge in the cleft of a broken boulder on the mountain side ; there were two eggs of a dirty-white colour, blotched with reddish -brown, these measured 2"73 x 1"95 and 2*70 x 1"91 respectively. The eggs were much soiled and the whole surroundings of the spot loathsome and evil -smelling. Dennis Gale is the other observer who has found the Buzzard breeding in Colorado. He reports that he saw several nesting in cotton-wood trees on the Little Thompson, with Blue Herons. They were probably making use of the nests of the Herons, though Gale, in his notes, does not dis- tinctly say 80. This was on April 16th. Family FALCONID^. Head and neck never naked (in the New World forms) ; bill generally stout, strong and hooked, with a cere or soft cushion at the base within Avhich the nostrils open ; nostrils never pervious ; wings with ten primaries, tail of twelve rectrices with rare exceptions ; feet strong, toes cleft or only webbed at the extreme base, the Swallow-tailed Kite 165 outer one never shorter than the inner one, and never reversible ; hind toe not elevated above the others. For key of the genera, see p. 162. Genus ELANOIDES. Bill rather weak ; nostrils oval and oblique ; wings long, acute and pointed, tenth (outer) primary about equal to sixth, ninth and tenth longest ; two outer primaries emarginate on the outer web ; tail very long, often nearly equal to wing ; very strongly forked ; the outer feathers about twice the length of the central pair ; tarsus short, half feathered, elsewhere with reticulate scales. This genus contains only one species. Swallow-tailed Kite. Elanoides forficatus. A.O.U. CheckUst no 327— Colorado Record— Cooke 97, pp. 73, 160. Description. — Male — Head and neck all round, a band across the rump and the whole of the under-parts, including the under wing- and under tail-coverts, white ; back, wings and tail glossy black with greenish lustre ; iris black, bill bluish-black, cere and legs bluish. Length 20'O ; wing 15-7o ; tail 10-5 up to 14-0; cukaen '9; tarsus 1-3. The female is larger — wing 17'0. Young birds have white tips to some of the wing- and tail-feathers, and the head with narrow brown shaft-lines. Distribution. — Chiefly met with in the middle and southern United States, from Minnesota and Virginia south through Texas and Mexico to South America. The Swallow-tailed Kite is a very rare straggler in Colorado, and has been met with only by Aiken. He saw one at Leadville in August, 1871 ; and the same month in 1877, two were brought to him in the flesh ; one of these was killed close to Colorado Springs, and is now in the Colorado College Museum ; the other at Manitou Park in Teller CO., at about 7,700 feet. Genus ICTINIA. Bill moderate, edge of upper mandible slightly lobed ; nostrils circular ; wing long ; eighth primary longest ; the tenth (outer) about equal to the fourth ; two outer primaries emarginate on the inner web ; tail nearly even ; tarsus half feathered with a row of transverse scutes in front. A genus containing two species, confined to temperate and tropical America. 166 Birds of Colorado Mississippi Kite. Ictinia mississippiensis. A.O.U. Checklist no 329— Colorado Record — Cooke 97, pp. 73, 160. Description. — Male — Head, neck, secondaries and under-parts greyish- white, rest of the upper-parts bluish-slate, becoming black on the primaries and tail ; wing-quills with a narrow indistinct stripe of chestnut-rufous on the outer webs and larger spots of the same on the inner ; bases of the feathers of the head, neck and under-parts white, and often showing through ; concealed white spots on the scapulars ; iris lake-red ; bill, cere and claws black ; feet red. Length 14-15 ; wing 11-50; tail 6-60; culmen -90; tarsus 1-35. The female is larger — wing 11-75; it has the head and secondaries darker, and less chestnut -rufous on the primaries. An immature bird has the head streaked black and white, whiter on the throat ; the back, wings and tail with tawny or white edges and the lower-parts whitish, heavily streaked with rusty-rxifous ; iris and feet brownish. Distribution. — The south-eastern United States from southern Illinois and South CaroUna to Texas, Mexico and Guatemala ; not uncommon in southern Kansas. This Kite is a straggler in Colorado. Breninger informed Cooke that an example taken near Trinidad was preserved in Denver, and Aiken reports that he once observed an example near Colorado Springs. Genus CIRCUS. Face rather Owl-like, surrounded by an incomplete ruff ; bill strong, beset by bristles ; the edge of the upper mandible lobed, but hardly toothed ; nostrils oval ; wings long, the outer primary shorter than the fourth, the seventh and eighth the longest ; the outer throe to five primaries emarginate on the inner web ; tail long about f of wing, almost even ; legs long, tarsus clearly exceeding the middle toe and claw, but shorter than the tibia, with scutes before and behind. A widely spread genus found all over the world, with one species only in the United States. Marsh- Hawk. Circus hudsonius. A.O.U. CheckUst no 331— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 152, 159 ; Tresz 81, p. 188 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Beckham 97, p. 121 ; Morrison 89, p. 7 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Cooke 97, pp. 73, 204 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229 ; Warren 06, p. 20; 08, p. 20; 09, p. 14 ; Giknan 07, p. 153 ; Rockwell 08, p. 161. Description— Male — Above silvery or bluish-ash, seldom pure, nearly always obscvu-ed by dusky and traces here and there of the juvenal tawny ; upper tail-coverts white, wing-quills chiefly dusky with white bases ; tail banded more or less distinctly with dusky, the terminal one most distinct ; below, the throat and breast shghtly ashy. Marsh-Hawk 167 posteriorly white with a few pale rufous spots ; iris brown, bill horny, cere greenish-yellow, legs yellow. Length 18 ; wing 13-5 ; tail 8-5 ; culmen 2-9 ; tarsus l-O. An adult female is larger — wing 15 ; and is dark umber-brown above, varied with reddish and yellowish-brown ; but the tail-coverts are white, and form a conspicuous mark ; underneath a paler tawny streaked with darker. Young birds resemble the female, and are often darker, but the tail-coverts are always white. Distribution. — Breeding from Alaska and Hudson Bay to about the southern border of the United States ; wintering in the southern United States and further south to Panama and Cuba. The Marsh- Hawk is a very common bird in Colorado, especially on the plains, where it breeds. It is not quite so nvunerous in the mountains, though it nests up to about 8,000 feet, and wanders as high as 14,000 feet. It may be considered a summer visitor, though undoubtedly a few birds winter in the plains. The following are chief records : Boulder co., wintering in the valley, nesting in hills and plains (Gale & Henderson); Breckrenridge, breeding at 8,000 feet (Carter) ; Orchard, March (Warren) ; El Paso co., February and August (Aiken coll.) ; Wet Mountains, up to 10,000 feet (Lowe) ; Baca co., very common ; Routt co., occasionally (Warren) ; Mesa CO., fairly common, April to November (Rockwell) ; San Juan co., up to 14,000 feet in September (Drew). Habits. — ^The Marsh-Hawk frequents meadows and marshy districts, beating to and fro near the surface of the ground with an easy and graceful flight and search- ing for its prey. This consists largely of small rodents, ground-squirrels and meadow mice, and to a lesser extent of frogs, insects and small birds. Occasionally when hard pressed it will take carrion or dead and wounded birds shot by gunners. The nest is always placed on the ground, usually in or near a marsh, and is sheltered by a tuft of grass or a bush ; it is a simple structure of dry grass and a few sticks, roughly thrown together, though when used for several successive years, a considerable amount of The eggs are usually 4 to 6 in number ; they are greenish- material is accumulated, blue to bluish -white and generally unmarked, though 168 Birds of Colorado sometimes blotched and spotted with buffy or bro\\ii. They average 1*80 x 1*40. The male assists the female in the construction of the nest, the incubation of the eggs and the rearing of the young. According to Gale, fresh eggs should be looked for near Gold Hill from May 25th to June 10th, but the notices of the breeding of the Marsh -Hawk in Colorado are very scanty. Genus ACCIPITER. Bill moderate or rather small, edge of the upper mandible slightly festooned ; nostrils rounded ; wing rather short, the five outer primaries emarginate on the inner web, the sixth and seventh the longest ; tail long, about f of wing, slightly rounded ; legs long, tarsus feathered about ^, rather slender, with scutes in front and behind, often fusing to one long " boot " ; middle toe very long, without claw, clearly exceeding the outer toe with claw. A large, almost cosmopolitan genus of some thirty species ; only two occur in the United States. IVEY OF THE SPECIES. A. Smaller ; wing 6 to 8-5 ; tail even. A. velox, p. 168. B. Larger; wing 9 to 11; tail rounded. A. cooperi, p. 170. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Accipiter velox. A.O.U. Checklist no 332— Colorado Kecords— Ridgway 73, p. 186 {Nisus fuscua) ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster S3, p. 197 ; Morrison 87, p. 27 ; 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 7 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Cooke 97, pp. 74, 204 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229 ; Warren 06, p. 10 ; 09, p. 14 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 ; RockweU OS, p. 161 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Male — Above dark slaty -blue, dusky on the quills, the tail with four cross-bands of dusky and a narrow terminal edging of whitish ; nape-feathers and scapulars with concealed white bases ; below white, the middle parts mottled in irregular cross-bars with pale tawny ; quills strongly banded below with black and white ; tail square ; iris yellow, bill bluish-horn, cere greenish, legs yellow. Length 12-0 ; wing 7-3 ; tail 5-75 ; culmen -6 ; tarsus l-S. The female resembles the male but is larger ; length 13-5 ; wing 8'5. A young bird is dusky brown above with ta%vny edges to most of the feathers, and the white of the head and scapulars often showing through ; below white, with longitudinal stripes of brown and darker brown shaft-marks. Sharp-shinned Hawk 169 Distribution. — The whole of North America, breeding from Alaska and Hudson Bay and Newfoundland south to the southern border of the United States ; wintering from about 40" N. to Guatemala. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a common bird throughout Colorado from the plains to abo\it 10,000 feet in the mountains, though chiefly breeding in the latter. A fov/ birds are resident throughout the year, but the greater number are migrants from the south. The following are the principal notices of its occurrence : Boulder co., resident in the valley, breeding in the mountains (Gale) ; Breckenridge, breeding (Carter) ; Barr Lake, common on migration (Hersey & Rockwell) ; El Paso co., March and April (Aiken coll.) ; Manitou Park, October (Colorado Coll. Mus.) ; Baca co.. May (Warren) ; Wet Moun- tains, common to 10,000 feet (Lowe) ; Mesa co., breeding, not known to winter (Rockwell) ; La Plata co., breeding (Morrison). Habits. — This is one of the most abundant of Hawks throughout the United States, and nothwithstanding its small size is well known for its dash and boldness. It preys almost entirely on other birds, often tackling species as large or larger than itself, such as Mourning Doves, Robins and Grackles ; it has a special predilec- tion for young chickens, and unless checked will clear a poultry-yard in a very short time. It is impossible to regard it as useiul or beneficial, except that it destroys large numbers of young sparrows. Its flight is very swift, and it will dash on its prey in the air, on the ground or even when sheltered in a bush. Morrison found a clutch of three eggs on June 22nd, 1886, near Fort Lewis ; an old Magpie's nest, the roof of which had collapsed, was made use of, a few leaves and feathers having been added to form a fining. It was twelve feet above the ground. The eggs are described as white with a purplish tinge, heavily blotched with brown, in one case so as to form a complete cap to the end of the egg. Bendire states that the usual nest is a bulky one, placed in a fir tree or occasionally on cliffs. The eggs, four or five in number, vary considerably ; they are 170 Birds of Colorado sonaetimes almost unmarked, and sometimes so heavily blotched as to conceal the ground-colour. They average 1-4 X 1*2. Gale gives the usual date for eggs June 10th to July 10th ; the latter at 11,000 feet elevation in Boulder co. Cooper's Hawk. Accipiter cooperi. A.O.U. Checklist no 333 — Colorado Records — Drew, 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster, 83, p. 197 ; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 7 ; Bendire 92, p. 192 ; Lowe 94, p. 2G7 ; Cooke 97, pp. 74, 204 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229 ; Gilman 07, p. 154 ; Rockwell 08, p. 162 ; Warren 09, p. 14. Description. — Closely resembling A. velox in plumage, but much larger with the crown a distinctly darker slate than the back, the tail more strongly white-tipped and rounded, not sciuare. Length 16-5 ; wing 9-1; tail 7-2; cuhnen .8; tarsus 2-4. The female is larger — wing 10-0, tail 8»25. The young bird bears a rather close resemblance to the young Goshawk {Astur atricapilhis), but it is smaller and can be at once distinguished by the generic character of the long middle toe. Distribution. — Breeding from the St. Lawrence Valley and British Columbia south to southern Mexico ; a migrant north, a resident south of about 40®. Cooper's Hawk is a fairlj' common bird in Colorado, and generally distributed, breeding from the plains to about 9,000 feet. It is stated to be a resident and probably is so to a certain extent in the south, though I have found no winter records, nor is it included in Gale's list of birds wintering in Boulder co. It is undoubtedly more abundant in the siunmer. The following are locahties : Boulder co., breeding in the mountains (Gale) ; Middle Park, breeding (Carter) ; El Paso co.,AiDril to September (Aiken coll.) ; Salida, May (Frey) ; Wet Mountains, to 8,000 feet (Lowe) ; Mesa CO., once in March (Rockwell) ; Naturita Canon, April (Warren) ; La Plata co., breeding (Morrison). Habits. — Cooper's Hawk is generally met wdth about moderately open country and cultivated districts. It is in every respect a larger edition of the Sharp-shinned : equally audacious and rapacious, but in Colorado far less common. Its flight is ordinarily not swift, but when in pursuit of its prey it has a wonderful power of twisting and doubling. It is very destructive to American Goshawk 171 poultry and pigeons, and according to Morrison, preys largely on grouse, hares and various reptiles. Out of 133 stomachs examined by Fisher, 34 contained poultry and game and 52, other birds, while only 11 contained mammals. Cooper's Hawk sometimes makes use of the old nests of other birds or even squirrels, and sometimes builds for itself. Gale found a nest forty feet up in a thick spruce, on May 29th, near Gold Hill. It was a bulky structure of sticks and twigs, with green sprays of balsam-fir intertwined, and contained four fresh eggs ; another nest, found June 28th, consisted merely of a few flakes of spruce bark lying on a natural bunch of matted scrub. The eggs, generally four, are pale bluish -white, sometimes immaculate, sometimes faintly marked with scrawls and spots of brown and fawn. They average 1*90 X 1*50. Gale gives May 30th as an average date for fresh eggs, and states that the female is often very bold and pertinacious in defence of her nest. Genus ASTUR, Resembling Accipiter, but with stouter and shorter legs and toes ; tarsus feathered at least half way down ; middle toe without claw not exceeding outer toe with claw, A large and very wide ranging genus, with only one species in the United States separated into two races. Key of the Species. A. Above slaty-blue, marked with slaty-grey below. A. atricapillus, p. 171. B. Above darker, almost sooty ; below markings darker and heavier. A. a. striatulus, p. 173. American Goshawk. Astur atricapillus. A.O.U. Checklist no 334— Colorado Records— Ridgway 73, p. 186 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 7 ; Osburn 93, p. 212 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Cooke 97, pp. 74, 204 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, 172 Birds of Colorado p. 229 ; Warren 09, p. 14 ; 10, p. 30. (Some of these records may more properly apply to A. a. striatidus.) Description. — ^Male — Above dark slaty-blue, most of the feathers with darker shaft-lines ; crown and ear-coverts almost black ; the eyebrow and nape with white bases showing more or less plainly ; quills dusky ; tail tipped with white and with traces, sometimes more, sometimes less distinct, of the four dusky cross-bars of the young bird ; below, except on the tail-coverts, mottled very finely with white and slaty-grey, most of the feathers with dusky-black lines ; iris reddish-orange, bill dark slate, feet yellow. Length 21-0 ; wing 13-25 ; tail 9-3 ; cuknen 1.1. ; tarsus 3-1. The female is larger ; wing 14.0. The young bird in the plumage most frequently met with in Colorado, is very different. Above dark brown, the feathers of the head, back and wing-coverts largely edged with tawny and with white across the back of the neck forming an indistinct collar ; tail with fine, distinct, darker cross-bands ; below white with a faint tinge of tawny marked with long brown, drop-like spots ; iris yello^v. Distribution. — Breeding in the northern part of North America from the Yukon valley and Labrador, south perhaps to Idaho and northern new England ; south in winter, casually as far as Virginia, Kansas and Xew Mexico. Tha Goshawk is a rather uncommon winter bird in Colorado, ranging from the plains up to about 9,000 feet. It is stated to breed in the mountains between 9,000 and 10,000 feet by Cooke and other authors, but I can find no evidence for this statement except that Carter found it in summer at Breckenridge, and Drew states that it is a rare resident in San Juan co. All other records are winter ones, viz.. Sugar Loaf Bill, Boulder co., February (Henderson) ; Arkins, Larimer co., February and March (Osburn) ; El Paso co., October and December (Aiken coll.) ; Wet Mountains, up to 9,000 feet (Lowe) ; Mosca, January (Warren) ; Montrose co., winter (Warren). Habits. — The Goshawk is very similar to the Cooper and Sharp-shinned Hawks in its habits. It is blood- thirsty and ferocious, and kills more than it needs, for the sake of killmg. It rather prefers a well-w^ooded country, and nests chiefly in the forests north of the prairie country. It preys on poultry, the large game- birds, rabbits and squirrels, and is said by Lowe to attack the Dusky Grouse in Colorado. It breeds early in the southern part of its range, laying from two to Western Goshawk 173 five eggs. These are pale bluish in colour, nearly always unspotted, and average 2*3 x 1"75. Western Goshawk. Astur airicapillus striatulus. A.O.U. Checklist no 334a — Colorado Records — Cooke 97, pp. 74, 204 ; Gilman 98, p. 28. Description. — Resembling A. atricapillus, but darker, almost s-^oty above, while below the markings are also much darker and heavier. A young bird is brownish-black above, this colour predominating over the tawny markings ; stripes on the lower parts broader and deeper black, and the thighs with large, often cordate spots. Distribution. — Replacing A. atricapillus in the west ; breeding from Sitka south along the coast ranges to about latitude 38'' in California, merging to the eastwards in Colorado with the typical form. Most of the Colorado Goshawks are intermediate, though on the whole referable to the eastern form ; a specimen, taken at Sweetwater Lake in Garfield co., February 12th, 1898, by J. T. Meiner, was identified at the United States National Museum as this subspecies ; and it is quite possible that others may be found nearer the western than the eastern bird. Genus BUTEO. Bill moderate, the cutting-edge of the upi^er mandible slightly festooned ; nostril oval, without a central bony tubercle ; wing rather long and pointed, the outer three or four primaries emarginated on the inner web, the sixth to the eighth the longest ; tail rather short from I to I of the wing, even or slightly rounded ; tarsi half feathered, scutellated in front, reticulate on the sides and posteriorly ; melanism very common. The genus contains the Buzzards, as they are generally called in Europe, and embraces numerous species found all over the world, excepting Australia. There are four common species in the United States, two of which commonly occur in Colorado. I have included B. lineatzis elegans in the key, as it is reported by Cooke to have been soen in Colorado by Breninger though it has never been taken. IVEY OF THE SpECIES. A. Four outer primaries emarginated on the inner web. a. Outer webs of primaries not spotted with white, a^ Above dark brown and tawny, without white. a^ Tail in adult rich rufous, with a subterminal band of black. B. b. calurus, p. 174, b^ Tail mottled with greyish, rusty, white and dusky. B. b. harlani, p. 176. 174 Birds of Colorado b"- Above lighter, with a good deal of white, especially on the head and tail-coverts ; tail pale rufous. B. b. krideri, p. 175. b. Outer webs of primaries spotted with white. B. 1. elegans. B. Only the three outer primaries emarginate on the inner web. B. swainsoni, p. 176. Western Red-tail. Buteo horealis calurus. A.O.U. Checklist no 337b — Colorado Records — Baird 54 p. 12 {B. montanus) ; Allen 72, p. 152 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Dille 87, p. 97 ; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 7 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 75, 204 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 ; Warren 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 14 ; Rockwell 08, p. 162. Description. — Adult female — Above dark smoky-brown tliroughout, with a few inconspicuous traces of tawny to the edges of some of the feathers, but hardly a trace of white ; tail rich rufous, with a sub- terminal band of black and traces of other bands more or less complete, and a narrow whitish tip ; below mingled smoky-brown and tawny, the former chiefly on the throat and belly, the latter chiefly on the breast and thighs ; iris brown, bill bluish-horn, cere yellowish, legs yellow. Length 22-5 ; wing 16 ; tail 8-5 ; culmen 1-4 ; tarsus 3-6. The male is smaller — wing 15.25. Other individuals in the light phase are rather paler above, and are more marked with tawny, while below they are chiefly white with a httle tawny on the throat and a few dark shaft-marks across the belly. In this plumage they are hardly separable from the true B. borealis. Intergrades between the dark and light phases are quite common. Young birds are like the adults, but have a little more white and tawny ; the tail like the back with 10 — 12, narrow, dusky black, trans- verse bars and a terminal white tip ; below white with a few spots of smoky brown, and the thigh transversely banded or showing traces of transverse bands of dusky tawny. Distribution. — Western North America from Mackenzie and British Columbia south along the eastern bases of the Rocky Mountains to north-west Texas and west to the Pacific. The Western Red-tail is the commonest of the larger Hawks in Colorado ; it is a resident, though much more common in the su:nmer. The migrants arrive in March and breed in May and early June from the plains up to at least 12,000 feet, according to Drew, though I know of no definite record higher than Breckenridge (9,500 feet). The following are recorded localities : Willow Creek, Weld co., breed- ing (Dille 87) ; Estes Park (Kellogg) ; Boulder co., wintering in valley. Krider's Hawk 175 nesting in hills (Gale) ; EI Paso co., March, May, October (Aiken coll.) ; Wet Mountains to 10,000 feet (Lowe) ; Mesa co., breeding to 9,000 feet (Rockwell) ; San Juan co., breeding (Drew) ; Fort Lewis, breeding (Morrison). Habits. — The Red-tail, often called the Hen-Hawk, suffers a good deal of unjust persecution, on account perhaps of its name, for it is undoubtedly of considerable service to the farmer. Though it may occasionally take a chicken, the great bulk of its prey consists of mice and other small mammals : out of 562 stomachs examined by Fisher, 409 contained traces of these. It also destroys a good many snakes as well as large numbers of grasshoppers, especially in the fall, and the good it does undoubtedly far exceeds the harm. In the plains and lower valleys the Red-tail builds in tall cotton-woods ; at higher elevations, in spruces, on sandstone ridges in the chffs (see Plate 4), or in scrub- oak eight to ten feet up. Morrison, Dille, Rockwell and Gale all give accounts of the nesting habits. Gale found a nest near Gold Hill, May 27th, 1884 ; it was placed in the crotch of an upper Umb of a cotton- wood, about thirty- five feet above the ground, and was a bulky structure, built of twigs and lined with a httle dry grass and a few green sprays of the cotton- wood. It contained three nearly fresh eggs — the usual number. These were greenish chalky-white, varyingly but scantily marked with brown ; they average 1"3 x 1*8. The parents made no effort to defend their nest, but quietly withdrew. Krider's Hawk. Buteo horealis krideri. A.O.U. CheokUst no 337a — Colorado Records — Dille 87, p. 99 ; Cooke 97, p. 74. Description. — Closely resembUng B. b. calurus but lighter-coloured, with a great deal of white on the upjDor side, especially on the upper tail-coverts and head ; tail pale rufous, usually without the black 176 Birds of Colorado eubterminal bar ; below almost entirely white with sometimes a few brown sj^ots across the belly. In a young bird the tail has a whitish wash, and is crossed by the usual 10 to 12 narrow transverse bars. Distribution. — The Great Plains of middle America from Minnesota and Iowa south to Texas. This, a very pale form of the Red-tail, seems to occur on the eastern plains and foothills of Colorado. Cooke gives it as a resident since DiUe found a nest and three eggs, May 24th, in Weld co., west of Greeley. There are two young Red-tails in the Colorado College Museiun, which seem to be referable to this subspecies, one taken by Aiken near Colorado Springs, September 27th, 1902, the other shot by J. F. Baker at Manitou Park, August 29th, 1906. Harlan's Hawk. Buteo borealis harlani. A.O.U. Checklist no 337d— Colorado Records— Ridgway 84, p. 253, 85, p. 165 ; Cooke 97, p. 75. Description. — Resembling B. b. cahnus, but with the tail confusedly and irregularly mottled with grej'ish, rusty, white and dusky, crossed near the end with a subterminal band of black, and tipped with white ; upper-parts sooty to black ; lower -parts varying from sooty to white, but rarely if ever with tawny or ochraceous. Distribution.^ — The Gulf States and lower Mississippi Valley, casually north to Kansas, Iowa and Pennsylvania. A Hawk obtained by Aiken in El Paso co. some time before 1875, was referred by Ridgway to this subspecies. I have not been able to trace this specimen in the Aiken collection. Swainson's Hawk. Buteo swainsoni. A.O.U. Checklist no 342— Colorado Records— Baird 54, p. 11 ; 58, p. 19 ; Henshaw 75, p. 421 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Dille 87, p. 97 ; 03, p. 74 ; Morrison 88, p. 116 ; 89, p. 7 ; Fisher 93, p. 72 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Cooke 97, pp. 75, 204 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 229 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Gihnan 07, p. 154 ; Rockwell 08, p. 162. Description. — Male in normal phase — Above dusky-brown with often paler but never tawny edges to the feathers ; upper tail-coverts banded with white ; tail slaty or brown, with a narrow bar of black ; wings with the three outer primaries only , narrowed or cut out on tho inner web ; below throat and belly white, contrasted with a reddish-brown chest-band ; tho im.der-parts sometimes washed and mottled with chestnut to varying extent ; iris brown, bill black, cere and logs greenish- yellow. Length 18 ; wing 14.5 ; tail 7-5 ; culmen 1-2 ; tarsus 2-6. Swainson's Hawk 177 The female is larger — wing 16, and has the pectoral-patch dark sooty - brown instead of rufous-brown. In the complete dark or melanistic phase the under-parts are dusky brown throughout with the under tail-coverts spotted or barred with rufous and white ; between this and the normal phase every gradation exists. Young birds are dark, almost black above, varied with tawny or yellowish-white edgings to the feathers, especially on the head ; below pale tawny, spotted with dusky to a varying extent, sometimes only a few spots on the breast, sometimes almost completely covered with spots. A species with very puzzling changes of plumage, but easily recognized in any stage by the cutting out of the three outer primaries only. Distribution. — Western North America from Alaska and Manitoba south to Arkansas, and west to the Pacific ; further south through central and South America as far as the Argentine ; north of about 40" a summer migrant, south of 40*^ a resident. In Colorado, Swainson's Hawk is an abundant resident, perhaps more abundant in summer than in winter, and more frequently met with on the eastern plains than in the mountains, though it is reported to breed up to 10,000 feet in the Wet Mountains by Lowe, at Breckenridge (Carter) and at Crested Butte (Warren). Other localities are : Weld co., breeding (Dille) ; near Limon, breed- ing (Aiken) ; El Paso co., March, June (Aiken coll.) ; Fort Lyon (Thome apiid Fisher) ; Mesa co., common in summer, resident, but not known in winter (Rockwell) ; La Plata co., breeding (Morrison). Habits. — Swainson's Hawk is chiefly a bird of the open prairie or sage-brush country, and is seldom found in heavy timber or in the mountains strictly speaking. It is reputed to be a gentle and unsuspicious bird, and most inoffensive for a Hawk, frequently sharing a nesting- tree with a King-Bird or Oriole. Its food consists almost entirely of small rodents, mice and gophers, while in the autumn it preys largely on grasshoppers and locusts, hopping after them across the fields in a rather ludicrous manner. It is occasionally found in large flocks. Aiken saw about a dozen birds, March 11th, 1901, in a tree in one of the chief streets of Colorado Springs. Those he secured were all in the melanistic phase, and he was told that there was a large flock of at least five hundred in the Fountain Valley, just below the town. A similar 178 Birds of Colorado instance was noticed by A. S. Bennett at Lay in Routt CO., July 10th, 1889 (Fisher). In this case they were engaged in feeding on locusts. The nest, accordhig to Gale, is generally placed in a cotton -wood tree, about twenty- five to fifty feet above the ground. It is made of twigs and lined with a little grass or strips of pine bark. The eggs, usually three according to Gale, two according to Bendire, are faintly greenish, and are as a rule very lightly spotted and marked with reddish-brown. They average 2-25 x 1'7. The old nest is generally occupied year after year. Gale found fresh eggs from May 15th to 30th. Dille gives June 5th. Genus ARCHIBUTEO. Very similar to Buteo, but with the tarsus feathered to the base of the toes ; usually four outer primaries emarginate on the inner web ; melanism very common. A small section of the Buzzards, with representatives in the northern parts of the Old and New Worlds ; two species in the United States. Key of the Species. A. BiU smaller and weaker, chord of the cuhnen and cere about 1-2 ; belly with a patch of black in the normal phase. A. 1. sancti-johannis, p. 178. B. Bill stouter and stronger, chord of the cubnen and cere about 1-6. thighs rufous with black cross-bands in normal phase. A. ferrugineus, p. 179. American Rough-legged Hawk. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis. A.O.U. Checklist no 347a — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 186 ; Henshaw 75, p. 425 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 8 ; Nash 96, p. 15 ; Cooke 97, p. 75. Description. — Pltunago very variable — in the normal light phase, mingled white, dusky brown and black above, white prevailing on the head, the upper tail-coverts and the inner webs of tho primaries above the notch ; tail chiefly white, with two or three transverse black bands and a white tip ; below mottled white and dusky, sometimes with a Ferruginous Rough-leg 179 tawny wash, often the black massed across the abdomen. Young birds are very similar, but have the basal half of the tail white, the terminal portion dusky brown with a white ti^J, while below the brown is chiefly massed across the belly. In the melanistic phase both young and old are entirely deep black, except for the white forehead, the white on the inner webs of the quills above the notch, and some broken bands on the tail. The two phases are connected by every gradation of intermediate states. Iris brown or yellow, bill bluish-horn, cere and legs yellow, claws black. Length (of a male) 21 ; wing 17'5 ; culmen 1>2 ; tarsus 2 7. The female is larger — wing 18-0. Distribution. — Breeding in the northern North America, from Alaska and Yukon to the lower St. Lawrence Valley ; south in winter over the greater part of the United States as far south as Virginia and southern CaHfornia, In Colorado the Rough-legged Hawlv is not uncomon on the eastern plains, and perhaps in the foothills from November to March, but it has been but little noticed, and definite records are wanting. I have not heard of it on the western slopes. There are several examples in the Aiken collection from El Paso co., one an adult male taken January 15th ; and Henshaw also states that he saw several near Colorado Springs in November. Warren informs me that Mr. Hersey shot one near Orchard as late as March 26th. Habits. — The Rough-legged Hawk is a peaceful and unoffending bird, which preys chiefly on meadow mice or voles of the Arvicoline group in its winter range, and on lemmings in the far north. As the voles are highly destructive to crops and to fruit trees, especially in winter, this Hawk is undoubtedly a most valuable aid to the farmer, and should be most rigidly protected. It is somwehat crepuscular in its habits, and obtains its prey either by watching from a fixed point or beating to and fro, like the Harrier or Marsh-Hawk, over the meadows with slow and noiseless flight. Ferruginous Rough-leg. Archibuteo ferrugineus. A.O.U. Checklist no 348— Colorado Records— Ridgway 73, p. 186 ; Henshaw 75, p. 425 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Dille 85, p. 44 ; 87, p. 97 ; 03, p. 74 ; Morrison 89, p. 8 ; Kellogg 90, p. 90 ; Bendire 92, p. 259 ; Lowe 97, p. 69 ; Cooke 97, pp. 75, 204 ; n2 180 Birds of Colorado Markman 07, p. 156 ; Richards 08, p. 38 ; Henderson 09, p. 229 ; Warren 10, p. 30. Description. — Normal phase — Above dusky-brown, the feathers fedged with tawny-rufous and a little white, more pronounced toward the neck and head ; tail white at the base and tip, rest ashy tinged at the edge with tawny ; below white, legs and thighs rich chestnut barred with dusky, a few cross-Unes of dusky on the belly and shaft- lines on the breast ; iris yellow to brown, bill bluish-horn, greenish- yellow at the base, below and on the cere ; legs yellow. Length (of a female), 24-5 ; wing 18-5 ; tail 9'75 ; cuhnen 1-6 ; tarsus 3-6. A male is much smaller — wing lO-S. A young bird has less tawny and more white above, and traces of dusky bands on the tail ; below pure white including the legs, with a few brown spots and streaks here and there. Dark or raelanistic phase — sooty-black above and below, except for the under side of the tail-feathers and the bases of the wing- quiUs above the notch on the inner web, where it is white ; inter- mediate forms varied with tawny to a greater or less extent are frequently met with. Distribution. — Western North America from Saskatchewan to Mexico, and from the Dakotas and Texas to the Pacific ; chiefly on the plains and prairies. A resident at laast as far north as Colorado. The Ferruginous Rough-leg, perhaps more commonly known as the Squirrel-Hawk, is a fairly common resident-bird in eastern Colorado on the plains and up into the parks, breeding 'joth in the plains and as high as Breckenridgo (Carter), but wintering chiefly in the plains. It does not seem to be common on the western slope, though Warren tells me he saw it in the fall near Crested Butto. Rockwell gives no definite information of its occurrence in Mesa co. The following are recorded localities : Estes Park, common (Kellogg), near Boulder (Henderson), Weld co., breeding (Dille), Littleton, near Denver, on • Christmas Day (Richards), El Paso co., January and June (Aiken coll.), Limon, breeding (Aiken), near Medano Ranch, July (Warren). Habits. — This large and powerful Hawk is chiefly a bird of the open plains and prairies, where it gets its living by preying on ground-squirrels or gophers, other small mammals and reptiles ; it never seems to kill birds or poultry — perhaps its flight is too sluggish. It builds a very large nest in the branches of a cotton-wood or willow in Colorado, but in localities where trees are scarce it nests on the ground, usually on rocky hillsides Golden Eagle 181 or on a ledge in the precipitous banks of streams. Dille has taken several nests near Greeley. They are built up of stout sticks, and lined with tufts of grass with the roots still on. The eggs are usually three or four in number and very handsome, being dull-creamy to pale greenish-white, spotted and blotched to a varying extent with hlacs and browns. They average about 2-40 X 1-95. Genus AQUILA. Birds of a large size and robust form — wing 24 to 26 ; bill and claws very powerful, the claw of the hind toe the largest, exceeding the outer toe (without claw). In most structural characters resembling Archi- biiieo, with a fully feathered tarsus. Occiput and nape with lanceolate and acute feathers. There is only one species of the genus in the Americas — the Golden Eagle — while in the Old World there are several others. Golden Eagle. Aquila chrysaetos. A.O.U. Checkhst no 349— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 159 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 8 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Bendu-e 92, p. 263 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Cooke 97, pp. 75, 204 ; Plenderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Oberholser 06, p. 20 ; Gihnan 07, p. 154 ; Warren 08, p. 10 ; Rockwell 08, p. 162 ; Warren 09, p. 14. Description. — Male — Above and below dark sepia-brown, often a little lighter about the wing-coverts ; the feathers at the base of the neck elongated and pointed, and a tawny-fulvous shade ; iris brown, bill and claws bluish-horn, cere and feet greenish-j'ellow. Length 32 ; wing 24.5; tail 13 ; cubnen 1-9 ; tarsus 3-7. The female is larger — wing 25>5, tail 14. A young bird somewhat resenables the adult, but has the basal half of the tail white, the long neok-feathers hardly differentiated, and a good deal of concealed white on the scapulars, breast and primaries. Distribution. — The northern portions of the Old and New Worlds, in the latter from Alaska to Labrador south of the Barren Grounds, extending southward in western America nearly to Mexico City, and in the east along the AUeghanies to South CaroUna, chiefly in the mountains. In Colorado the Golden Eagle is a far from uncommon resident — chiefly in the mountains, where it breeds from the foothills up to about 182 Birds of Colorado 12,000 feet. It is also found in the mountains in the winter up to about 11,000 feet, and sometimes wanders out on to the plains during this season. Warren informs me that he has seen it near Orchard, where it was said to breed, and also on Irwins Ranch in Las Animas co., where he noticed an old eyrie. Breeding records are : Specimen Mount above Estes Park (Kellogg), Boulder co. (Gale), Wet Mountains, up to 11,000 feet (Lowe), near Grand Junction (Rockwell), La Plata co. (Morrison). It is not at all uncommon near Colorado Springs in winter, and there are several old eyries still close by, though now deserted. Habits. — Essentially a bird of the mountains, the Golden Eagle is perhaps more abundant in Colorado than in any other state in the Union. It quickly dis- appears before civilization, however, and has been destroyed in many parts of the country by poison. It is somewhat wary and shy, and is usually met with in pairs, which are believed to mate for life. It has a harsh and rather shrill scream, and is fierce and untamable though easily kept in captivity. The Golden Eagle preys chiefly on hares, ground- squirrels and the various grouse. In Colorado it is said to kill a great many lambs of the mountain sheep, and to descend to the plains in winter to pursue the young antelope. It occasionally carries ofiP a lamb or a young calf, while it will freely eat carrion if pressed by hunger. In California the Golden Eagle generally builds its nest in trees, bub in Colorado it always fixes its eyrie in a crevice or on a ledge in a vertical ch£E. The nest is built up of sticks and added to year after year, so that it often becomes very bulky ; Gale measured one six feet in diameter and nine feet high ; the lining is scanty, of a few smaller twigs or tufts of grass, but a fresh spray of evergreen, either spruce or balsam -fir, is almost invariably found in the nest. The eggs, two or three in number, are ovate and dirty white in ground-colour. The markings vary greatly : sometimes they are wholly Bald Eagle 183 absent, sometimes the egg is thickly blotched with various shades of brown ; in size they average 2*95 x 2*3. The Golden Eagle is a very early breeder. Gale states that they begin to repair their nests towards the end of February, and fresh eggs are found from March 10th to April 10th. Dille gives March 1st as an average date. Incubation lasts about thirty days, and the male takes no part. Even it robbed, no second brood is raised. In Gale's notes there is a curious notice of finding two fresh eggs on September 3rd, 1893. If the entry is correct, it must have been a quite abnormal occurrence. Genus HALI^EETUS. Large birds, wings 22 — 24, resembling Aquila, but the tarsus only feathered about half way down ; a few scutes on the lower half in front, and n,o web between the middle and outer toes. About eight species of these Fishing Eagles are known, but there is only one species in the United States. Bald Eagle. Haliceetus leucocephalus. A.O.U. Checklist no 352— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 181 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 89, p. 65 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Cooke, 97, pp. 76, 204 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229 ; Rockwell 08, p. 162 ; Warren 09, p. 14. Description. — Male — Head and neck all round, tail-coverts and tail white ; rest of the pliunage dark brown of varying intensity ; iris, bill and feet yellow. Length 32 ; wing 22 ; tail 11>5 ; culmen 3 ; tarsus 3-4. The female is larger — wing 24, tail 12.75. Young birds in the first year are nearly uniform black, but the feathers of the under-parts have white bases which often show. In the second year they are brownish, and there is a good deal of white both above and below ; the tail is blackish, blotched with white ; iris brown, bill black, feet yellow. The pure, white head and tail are only acquired in the third year. Distribution. — The whole of North America north of the Mexican border including Lower California, the Aleutian and Commander Isles and Kamchatka. The Bald Eagle is not generally so common in Colorado as the Golden, though Sullivan found the former more abundant about Grand Junction in the siunmer (Rockwell). It breeds more commonly in the mountains 184 Birds of Colorado up to about 10,000 foot, but also in the plains as well, while in winter it is chiefly met with on the plains. The following are the chief locaUties noticed : Estes Park, rare (Kellogg), Breckenridge, breeding to 10,000 feet (Carter), Manitou, September (Beckham), near Fort Lyon, breeding (Thorns apttd Cooke), near Coventry in winter (Warren). It is not represented in the Aiken collection, but there is a mounted specimen in the State Historical collection at Denver, taken by L. Morse, at Orchard, in Morgan co., on December 24th, 1904, and a fine pair in immature di'ess, killed near Denver by T. Dines and R. Borcherdt, are mounted in the Colorado Museum of Natural History. Habits. — The Bald or White-headed Eagle is the National Bird of the United States, to which dignity- it was elevated June 20th, 1782. In its young dress it is sometimes called the Bird of Washington. It is essentially a fish-eater, and is therefore more at home on the sea-coast and along the banks of the larger rivers than in a dry country Hke Colorado. It also preys on water-fowl and mammals, and has been known to carry off in its talons a lamb of the same weight as itself, a distance of five miles. Its voice is a loud, harsh scream, and its flight is powerful. Little has been noticed about its nesting habits m Colorado. Captain Thorne found a nest near Fort Lyon, June 12th, contaming two young birds, while Carter found it breeding near Breckenridge. As a rule it builds in trees, though sometimes on ledges in caiion walls. The nest is added to year after year and is a massive structure of sticks, like that of the Golden Eagle. The eggs, usually two in number, are white, though often nest-stained ; they are ovate in shape and average 2*8 x 2"1. Genus FALCO. Bill rather strong, with a prominent, tooth-like projection on the cutting-edge of the upper mandible ; nostrils circular, with a central bony tubercle ; wing long and pointed, the ninth and eighth primaries Prairie-Falcon 185 the longest ; the outer only, or the outer two, emarginate on the inner web ; feet rather short, tarsus feathered or bare, without regular scutes. This genus contains the Falcons and Kestrels, and is found all over the world. Key of the Species. A. Larger ; wing over 1 1 ; only the outer primary emarginate. a. Clay-brown above ; below with dusky, Unear spots. F. mexicanus, p. 185. b. Slaty-blue above ; below transversely banded with dusky. F. p. anatum, ad., p. 187. e. Blackish, edged with tawny above ; below streaked with dusky. F. p. anatum, juv., p. 187. B. Smaller, wing under 10 ; the two outer primaries emarginate. a. Tarsus scarcely as long as the middle toe without claw ; without vertical black stripes on the face. a^ Tail with traces at least of four black transverse bands, including the broader subterminal one ; no white spots on the outer webs of the primaries. F. columbarius, p. 188. b^ Tail with traces of five black transverse bands ; outer web of primaries spotted with white. F. c. richardsoni, p. 189. b. Tarsus very clearly exceeding the middle toe without claw ; face with two vertical black stripes, ai Smaller and more highly coloured. F. sparverius, p. 190. b^ Larger and paler coloured. F. s. phalcena, p. 192. Prairie-Falcon. Falco mexicanus. A.O.U. Checklist no 355 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 410 {F. lanarius polyagrus) ; Coues 77, p. 26 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Dille 87, p. 97 ; Morrison 89, p. 65 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Cooke 97, p. 76 ; Hender- son 03, p. 235, 09, p. 229 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 ; Richards 09, p. 164. Description. — Male — Above pale clay -brown, tinged with rusty and indistinctly barred with pale bufiy anteriorly, and pale bluish-grey posteriorly ; a white nuchal collar and dark patches on the side of the face ; primaries ashy-brown, with paler tips and whitish bars on the inner webs only, the outer one only with the inner web cut out ; below white, marked most heavily on the flanks, less so on the belly, with dusky, linear spots ; throat unmarked ; iris brown, bill bluish-horn, yellow at the base ; cere and feet yellow. Length 17-0 ; wing 12 ; tail 7'25 ; culmen -8 ; tarsus 2-1. The female is larger — wing 13'5, tail 8-2 — and has a more uniform appearance above without the lighter bars. Young birds have more 186 Birds of Colorado fulvous above, aud are more heavily spotted below, while the white of the under-parts is distinctly tinged \v'ith ochraceous. Distribution.^ — Western North America from southern British Columbia and western Manitoba, south to central Texas, and thence west to the Pacific. The Prairie-Falcon is a moderately common bird in Colorado, chiefly perhaps on the eastern plains, but found also in the mountains, occasion- ally even up to timber line where Kellogg observed one above Estes Park. Cooke classes it as a resident, but the greater number of the birds doubtless go south in winter, and I have not been able to find any winter dates for Colorado. The following are the chief records : Pawnee Buttes in Weld co., breeding (Dille), Boulder co., breeding (Gale), Deer Creek, near Littleton, nesting (Richards), El Paso co. (Aiken coll.). Twin Lakes, rare (Scott), Wet Mountains up to 10,000 feet (Lowe), near Fort Lewis, rare (Oilman). Habits. — The Prairie -Falcon or American Lanner is a noble bird, chiefly met with on the open plains, where it may be seen perched on a high cotton-wood or a telegraph pole, on the look-out for its prey. This con- sists of jack-rabbits, prairie-dogs and other mammals, as well as birds of moderate size, such as the Mourning Dove and Blackbird. It is strong, bold and tenacious of life, and its flight is easy and very rapid. Dille found a nest on the top of a chimney of sandstone in some buttes in the north of Weld county, on May 25th ; it was an immense pile of rubbish, with skeletons and dead animals scattered round, and contained only one egg. Gale took four eggs of this species from an old eagle's nest on April 24th, in a cliff on the Little Thompson River, the situation was about fifty feet from the bottom, and thirty feet from the top of the cliff ; he also found another nest in a similar position on the St. Vrain. The eggs are oval and rather light-coloured for Falcon's eggs. The ground-colouring is creamy-white, rather heavily blotched with various reds and browns. In size they average 2*2 x 1'6, and the clutch numbers three to five. Duck-Hawk 187 Duck- Hawk. Falco peregrinus anatum. A.O.U. Checklist no 356a — Colorado Records — Allen. 72, pp. 152, 158 ; Drew 85, p, 17; Morrison 89, p. 65; Kellogg 90, p. 90 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 76, 160 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229. Description.— Female — Above slaty-blue, varying from dark to light ; most of the feathers with paler edges ; the dark slate extends below the eye, forming a moustache patch ; primaries marked on the inner web with pale reddish or tawny bands ; tail barred dusky and silvery grey, and tipped with whitish ; below pale tawny-rufous, posteriorly from the breast closely and regularly barred with dusky ; iris brown, bill bluish-horn, base and cere yellowish, feet yellow. Length 18 ; wing 13*7 ; tail 7 ; culmen 1"1. ; tarsus 2'2. The male is smaller — wing 12-5, tail 6-5. A young bird is blackish above and has most of the feathers edged with tawny-rufous, darker than the adult, and streaked, not barred, with dusky. Distribution. — The greater part of the New World, from Alaska and Labrador south to ChiU and the Argentine. In Colorado the Duck-Hawk can hardly be called common, though it is not infrequently met with in suitable localities. It is placed by Cooke among the residents, but I have not found any definite winter record for it, and it is certainly chiefly met with during the summer months. It is not recorded from the western or southern districts of the State, though there is no reason why it should not be found there. The following are localities : Loveland, arriving March 29th (W. G. Smith), Estes Park, rare (Kellogg), Boulder co. (Gale & Henderson), Fairplay (Allen), Garden of the Gods, near Manitou breeding (Aiken), St. Charles Canon, near Pueblo, breeding (Lowe apud Cooke). Habits. — ^The Duck-Hawk is hardly to be distinguished from the Peregrine Falcon of the Old World, which was formerly esteemed the noblest of its kind. Its flight is marvellously rapid, and it can overtake swift- flying ducks with the greatest ease. It prefers timbered lands along streams and cliffs and rocky places, where it builds its nest. It preys almost exclusively on other birds, especially watei-fowl, but Blackbirds and Doves are sometimes taken, while destructive inroads are often made on poultry and domestic ducks. In fact, it is one of the few birds of prey in whose favour little can be said. 188 Birds of Colorado But few details have been noted about its nesting-habits in Colorado, except that it makes use of crevices and ledges in high cliflfs and cailon walls. Some notes by Gale, quoted by Bendire and Cooke for this species, refer, according to Gale's notebook, to the Mexican Falcon, and not to this species. The eggs are deposited about the middle or end of April on a bare ledge, with little or no nest. They are three or four in number, and are generally short, rounded and ovate. They vary consider- ably in colour and markings, the ground-colour, when visible, being creamy-white, sometimes blotched and streaked, sometimes entirely overlaid, with reddish and sepia browns. In size they average 2'1 x 1*6. Pigeon- Hawk. Falco columharius. A.O.U. Checklist no. 357 — Colorado Records — Ridg-nay 73, p. 186 ; Drew, 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 65 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Fisher 93, p. 109 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, p. 76 ; Rockwell 08, p. 163. Description. — Adult Male — Above bluish-slate, most of the feathers with a black shaft-line ; quills dusky, with white spots along the inner webs only ; tail like the back, with four transverse black bands more or less completely developed, the terminal one mvich broader than the others and tipped with white ; below white, washed with tawny jX)steriorly, the throat plain, the rest longitudinally streaked with sepia-brown ; sides of the face bluish and streaked ; iris brown, bill bluish-black, base and cere yellowish, legs yellow. Length ll-S ; wing 7-7 ; tail 4-5 ; cubnen "55 ; tarsus 1'4. The female is dusky brown above, and the tail is like the back, but crossed by four narrow, sometimes nearly obsolete, whitish bands the uppermost often concealed by the coverts ; below as in the male, but often more fulvous and the streaking heavier ; wing 8*5. Young birds resemble the female, and this is the plumage most generally met with, as adult males are not often seen. Distribution. — The whole of North America, breeding chiefly north of the United States, but south of the boimdary along the higher elevations of the Cascades, Rockies and AUeghanies ; south in winter to the West Indies and northern South America. In Colorado the Pigeon-Hawk is by no means a common bird, and is chiefly met with on migration, though a few birds remain to breed in the Richardson's Pigeon-Hawk 189 mountains and a few perhaps stay out the winter. Rockwell saw an example on Plateau creek in Mesa co. at about 6,000 feet, December 23rd, 1901. Other notices are : Estes Park, not uncommon (Kellogg), Denver (McGregor), El Paso co.. May (Aiken coll.), Wet Mountains to 8,500 feet (Lowe) ; Fort Lewis, breeding (Morrison). Habits. — The Pigeon-Hawk is a bold little bird, and represents the Merlin of Europe. It preys chiefly on other birds, often successfully attacking those larger than itself, such as Mourning Doves, Flickers and Grackles. In the summer it catches large numbers of insects, especially dragon-flies and grasshoppers, Cooke stated that it breeds from the plains to about 9,000 feet, but the only account of its nesting in Colorado, which I have met with, is that of Morrison, who took a set of five eggs, June 3rd, 1887, near Fort Lewis. The nest was in a clump of alders about eight feet up, and was composed of small twigs loosely put together, and lined with dry grass and a few feathers. Bendire states that the nest is sometimes an open one in a spruce or other tree, sometimes placed in a hollow limb, and at other times on ledges of cliffs or bluffs. The eggs, generally four in number, are creamy- white, blotched or sometimes wholly suffused with reddish-brown, and measure I'G x 1'25. Richardson's Pigeon- Hawk. Falco columbarius richardsoni. A.O.U. Checklist no 357b — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 186 Coues 74, p. 347 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Drew 85, p. 17 Morrison 89, p. 65 ; Goss 91, p. 286 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Cooke 97, p. 76 Henderson 09, p. 229 ; Horsey & Rockwell 09, p. 117. Description. — ResembUng F. columbarius, but lighter in colour, and the tail with five almost white bands alternating with five black bands, the broader terminal black one tipped with white ; the primaries distinctly spotted on the outer webs. Dimensions the same. The female and young male are quite different from the corresponding stages in the type species. Above earthy-brown, each feather with a 190 Birds of Colorado dark shaft-line and a tawny to whitish edging ; tail with five dark and five narrower white bands, the terminal band of black tipped with white ; below white, faintly washed with ochraceous and streaked with brown, except on the throat. Distribution. — Western North America from southern British Colum- bia and the Saskatchewan south to the Mexican border, east to the Jlississippi, west to the Pacific. In Colorado this subspecies appears to be a resident, having been met with in both winter and summer, though no authenticated instance of its nesting is known. It probably nests in the mountains and winters in the plains, but it is quite a rare bird and doubtless has been frequently confused with the Pigeon-Hawk. The only definite local records are : Silver Lake, Boulder co, 10,000 feet, September (Henderson), Berthoud's Pass (Ridgway), Barr Lake (Horsey & Rockwell), El Paso co., January, November (Aiken coll.), Wet Mountains at 8,000 feet (Lowe). Habits. — So far as is known, this little Falcon in no way differs from the Pigeon-Hawk in its habits. American Sparrow- Hawk. Falco sparverius. A.O.U. Checkhst no 360— Colorado Records— Baird 54, p. 12 ; 58, p. 13 ; Allen 72, pp. 152, 159 ; Henshaw 75, p. 413 ; Scott 79, p. 96 Tresz 81, p. 187 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83 p. 197; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; 87, p. 124; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 65 Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Bendire 92, p. 309 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; 94, p. 268 04, p. 276; Cooke 97, pp. 18,76,204 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 Dille 03, p. 74 ; Warren 06, p. 20 ; 08, p. 21 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 Markman 07, p. 156 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 117. Description. — Male — Centre of the crown, back, scapulars and tail- feathers, except the outermost, rich rufous, the back with a few trans- verse bars of black ; a ring round the crown and the wing, except the primaries, slaty-blue, the latter with black spots ; nape pale rufous, with a black central patch and three others paired on either side of the face ; primaries black, with white indentations on the inner web ; tail with a broad, black terminal band tipped with white, outer pair of tail- feathers chiefly white, barred with black ; below white, washed with tawny on the chest and with a few small dusky spots chiefly on the flanks ; iris brown, bill bluish-horn, cere and legs yellow. Length 10'5 ; wing 7-4 ; tail 5-0 ; culmen -6 ; tarsus 1-45. The female has the whole back, tail and wings transversely barred with rufous and dusky ; the indentations on the primaries are tinged with tawny, and the lower parts white, streaked with pale sopia-brown American Sparrow-Ha.wk 191 on the fore-neck and breast only ; wing 7*75. A young male is like the adult male, but is rather darker rufous, has hardly any black spots on the wings, and has a tawny tip to the tail instead of white ; below the spots are larger and more conspicuous, though hardly more numerous. A young female is slightly darker rufous above, and has the bars blacker and the crown-patch with black shaft-marks. Distribution. — From Alaska, Hudson Bay, and Newfoundland southwards, east of the Rocky Mountains to northern South America ; replaced west of the Rockies by F. s.phalmna, if really distinguishable. In Colorado the Sparrow-Hawk is perhaps the commonest of all the raptorial birds, breeding in the plains and mountains up to about 10,000 feet. It is chiefly a summer migrant, arriving towards the end of March ; near Colorado Springs, March 26th (Aiken), Loveland, March 21st (W. G. Smith), and leaving again late in October. A few winter in the south of the State and even as far north as Boulder (Henderson) and Barr (Hersey) ; Lowe (01) saw two on January 14th, near Beulah. The following are breeding records : Boulder co. (Gale), Twin Lakes (Scott), Garden of the Gods, near Manitou (Allen), Wet Mountains to 10,000 feet (Lowe), Salida (Frey). Habits. — ^The Sparrow-Hawk spends most of his time on a fence-post or telegraph pole, watching for his prey, which consists almost exclusively of grass- hoppers and beetles ; occasionally small birds and mice are taken, but 215 out of 320 stomachs examined by Fisher contained only insects. Sometimes he hovers over a field or meadow ; then darts suddenly down and seizing the victim, retires to a convenient perch to devour it. Like so many other insect-eating birds, the Sparrow- Hawk goes high up above timber line in late summer, to feast on the grasshoppers there. In most cases the Sparrow-Hawk utilizes the old holes of Flickers and other Woodpeckers for its eggs. Some- times it uses a natural hole in a stub or tree ; sometimes the crevices and cracks in rocks, as in the Garden of the Gods. Gale found it breeding on the bottom of an old Flicker-hole — it was flat and hard, and there was no nest 192 Birds of Colorado beyond a few weed stems ; he found the eggs, four to six in number, arranged in two rows with a space between, and believed the bird rests on the soUd floor and covered the two rows underneath her wings. The same site is frequently used, year after year. One brood seems usual, though if robbed, a second or third set of eggs may be deposited. Both birds incubate. Gale found fresh eggs from May 12th to June lOtb, while Dille gives May 1st as an average date. A set of five eggs, taken by I. C. Hall, May 20th, 1902, at Greeley, and pre- sented by him to the Colorado College Museum, are whitish ovals, suffused and thickly dotted and blotched with dark rufous. They average 1*38 x 1*15, but there is much variation in shape and markings. Desert Sparrow- Hawk. Falco sfarverius phcdaena. A.O.U. Checklist no 360a— Colorado Records— Cooke 97, p. 205 {F. s. deserticoliis) ; Rockwell 08, p. 163 ; Warren 09, p. 14. Some of the records under F. sparverius may refer to this subspecies. Description. — Very close to F. sparverius but larger, and with a relatively longer tail and paler rufous coloration. In the female the streaks are more numerous and more yellow below ; the bars on the upper-surface are narrower, and those of the tail often incomplete. Distribution. — This subsj>ecies, which seems to be hardly distinguish- able from the typical form, is found throughout western North America, from British Columbia to Guatemala and east to the Rocky Mountains. Cooke found that some of the Sparrow-Hawks in the Carter collection obtained in the Middle and South Parks, were more nearly allied to this subspecies, and probably all the birds taken on the westerr slope should be so referred, if the distinction between the two forms can be maintained. I have examined a male taken near Yampa in Routt co., and a female from Sulphur Springs, both in the Warren collection, and cannot certainly distinguish them from those taken in El Paso co. Family PANDIONID^. Feathers without after-shafts ; outer toe reversible. Genus PANDION. Bill strongly hooked, but without any tooth or notch on the edge of the upper mandible ; nostrils oval and oblique ; wings very long and American Osprey 193 pointed, the eighth and ninth primaries the longest ; tail short, less than half the wing ; feet large and strong ; tarsus very little feathered ; toes free to the base, covered with rough, granular, reticulate scales. The genus contains only one almost cosmopolitan species, which has recently been divided into a number of local races, ore of which is found throughout North America. American Osprey. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. A.O.U. Checkhst no 364— Colorado Records— Ridgway 73, p. 186 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 66 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 77, 160, 205 ; Rockwell 08, p. 163 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 117. Description. — Male — Above dark brown, blackish on the quills ; tail with darker cross-bars and tipped with white ; the inner webs of all but the central feathers barred with white and dark, but these disappear- ing with age ; head, neck, and under-parts white ; the centre of the crown and a postocular patch dark-brown ; breast slightly spotted with brown ; iris yellow, cere, bill and claws bluish-black, legs greyish-blue. Length 22-0 ; wing 19-0 ; tail 7-5 ; culmen 1-5 ; tarsus 2-3. The female is larger — wing about 20-5, and the chest is more heavily spotted with brown. Young birds are darker than the adults, and are mottled with white or buffy edges to the feathers above, and the tail is more regularly barred. Distribution. — The whole of the United States north to Labrador, Hudson Bay and Alaska, south to northern South America ; a summer visitor only, north of the middle states. The Osprey is a not uncommon bird in suitable locahties in Colorado, but naturally in a dry and somewhat arid country it is not numerous. It is a simamer visitor, arriving from the south early in April — Loveland, April 8th (W. G. Smith) — and nesting in the mountains up to about 9,000 feet. The following localities have been noticed — Barr, not uncommon during migration (Hersey & Rockwell), Twin Lakes, nesting (Scott), Blue River, nesting up to 8,500 feet (Carter), Salida, April (Frey), Sweetwater Lake, common in spring and summer (Gilman apud Cooke), Grand River, near Grand Junction, occasional (Rockwell), La Plata co. (Morrison). Habits. — The Osprey, generally known as the Fish- Hawk, is a gentle bird and never molests other species. It even allows Grackles and other birds to build in the interstices of its nest. Its food consists entirely of fishes, which it captures for itself, hovering above the water and descending at an angle with great velocity on its o 194 Birds of Colorado victim, and often plunging under the surface. The structure of its feet, the reversible inner toe, the gianular, rough soles, the claws of equal length, all strongly curved, are all adapted to the capture of fishes. It is frequently robbed by the larger and stronger Bald Eagle of its hardly-earned prey. The nest is generally placed in a tree and is used year after year, so that it becomes a very bulky structure. It is built up of sticks with various kinds of rubbish added to it. The eggs, usually three in number, are very hand- some, varying very much in shape and markings. The ground-colour is creamy-white and this is marked with various shades of brown, sometimes so heavily as to conceal the gromid-colour. They average 2'45 x 2'0. Morrison found fresh eggs at the end of April, while Scott thought eggs were laid about June 13th, as the female was constantly on the nest after this. These are the only two dates I have found for Colorado. ORDER STRIGES. This order, containing the nocturnal birds of prey or Owls, is easily distinguished by the following external characters. Head very broad from side to side, and the feathers arranged to form a ruff or facial disk, radiating outwards from the eyes on either side ; bill with a basal, soft-skinned cere, at the edge of which open the nostrils ; the base of the bill concealed to a great extent by the feathers of the facial disk ; edge of the bill never lobed or hooked ; eyes forwardly directed, and very large ; ear-opening often very large, and provided with an operculum or movable flap, those of either side often quite asymmet- xica and sometimes causing asymmetry in the skull American Osprey 195 itself ; tarsus and toes feathered, or at any rate covered with bristles ; hind toe jointed on the same level as the others. Key of the Families and Genera.* A. Claw of the middle toe serrate on the inside edge, middle and inner toes approximately equal (Aluconidce). Aluco, p. 196. B. Claw of the middle toe not serrate ; middle toe alv.'ays exceeding inner toe (Strigidce), a. Ear-tufts jiresent and generally conspicuous. a^ Large ; wing over 14 ; tail nearly concealed below by the lengthened under tail-coverts. Bubo, p. 208; b^ Medium; wing 10 to 12; tail-coverts not abnormally long ; toes feathered to the claws. Asio, p. 197. c^ Small ; \^"ing under 8 ; toes bristly or naked. Otus, p. 204. b. Ear-tufts absent. a^ Larger ; wing over 12. a^ Bill concealed by frontal feathers ; plumage chiefly white Nyctea, p. 210. b* BiU yellow, not concealed ; plumage not white. Strix, p. 200. b^ Meditun ; wing 6 to 8. a^ Tarsus hardly exceeding the middle toe without claw ; toes densely feathered. Cryptoglaux, p. 202. b^ Tarsus about twice the length of the middle toe without claw ; toes bristly, not feathered. Speotyto, p. 211. c^ Small ; wing under 4 ; nostrils well within the swoUen cere ; toes bristly. Glaucidium, p. 213. Family ALUCONID^. This family, containing the Barn-Owls, is distinguished externally from the other Owls by having the claw of the middle toe pectinate or serrated along its inner side, and the middle and inner toes about equal in length. Anatomically the sternum is entire — not notched posteriorly and the clavicles or furculum are anchylosed to the sternum. • The names of the families of most of the genera have been changed in accordance with the new A.O.U. Checklist. o2 196 Birds of Colorado Genus ALU CO. Bill lengthened, rather compressed ; facial disk well developed and rather triangular in shape ; no ear-tufts or plumicorns ; wings long and pointed, reaching beyond the tail when folded ; tail short and nearly even ; tarsus long, about twice the middle toe without claw, closely feathered above, but becoming rather bristly below. A cosmopohtan genus with one North American species, closely related to the European stock form. American Bam-Owl. Alucopratincola. A.O.U. Checkhst no 365— Colorado Records— H. G. Smith 96, p. 76 ; 08, p. 185 ; Cooke 97, pp. 77, 160, 205 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Gibnan 07, p. 154 ; Betts 10, p. 218 ; Bergtold 10, p. 207. Description. — Female — Above tawny-yellow, very finely mottled and marbled with ashy and white, with traces of dark bars on the tail ; facial rufl whitish, stained with claret-brown, bordered with rusty- brown, especially in front of the eye ; below white to tawny-white, dotted with brown spots ; plumage very variable ; iris brown, bill pearly-white, feet dirty yellow. Length 17 ; wing 13-5 ; tail 5-5 ; culmen I-l ; tarsus 3-4. The male is smaller — wing 12-75. Young birds after losing their nestUng-down are like the adults. Distribution. — The middle and southern United States, from about New England, Colorado and Oregon south to Mexico. Very closely allied species or geographical races are found throughout the rest of America and all over the Old World. In Colorado the Barn -Owl is a rare bird. It has chiefly been met with in the south of the State, and is probably a resident, though not known to breed. It was first recorded by H. G. Smith from an example taken in the Town Hall of South Denver. Subsequent notices are : Denver, a second time (H. G. Smith), Boulder co. (Betts), Kit Carson co. (Bergtold), Pueblo, three occasions. Wet Mountain Valley and Rocky Ford (Cooke), Holly (H. G. Smith), Fort Lewis and Mancos (Oilman). Habits. — ^The Barn-Owl is one of the most beneficial of the rapacious birds ; it feeds ahnost entirely on the smaller rodents, such as field-mice and gophers, which from their great numbers and destructive habits are a curse to the agriculturist. Like other Owls, this species swallows its prey whole, and afterwards rejects the skin and bones and indigestible parts in the form of pellets. An examination of these reveals its utility. American Long-eared Owl 197 The Barn-Owl is the most distinctively nocturnal of its tribe, and spends the day in a hollow tree, a dark nook or crevice, or often in barns or outhouses. It never hoots, but sometimes utters a harsh scream or makes a loud snoring noise. The nest is placed in cavities of trees, holes in banks and among rocks, or often, when these are available, in towers, buildings or barns. The eggs are often laid on an accumulation of debris, and little or no regular nest is made. They are usually four to seven in number, ovate, dead white, and measure 1-65 X 1-25. Family STRIGID^. This family, containing all the other Owls, has no serration on the claw of the middle toe, which is always longer than the inner one ; the sternum is always notched once or twice on each side behind, and is never joined to the furculum, which is often defective or rudimentary. Genus ASIO. Bill rather weak ; cere somewhat inflated with the nostrils at the edge ; facial disk circular and well develoiJed ; ear-tufts present ; wings long ; tail about haK the length of the wing ; legs feathered to the claws ; ear-openings very large, asymmetrical and provided with a movable operculum for their whole length. An almost cosmopoUtan genus with about twelve species ; only two in the United States. A. Ear-tufts long, over an inch. A. wilsonianus, p. 197. B. Ear-tufts small and inconspicuous, under an inch. A. flammeus, p. 199. American Long-eared Owl. Asio wilsonianus. A.O.U. CheckUst no 366— Colorado Records— Baird 54, p. 12 ; 58, p. 53 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Dille 86, p. 15 ; 03, p. 74 ; Morrison 87, p. 107 ; 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 66 ; Cooke 97, pp. 77, 205 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Warren 06, p. 20 ; 10, p. 31 ; Gilman 07, p. 154 ; Rockwell 08, p. 163. Description. — Adult — Above finely mottled dusky-brown and white with a little tawny, especially about the centre of the back ; facial disk yellowish-black around the eye, framed by a black Une mottled with 198 Birds of Colorado white ; ear-tufts long, over an inch, and conspicuous ; quills barred brown and mottled grey, which becomes tawny basally ; tail also barred ; below confusedly marked with brown, white and tawny with irregular streaks and bars ; almost plain ta^^Tiy on the feet and under tail-coverts ; iris yellow, bill and claws blackish. Length IS-o ; wing 11 -5; tail 6-0 ; culmen l-O ; tarsus 1*5. Variable in size, but the female averages a little larger. Distribution. — North America from Hudson Bay and Mackenzie south over the whole of the United States to the Mexican tableland. The Long-eared Owl is one of the commonest resident Owls in Colorado, breeding from the plains up to about 10,000 or 11,000 feet, and winter- ing also in the plains and mountains. It has been reported from Weld CO. (Dille) to Baca co. (Warren) in the eastern plains ; from the mountains of Boulder co. (Gale) to the San Luis Valley (Baird & Warren) in the mountains and parks, and from Mesa co. (Rockwell) to La Plata co. (Morrison) on the western slope, and probably breeds throughout. Habits. — The Long-eared Owl is a thoroughly nocturnal species, hunting only at night and keeping quiet in retired nooks by day, so that it is seldom noticed. Its food consists almost entirely of small rodents, chiefly field-mice, and it is a most beneficial species and should never be destroyed. It is rather silent for an Owl, but has a gentle hoot in the spring time ; if disturbed when nesting it generally makes a chattering, snapping noise with its mandibles, and it also gives a mournful cry. Its favourite resort in Colorado is in the thickets of willows along the creek bottoms. Morrison, Dille (86) and Gale give good accounts of the nesting-habits. It seldom builds a nest for itself, generally using in Colorado an old Magpie's nest, tearing off the dome and adding a little grass and feathers for a lining. It also makes use of Crows' or Hawks' nests, and occasionally builds one for itself. The eggs are laid from about April 15th to May 15th. Fresh eggs found later than this are a second laying, due to the loss of the first. Morrison noticed that four to six eggs were the rule at low elevations, three at about 8,500 feet. Short-eared Owl 199 while two nests found at 10,500 feet only contained two eggs. These are oval in shape, white in colour and measure 1'55 x 1"25. Warren found a pair with a young one at Sand Creek, near Medano Ranch, June 24th, at an old Magpie's nest. Short-eared Owl. Asio flammeus. A.O.U. Checklist no 367— Colorado Records— Ridgway 79, p. 231 (Otus hrachyotus) ; Beckham 85, p. 143 {A. accipitrinus) ; Thome 87, p. 264 ; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 66 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 76 ; Cooke 97, pp. 77, 205 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Rockwell 08, p. 163. Description. — Female — Above variegated with dusky brown, pale tawny and white, the markings chiefly streaks, with barring on the wings and tail ; below the breast streaked like the back ; posteriorly white, finely streaked with brown on the lower-breast and flanks ; immaculate on the legs, abdomen and under tail-coverts ; facial disk whitish, becoming black round the eye ; ear-tufts small and inconspicuous, under an inch ; iris bright yellow% bill and claws dusky bluish-horn. Length 14-5 ; wing 12 ; tail 6-0 ; cuknen -9 ; tarsus 1'6. The males average a little smaller. Young birds are rather darker and have a black face. Distribution. — The whole of America from Alaska and Mackenzie to Patagonia, except the "West Indies ; and in the Old World tliroughout Em-ope, Asia and northern Africa. In North America it breeds chiefly north of the United States boundary, and is a rare resident south of this, though fairly abundant in winter, when its numbers are reinforced from the north. In Colorado the Short-eared or Marsh-Owl is chiefly a winter visitor, found most abundantly in the plains, but extending up into the parks, even as high as Breckenridge, where it was found by Carter in winter. The only writer who alludes to its nesting in the State is Morrison. He reports that it breeds in the south-western and south-eastern portions. It is known to nest in Nebraska and Kansas. All other records are winter ones, viz. Niwot, March, and Longmont, December (Rockwell apud Henderson), Denver, winter (H. G. Smith), Orchard, March 28th (Warren), Pueblo, April (Beckham), Fort Lyon (Thome), Mosca, January 22nd (Warren), Mesa co., winter (Rockwell), Fort Lewis, February (Morrison). Habits. — The Short-eared Owl is often seen abroad in day time, especially on cloudy days, and is much less nocturnal than the Long-eared Owl. It prefers the 200 Birds of Colorado open country where there is water with high grass and bushes, among which it lurks. It is a silent bird, but if disturbed utters a few mournful cries, and chatters with its mandibles. It preys chiefly on mice and other small rodents, occasionally on small birds and insects. The nest is a rough affair of coarse grass and sticks, sparsely lined with finer material and feathers. It is placed on the ground, usually sheltered and hidden by a tuft of grass or by a bush. The eggs, four to seven in number, are white in colour and ovate in shape, and average 1'55 x r25. Morrison states: "Begins laying in April. Eggs four or five. Nest on the ground on open prairie, or more commonly upon mesas under a clump of scrub-oak, or bunch of high grass or sage-brush." He does not implicitly say that he himself found a nest. Genus STRIX. Of moderate size ; wing 12 — 14 ; bill yellow, nostrils at the edge of the small cere ; facial disk complete and large ; no ear-tufts ; ear- openings large, somewhat asymmetrical with a moderate operculun\, scarcely extending the length of the opening ; wing rounded, not twice the length of the tail ; tarsus always completely feathei'ed ; toes wholly or partly so. A large genus, chiefly in the northern hemisphere, with two distinct United States species and several local races. A. Larger ; wing generally over 13 ; abdomen streaked with dark brown. S. varia, p. 200. B. Smaller; wing generally under 13; abdomen transversely barred with brown. S. occiden talis, p. 201. Barred Owl. Strix varia. A.O.U. Checklist no 3f)8— Colorado Records— Aiken 00, p. 298 (Symium nehulosum) : Cooke 97, p. 20o ; Henderson 07, p. 198 ; 09, p. 230. Description. — Above dark brown irregularly barred and spotted with buffy, whitish and yellowish-brown ; wings and tail banded ; head, neck and breast widely barred with dark brown and white or buffy ; belly streaked with dark brown on a wliitish or bufTy ground ; facial Spotted Owl 201 disk in a frame of black and white ; blackish round the eye, obscurely ringed with black and white ; iris blackish, bill dull yellow, claws horny - yellow. Length 19-2 ; wing 13-25 ; tail 9-0 ; tarsus 2-2. Young birds are barred throughout except the wing and tail quills, which are as in the adult. Distribution. — From Newfoundland and Manitoba south to Georgia and Texas, west to Nebraska and Kansas ; a resident except towards its northern limits. The Barred Owl is a rare straggler in Colorado. The only record is that of B. G. Voight, who, reports Aiken, found a pair breeding at Holyoke, in the north-east of the State near the Nebraska line, in March, 1897. One of the birds and two eggs were secured. Gale believed that he saw a pair in the Boulder Valley in 1886, but gives no particulars. Habits. — ^The Barred Owl or Hoot-Owl frequents heavy timber in swampy tracts or near water-courses. It is nocturnal as a rule, though occasionally seen abroad in cloudy weather, and has a very loud, weird and un- earthly hoot. Its nest is usually placed in a hollow tree, though sometimes the old nest of a Hawk or Crow is made use of. The pggs, two to four in number, are oval in shape, white in colour, and average 2-00 x 1'70. Spotted Owl. Strix occidentalis. A.O.U. Checkhst no 369— Colorado Records— H. G. Smith 86, p. 284 ; Morrison 89, p, 66 ; Cooke 97, p. 77 ; Oilman 07, p. 154. Description. — Resembling S. varia but smaller, and the head and neck coarsely spotted, not barred, with white ; wing-quills spotted with pale brown and whitish, and broadly tipped with whitish ; below, whitish, barred throughout with brown, with streak -marks on the belly. Length 19 ; wing 12 to 13 ; tail 8-5 to 9-0 ; culmen -9. Distribution. — From Southern California, Arizona and Colorado south to Lower California and Guanajuato on the Mexican tableland. The occurrence of the Spotted Owl in Colorado rests on rather indefinite evidence. Mr. Aiken informs me he examined and identified a specimen brought to him some years ago, killed near Colorado Springs. Oilman states that he observed two examples near Fort Lewis in spring, and Brunner writes me that he saw in the siunmer of 1907 an Owl of this species on the south fork of the Trinchera Creek in Costilla CO. 202 Birds of Colorado Genus CRYPTOGLAUX. Resembling Strix but much smaller — wings 7 to 8 — and with both skull and ear-openings highly asymmetrical ; the ear-openings very large and operculate ; legs densely feathered to the bases of the claws. Two species are recognized ; one of circimipolar distribution with an American subsjiecies, the other confined to North America. A. Larger — wing 7 ; bill yellow ; head spotted with white. C. f. richardsoni, p. 202. B. Smaller — wing under 6 ; bill black ; crown with white shaft- lines. C. acadicus, p. 202. Richardson's Owl. Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni. A.O.U. CheckHst no 371— Colorado Record— Cooke 97, pp. 160, 205. Description. — Above chocolate-brown spotted with white ; spots small and profuse on top of the head, on the nape larger and almost forming a nuchal collar, on the back and wing-coverts large and sparse ; below whitish, heavily and somewhat confusedly streaked with dark brown ; flanks and feet buffy, more or less spotted with bro^vn ; facial disk whitish, black round the eye ; iris and bill yellow. Length 1 1 ; wing 7 ; tail 4'5 ; tarsus l-O. A young bird is plain brown without spots except on the wings and tail ; below brown, paling to yellowish-brown posteriorly ; flanks slightly spotted ; facial disk dark, with a white superciliary and malar streak. Distribution. — Breeding north of the United States border up to the limit of trees ; south in winter to Oregon, Colorado and New England. Only two instances of its occurrence are known in Colorado. Mr. H. C. Lee Meyer took a male at Crested Butte in October, 1896, which was identified by Cooke, and there is an example in the Carter collection obtained at Breckenridge, December 28th, 1882. It may be considered a rare winter visitor in the mountainous part of the State. Saw-whet Owl. Cryptoglaux acadica. A.O.U. Checkhst no 372 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 79, p. 232 ; Morrison 89, p. 66 ; Bendire 92, p. 350 ; Cooke 94, p. 183 ; 97, pp. 77, 205 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 76 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230. Description. — Above sepia-brown, the crown with white shaft-lines, the nape and back with white bases to the feathers ; the wings and tail regularly spotted, those on the tail forming two incomplete cross-bands of wliito ; below white, streaked a lighter tawny-brown ; facial disk whitish, black round the eye ; iris yellow, bill and claws black. Length 7-5 ; wing 5-25 ; tail 2-9 ; cuhnen -6 ; tarsus 1-1. Saw-whet Owl 203 The young bird is very different ; above ruddy chocolate-brown, without any white ; wings and tail darker, and marked as in the adult ; below, throat and breast like the back ; posteriorly brownish-yellow ; no streaks. Distribution. — Breeding from Hudson Bay and British Colmnbia south, to New York and Indiana in the east, in the west through the mountains as far as Mexico, wandering often into the lower country and fvirther south in winter. In Colorado the Saw-whet is a rather uncommon resident, wintering in the eastern plains, and breeding in simamer in the mountains from about 7,000 to 9,000 feet. It has not hitherto been met with on the western slope, though noticed by Morrison in La Plata co. The following are winter records : Fort CoUins, January (Cooke), Fort Lupton, February, and Clear Creek, near Denver, April (H. G. Smith), Beloit, near the Kansas border, April (Cooke), Buttes, January (Aiken coll.), Salida, December (Frey). Simamer records are : Estes Park, breeding at 7,000 feet (W. G. Smith), Boulder co., breeding at 8,500 feet (Gale), Breckenridge, August (Carter), Dome Rock, June (H. G. Smith). Habits. — ^This little Owl gets its name from its shrill note, which is said to resemble the sound of sharpening a sav/ with a file. It is a thoroughly nocturnal species, and is only very exceptionally seen abroad in the day time. It preys almost exclusively on mice of various species, and is doubtless very beneficial from the farmers' point of view. Both Gale and W. G. Smith have found this bird breeding in Colorado (Bendire). In most cases an old Flicker-hole in an aspen tree had been made use of, but in one instance what appeared to be an old squirrel's drey was taken possession of. The clutch varies from three to five, and incubation appears to commence after the first egg is laid, since the young birds are generally found to be of obviously different ages. Gale's nests were found on May 24th and June 3rd, and the earlier one contained three young and one egg, and the later, three nearly fresh eggs, so that the egg-laying seems to extend over a couple of months at least. The eggs are white, nearly spherical, and average 1*20 x I'O. 204 Birds of Colorado Genus OTUS. Small Owls with wings under 7*5 ; facial disk not well developed, hardly noticeable ; ear-tiifts well developed ; skull and ear-openings symmetrical, the latter small and normal ; wing rounded, but long and about twice the short, rounded tail ; tarsus feathered, toes bristly or naked ; plumage with marked dichromatic phases. A large cosmopolitan genus with only two North American species, but separated into a great many subspecies difficult to discriminate. A. Larger ; wing over 6 ; toes bristly or partly feathered. a. Paler and less heavily streaked. 0. a. maxwelliae, p. 204. b. Darker and more heavily streaked. O. a. aikeni, p. 205. B. Smaller; wing under 6; toes naked. O. flammeola, p. 207: Rocky Mountain Screech Owl. Otus asio maxwellim. A.O.U. CheckUst no 373e — Colorado Records — Ridgway 77» pp- 210, 213 ; 79, pp. 232, 235 ; Morrison 89, p. 66 ; Kellogg 90, p. 90 ; Bendire 90, p. 298 ; 91, p. 91 ; 92, p. 263 ; Hasbrouck 93, p. 256; Cooke 97, pp. 78, 160 ; Biu-nett 03, p. 156 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; RockweU 07, p. 140 ; 08, p. 207 ; H. G. Smith 08, p. 185. Description. — Very closely resembling O. a. aikeni, but very distinctly paler, the ground-colour much lighter, and the black streaking much less heavy, both above and below ; white on the wings and scapulars more conspicuous, and a tawny wash across the back, showing rather plainly. Measurements average a little larger ; wing 7-0, tail 3-5 (see Plate 5). Distribution. — North-east Colorado, chiefly north of the Arkansas Platte Divide, but occasionally in winter south to Colorado Springs ; extending northwards along the foothills as far as Fort Custer in south Montana. This Owl is a resident in north-east Colorado, and is found chiefly along the foothills and river valleys from Denver northwards. Kellogg reports it as rare in Estes Park, and it has been taken out on the plains as far as Dry Willow Creek in Yuma co., in June by H. G. Smith. Habits. — ^This Owl is an inhabitant of the cotton-wood groves along the Platte and its tributaries in north-east Colorado. It is chiefly abroad at night, spending the day in a hollow tree, or sitting quietly on a horizontal branch close to the trunk, which it closely resembles. Its home is generally betrayed by disgorged pellets lying below. The nest and eggs were first taken by Anthony on the Platte River, six miles from Denver, May 4th, 1884 ; Plate .-)] [R. B. Rockwell, Phot. ADULT AND YOUNG OF THE ROCKY-MOUNTAIN SCREECH OWL, CLEAR CREEK, JEFFERSON CO. [204 Aiken's Screech Owl 205 but Gale, Burnett and Rockwell have all written on thit subject. The most usual situation is an old Flicker- hole in a cotton-wood tree, but natural cavities in willows or box-elders are also made use of, while W. G. Smith informed Bendire that he once found a deserted Magpie's nest adopted. Often the Owl has a " scrap " with the Flicker for the possession of the hole, and if the Flicker is once able to effect an entrance it is generally able to hold possession with the menace of its sharp bill. No nest is made, but the bottom of the nest-hole is often found littered with wood-dust, feathers and the other remnants of former feasts. The site selected is generally near a stagnant pool or a stream, possibly for the convenience of procuring crawfish and small fishes, which form no small part of their diet. Incubation is carried on entirely by the female, and begins after the first egg is laid ; and as there is an interval of from twenty-four to seventy-two hours between the laying of each egg, the young birds, when hatched, are of various ages. The male is generally found near the nest-site in another cavity, which often forms a larder. Gale found remains of Blue Birds, Juncos, mice, frogs and crawfish in these caches. Gale found fresh eggs chiefly from April 15th to 30th ; those of later date, taken in May, he believed to be a second laying, due to loss or destruction of the first. The usual number of eggs is four ; these are rounded ovals and moderately glossy, and measure 1*44 x 1'18. Aiken's Screech Owl. Otus asio aikeni. A.O.U. Checklist no 373g — Colorado Records — ? Morrison 88, p. 115 (Scops asio maccalli) ; Brewster 91, p. 139; Bendire 92, p. 370; Hasbrouck 93, p; 258 ; Lowe 94, p. 2C8 (Megascops asio maxwelUae) ; Cooke 97, p. 78. 206 Birds of Colorado Description. — Adult — Above finely mottled grey and dusky and streaked with black, rather heavily on the crown ; a good deal of white on the scapulars and wing-coverts and the fulvous tinge very faint or absent ; below mottled like the back, but rather paler, heavily blotched and streaked with black, the streaks usually taking branched, tree-like shapes ; iris yellow ?, bill and claws bluish-horn. Length 6-25 ; wing 6-5 ; tail 3-0 ; culmen '75 ; tarsus 1-3. A young bu-d of the year is hardly to be distinguished from the adult. A male Screech Owl in the Aiken collection, taken in Colorado Springs, January, 1904, in the "red phase" was referred by Brewster, who examined it, to the typical Otus asio, but there seems to me to be no reason for regarding it as anything but the red phase of O. aikeni. In this specimen the whole of the grey motthng above is replaced by rich rufous, with a Uttle black streaking ; the white on the scapulars and coverts is as in the grey phase ; below there is a little rufous on the foro-neck and sides, and a few dark streaks, but the central portion of the under-parts is chiefly white. Distribution. — Aiken's Screech Owl is a fairly common resident in Colorado, and is found along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains from El Paso co. south, probably to Fort Wingate in New Mexico. There is a good series, all from the immediate neighbourhood of Colorado Springs, mostly taken in winter, in the Aiken collection. Lowe met with this Owl commonly in the footliills of the Wet Mountains, and once found a family party in thick pinons at 7,800 feet, while the Screech Owls of La Plata co. noticed by Morrison, should probably be referred here. Warren has recently (March 28th, 1909) obtained a Screech Owl from Orchard on the Platte in the north of the State which I cannot distinguish from this form, though presumably it should be 0. a. maxwellice, and I very much doubt if it will be possible to maintain the distinction between the two subspecies unless their ranges can be separated. Habits. — ^This little Owl is usually found lurking in the hollows of old willows or cotton-woods, and is so tame or perhaps frightened that it can often be caught in the hand. Aiken found the remains of a Pink-sided Junco in the stomach of one examined by him, and it probably preys on small birds as well as mice. A nestling in downy plumage was brought alive to Aiken on June 25th, 1905. He kept it for about six months. It became very tame and a great pet. It riammulated Screech Owl 207 moulted all its feathers except those of the wings and tail, between July 15th and September 15th. The note or cry most often heard was a "Wow, wow," resembling the bark of a puppy. Morrison found a Screech Owl breeding in La Plata CO., in the hollows of old pinons. He took three young ones and an addled egg in June. It was probably this subspecies. Flammulated Screech Owl. Otiis flamrneolus. A.O.U. Checklist no 374 — Colorado Records— Ridgw ay 79, p. 232 ; 80, p. 185 ; Deane 79, p. 188 ; IngersoU 80, p. 121 ; Brewster 83, p. 123 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 66 ; W, G. Smith 91, p, 27 ; Beudire 92, p. 374 ; Hasbrouck 93, p. 260 ; H. G. Smith 93, p. 364 ; Ingraham 97, p. 403 ; Cooke 97, pp. 78, 161, 206 ; Jon,es 98, p. 46 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Dille 04, p. 50 ; 09, p. 87 ; Gilman 07, p. 154 ; Cary 09,p. 181 . Description.- — Smaller than O. asio aikeni, and easily distinguished by its shorter ear-tufts and bare, unfeathered toes. Above finely mottled dusky and white, with black streaking ; the white scapulars tinged with tawny and often a faint wash of tawny all over the head and facial disk ; below paler with dark streaks, much as in 0. a. aikeni ; iris brown, bill and toes yellowish. Length 6-0 ; wing 54 ; tail 2-1 ; culmien -5 ; tarsus 1-0. A red phase is known, but not hitherto noticed in Coloi-ado. Young birds are more or less cross -barred, especially below. Distribution. — From southern CaUfornia and Colorado, chiefly in the mountains or foothills, south through Mexico to Guatemala. In Colorado as elsewhere this little Owl has always been reckoned a very rare species, and every occiurence seems to have been carefully recorded. It is a resident along the eastern foothills and breeds there, and from about 7,000 to 10,000 feet in the mountains. It was first recorded from Colorado by Ridgway, who mentioned an example in Mrs. Maxrw^ell's collection, taken near Boulder, and it must now be considered a not unconynon resident. The following are breeding records : Estes Park at 10,000 feet (W. G. Smith & DiUe), Idaho Springs, E. Lewis (Bendire), Fremont CO., Aiken (Deane), near Beulah 7,000 to 8,000 feet (Ingraham & Jones) and La Plata co. (Morrison). There are two examples in the Aiken col- lection taken near Colorado Springs, but it is not known from the western or north-western portions of the State. 208 Birds of Colorado Habits. — The Flammulated Screech Owl resembles the other larger Screech Owl in its habits. It is nocturnal, and preys on small mammals and large insects. The eggs are laid in a natural cavity or in a Flicker-hole, generally in a coniferous tree — a pinon at lower levels, a spruce at higher — at the end of May or beginning of June. Aiken was the first to find the nest and eggs of this Owl. He took a female from the nest, which was in a dead pine tree and contained one egg. This was in the Wet Mountain Valley, at about 7,500 feet, on June loth, 1875. W. G. Smith subsequently obtained several sets of eggs in Estes Park, between 8,000 and 10,000 feet. The clutch usually numbers four, and the eggs are white with a faint creamy tinge, and oval in shape ; they average 1*12 x TO. Genus BUBO. Large Owls with wing (in the American species) over 14 ; bill robust and black ; facial disk well marked, the eyes placed nearer the upper than the lower margin ; skuU and ear-openings symmetrical, the latter small, normal and non-operculate ; ear -tufts conspicuous ; wing rather short and rounded, falling short of the tail when folded ; tail shght, rounded, almost concealed below by the lengthened under tail- coverts ; legs densely feathered to the bases of the claws, but the latter not concealed. A considerable genus, spread over most of the world ; but with only one United States species, divided into a number of subspecies ; some of these however are far from satisfactorily defined. Western Homed Owl. Bubo virginianus pallescens. A.O.U. Checklist no 375a — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 185 ; Henshaw 75, p. 407 ; Scott 79, p. 95 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 67 ; KeUogg 90, p. 87 ; Bendire 92, p. 383; Osburn 93, p. 212 ; Lowe 94, p. 268 ; 95, p. 169 ; DiUe 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Oberholser 04, p. 192 {Aaio magellanicus occidentalis) ; Warren 06, p. 20 ; 08, p. 21 ; 09, p. 14 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 ; Rockwell 08, p. 14 ; 08, p. 163 ; Smith 10, p. 133. Western Horned Owl 209 Description. — Adult — General colour above mottled with black, dusky and white, with a varying amount of tawny intermixed ; ear- tufts large and conspicuous ; tail and wing markings in ntore or less well-developed bands ; below, a white patch on the throat, upper- breast irregularly blotched with black and tawny on white ; posteriorly white with narrow transverse bands of dusky, often washed and tinged with tawny ; legs white to pale tawny, hardly marked ; facial disk yellowish bordered by black. The variation in the amount of tawny and black is very considerable, but the bird is always less tawny than the eastern type ; iris yellow, bill and claws black. Length 21 ; wing 14 ; tail 8-5 ; culmen -8 ; tarsus 2 •80. Some observers believe that two subspecies can be distinguished in Colorado. There is certainly a great deal of variation in the plumage of individiials, but whether it is possible to discriminate two distinct forms seems very doubtful. Recently Aiken has received from the Fountain Valley a pair of Owls killed with one shot, so that they certainly appeared to be mated. Those two individuals seem to represent the two extreme types of the tawny and dusky phases, as I prefer to regard them. Distribution. — Western North America, from British Columbia and Manitoba south to the Mexican tableland. In Colorado the Horned Owl is a fairly common resident, breeding over nearly the whole of the State from the plains up to timber line, according to Drew, and wandering up to 13,000 feet in the fall ; the highest definite record I have met with is 10,000 feet, in the Wet ]Mountains (Lowo). Other localities are : Near Denver, breeding (Rockwell, see Plate 6), El Paso CO. (Aiken coll.) and Baca co., breeding (Warren), in the lains ; Estes Park (Kellogg), Boulder co., breeding (Gale), Crested Butte (Warren) and Wagon Wheel Gap (Aiken coll.), in the mountains ; Mesa CO. (Rockwell) and La Plata co. (Morrison), on the western slope. Habits. — ^This is the largest Owl found commonly in Colorado. It prefers wooded districts in the plains — chiefly the cotton-wood groves along the rivers ; in the mountains, the thickets along the bottoms of the valleys. Each pair appears to have its own particular range, beyond which it seldom strays. It has a loud, guttural note, " Whaugh-hoo-hoo." It is destructive to game- birds and water-fowl, and also preys largely on rabbits and prairie-dogs, as well as the smaller rodants. In settled districts it often catches an unwary fowl. p 210 Birds of Colorado The Homed Owl in Colorado makes use, as a rule, of an old Magpie's or Red-tailed Hawk's nest, in which to lay its eggs. Warren noticed it however nesting in a hole in a sandstone bluff at Gaume's ranche in Baca co. Gale found it a most persistent layer ; he took three sets of eggs from the same pair of birds ; the sets numbered four, three and two respectively, and the nest-site was changed each time. Incubation, which is undertaken entirely by the female, lasts about four weeks. The eggs, usually four in number, are rounded ovals, white in colour and not very glossy ; they measure 2"2 x 1*90. This Owl is one of our earliest breeders ; Gale found fresh eggs between March 10th and 25th ; any found later, he believed to be second or third layings, due to failure or robbery of the first set. Genus NYCTEA. Owls of large size — wing 15 to 18 — with plvuuage mostly white ; re- sembling Buho in other respects, but with the ear-tnfts rudimentary or wanting, and the bill and claws almost entirely concealed by the dense growth of the frontal and toe feathers. Only one circumpolar species is comprised in this genus. Snowy Owl. Nyctea nyctea. A.O.U. CheckUst no 376 — Colorado Records — Morrison 89, p. 67 ; Cooke 94, p. 183 ; 97, pp. 80, 161, 206 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 76 ; Hender- son 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230. Description. — Male — Pure white above and below, sometimes immacu- late, more generally marked with transverse spots or bars abo\'e and below ; the face, throat and feet usually the least marked. Iris yellow ; bill and claws black. Length 22-0 ; wing 15-5 ; tail 9-25 ; culmen 1 '50 ; tarsus 1 -8. The female is larger — wing 17-3, tail 10-0 — and much darker, only the face, throat and middle of the breast and foet immaculate ; top of the head and hind-neck spotted, rest of the body barred with dark brown. Distribution. — Breeding in the Arctic regions of both hemispheres, in America north of 53°, from Alaska to Labrador ; south in winter, more or less regularly, to the northern and middle states ; more common in the east. /5 ^, Plate G] [i?. B. Rockwell, Phot. NEST OF THE WESTERN HORNED OWL AT COAL CREEK, NEAR DENVER. [210 Burrowing Owl 211 In Colorado the Snowy Owl is a rare winter visitor, more abundant in severe winters. It has been chiefly taken in the north-east of the State near Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Barr and Denver, whence it has been reported by Cooke and Snaith. Further south and in the mountains it is only a straggler ; but it has been recorded from Colorado Springs by Aiken, from Wet Mountain Valley by Baker, and from Breckrenridge by Carter. Genus SPEOTYTO. Medii-un-sized Owls — wing 6 to 8 — with a quite incomiolete facial disk and no ear-tufts ; ear-openings small and normal ; cere somewhat swollen ; wing modorate, slightly rounded ; tail short, less than half the wing ; legs long and slim, tarsus twice the length of the middle toe without claw, scantily feathered in front, bare behind ; lower portion and toes with a few bristles. This genus is confined to America ; there is only one species found in the United States. Burrowing Owl. Speotyto cunicularia hypogcea. A.O.U. Checknst no 378 — Colorado Records — Say 23, vol. ii., pp. 36, 200 ; Allen 72, p. 151 ; Coues 74, p. 322 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 89, p. 67 ; Bendire 92, p. 395 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 81, 206 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Warren 06, p. 20 ; 08, p. 21 ; 09, p. 14 ; Gihnan 07, p. 154 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 118. Description. — Adult — Dull brown above, spotted finely on the head, more largely on the back, with white or tawny-whitish ; on the wing- quills and tail the spots tend to form cross-bars, generally broken in the centre on the shafts ; below white, the throat and fore-breast imniaculate, separated by a brown band, posteriorly with a series of brown, transverse spots, almost forming bars ; thighs and under tail- coverts plain ; iris yellow, bill greenish-yellow, cere and claws blackish. Length 9*5 ; wing 7-25 ; tail 3-5 ; cuhnen '6 ; tarsus 1'85. The sexes are aUke. Young birds are plain brown above, but with much white on the wings ; below with white chin, brown collar, and isabelline white and immaculate posterior parts. Distribution. — Western North America, breeding from southern British Columbia, Assinaboia and Minnesota south to northern Texas, Mexico and Guatemala. In Colorado the Burrowing Owl is most common on the eastern plains, wherever there are prairie-dog towns. It is also found in the moun- tains up to about 8,000 feet, while Cooke states it occasionally reaches 10,000 feet; but I have not found any reference to it higher than Middle Park, where Carter obtained it. There is also some doubt as to whether p2 212 Birds of Colorado it is a resident or only a summer bird ; it is generally considered to belong to the former category, but there seems to be no winter record for the State except that of Hersey and Rockwell, who noticed a few during that season at Barr, The following localities are reported : Fort Collins, breeding (Bendire), Greeley, breeding (Colo. Coll. Mus.), Boulder co., breeding on plains (Gale), near Colorado Springs and Limon, not common (Aiken), Baca CO., very common (Warren), Routt co., rare (Warren), Grand Junction common resident (Rockwell), Cortez (Gilman) and La Plata co., common (Morrison). Habits. — This little Owl presents a very remarkable departure from the habits of all other Owls. It inhabits the treeless plains, it is more or less gregarious, and it nests in burrows underground. As is well known, it is often found associated with prairie-dogs and rattle- snakes, but the old idea of the three living together in perfect amity has been long since dispelled. As a rule certainly, perhaps invariably, the Owl only takes up its abode in deserted burrows, and these particular ones can nearly always be detected by the litter and filth strewed near the entrance. This Owl is quite diurnal in habits, and often stands on the little mound by the side of its hole. Here it can be noticed bowing and dipping, by the passer-by. In other parts of its range it inhabits badger, skunk or spermophiles' holes, and it is said that occasionally it burrows for itself. Bendire, at any rate, watched it enlarging one. It hunts chiefly in the evening and at night, preying on young prairie-dogs and small mammals, but more often, judging by Fisher's researches, on grass- hoppers and beetles. It seldom catches birds, though Gale found the remains of a Horned Lark in a burrow examined by him. The nest is a rounded chamber, about two to three feet below the surface, and is approached by a curved or straight passage of from four to five feet long. Gale Pygmy Owl 213 noticed an extra chamber off the passage, which he supposed was for the male bird. The eggs are laid on a bed of horse or cow droppings, broken up fine, and there is usually an accumulation of food-remains, and other filth as well, while the whole spot swarms with fleas and is very ill-smelling. The eggs number from seven to nine ; they are rounded ovates in shape, and pure white in colour when clean, though usually very nest-soiled. They measure about 1'3 x 1"1. Gale found fresh eggs from May 10th to 20th ; Dille gives May 22nd, while Bendire states that fresh eggs have been found at Fort Collins as late as July 1st. A set of five eggs in the Colorado College Museum, presented by I, C. Hall, were taken by him near Greeley, May 10th, 1903. They were found at the end of a prairie- dog's hole, seven feet long and a foot deep, and were placed on a bed of horse manure. A large toad was also found in the hole. Genus GLAUCIDIUM. Small Owls, wing under 4-0 ; facial disk hardly developed ; no ear- tufts ; ear-openings nornial ; nostrils circular, opening well within tho cere ; wing short and rounded ; tail long, slightly rounded, about f of wing ; tarsus densely feathered ; toes bristly. A large genus of small Owls chiefly met with in the Tropics, with three species and one subspecies in the United States, Pygmy Owl. Glaucidium gnoma. A.O.U. CheckUst no 379 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, pp. 185, 195 ; Henshaw 85, p. 79 ; H. G. Smith 87, p. 284 ; 96, p. 76 ; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 67 ; Kellogg 90, p. 90 ; Bendire 92, p. 403 ; Lowe 94, p. 268 ; Cooke 97, pp. 81, 161, 206 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Oilman 07, p. 154. Description. — Above slaty-brown, with small round spots of white on the head and larger ones on the wing-coverts ; a collar of mixed white and black round the back of the neck ; wing- and tail-quills a duskier brown, marked with white spots on both webs ; chin and fore- breast white, separated by a brown band ; rest of the under-parts white, 214 Birds of Colorado heavily streaked with dusky ; sides of the breast like the back, spotted ; iris yellow, bill and toes duller yellow. Length 6-75 ; wing 3'9 ; tail 2'9 ; culraen '55 ; tarsus I'l. The young bird has the top of the head plain grey. No red or tawny phase has yet been met with. Distribution. — Western America from the interior of British Cokunbia south to the Mexican tableland, east to Colorado and New Mexico, but not reaching the coast lands of the Pacific in the west. The Pygmy Owl was first taken by Aiken in November, 1871, near, Fountain in the foothills. Since then it has been met with a good many times, and may be considered a rai'e resident, breeding in summer at elevations up to about 10,000 feet, and wintering in the foothills and the neighbouring plains. The following are breeding records : Estes Park, nesting at 10,000 feet (W. G. Smith apud Bendire), Breckenridge (Carter), Ute Pass (Aiken aptid Cooke), Wet Mountains, common, 7,800 to 8,000 feet (Lowe), La Plata co., breeding (Morrison) ; winter records are : Loveland (W. G. Smith apud Bendire), Boulder, January (Henderson), Denver (H. G. Smith), El Paso co., (Aiken coll.), Sahda (Frey), Pueblo (Cooke), Durango (H. G. Smith), and Routt co., below 6,000 feet (Cooke). Habits. — The Pygmy Owl is chiefly met with in or near pine woods ; it is often seen about in bright sunshine, though perhaps more common in late afternoon or early morning. It hides in pines or other thick timber, perching upright on a branch close to the trimk, where it is practically invisible. Its note is rather musical for an Owl, somewhat resembling the "Coo" of the Mourning Dove. It is very bold and fearless, and will attack birds much larger than itself. One was brought to Aiken from a ranche near Colorado Springs, which was shot while attacking a Quail, and on other occasions it has been known to pounce on a Long-crested Jay and on chickens. It also preys on small rodents and insects. A nest containing three young ones and an egg on the point of hatching, was taken by W. G. Smith, in Estes Park, May 31st, at about 10,000 feet. It was placed in an old Woodpecker's hole in a dead aspen, and was Corolina Paroquet 215 composed of a few feathers and rubbish. Morrison took several nests in La Plata co. at about 9,000 feet in June ; they were all in pines in old Woodpeckers' holes, but no eggs appear to have been available for Bendire to examine. ORDER PSITTACI. This order contains the Parrots, easily distinguished externally by their stout, strongly hooked bill, furnished with a cere, which however is frequently feathered, and by their feet, which are zygodactylous, i.e. the first and fourth toes are posteriorly, the second and third anteriorly directed. Family PSITTACID^. Genus CONUROPSIS. Bill stout ; cere, within which opens the nostrils, completely feathered ; tail long, equal to the wing ; wotlge-shaped and strongly graduated ; tarsus very short, covered with granular scales. One species only in the United States. Corolina Paroquet. Conuropsis carolinensis. A.O.U. Checklist no 382 — Colorado Records — Pike 10, p. 78 (Coues's ed., II., p. 474) ; Coues 77, p. 50 ; Morrison 89, p. 67 ; Hasbrouck 91, p. 369 ; Cooke 97, pp. 81, 162. Description. — Above and below, green of various shades ; head all round and edge of wing yellow ; forehead and cheeks orange-red ; iris brown, bill whitish, feet flesh-coloured. Length 12'0 ; wing 7-10 ; tail 5-75 ; cubnen "9 ; tarsus -7. The sexes are alike. Young birds are green without yellow. Distribution. — Formerly ranging over all of the middle and south- eastern United States, from Colorado, Nebraska and New York south to the Gulf ; now confined to Florida and to a less extent to Arkansas and Oklahoma. Pike captirred a live bird new to him on Cliristmas Day, 1806, in the upper Ai'kansas Valley, not far from where Sahda now is. He described it as green with a tufted head, and he fed it on meat. Coues identified it with the Carolina Paroquet, but I am more inclined to think it was 216 Birds of Colorado the Long-crested Jay, E. L. Barthoud, however, informed Coues that he had seen the Parrot on several occasions in the early sixties, at Golden, close to Denver, on the Little Thompson, and also near Fort Lyon. These are the only notices of its occurrence in Colorado, and it is now doubtless extinct in the State. ORDER COCCYGES. This order, containing the Cuckoos, Trogons and Kingfishers, is very difficult to diagnose by external characters, but the bill is without cere, and is never hooked or chisel-shaped ; the tail-feathers are never stiff or sharp-pointed, and the toes are either arranged two in front and two behind ; or if three in front, the third and fourth are bound together for half their length, i.e. syndactylous. Key of the Families and Genera. A. Toes, two in front and two beliind (Guculidce). a. Wing short, J the length of tail ; head crested. Geocccc3rx, p. 216. b. Wing longer, about equal to tail ; head not crested. Coccyzus, p. 218. B. Toes three in front, one behind ; the third and fourth bound together for half their length (.4Zced/mdcF). Ceryle, p. 221. Family CUCULID.^. Toes arranged with two — ^the second and third — in front and two — ^the fkst and fourth — behind ; tail with ten rectrices in all North American forms. Genus GEOCOCCYX. Terrestrial Cuckoos with crested head and a small bare, space round the eye ; bill long, rather slender and downcurved towards the tip ; wings very short, rounded and concave, less than a length of tail, which consists of ten long, tapering feathers, and is very much graduated ; legs stout and adapted to walking ; the tarsus scutellate before and beliind. The genus contains two species only, one from the United States and one from Mexico. Road-runner 217 Road-runner. Oeococcyx calijornianus. A.O.U. Checklist no 385— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 206 Coues 73, p. 751 ; Henshaw 75, p. 383 ; Goss 78, p. 114 ; Drew 85, p. 17 Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 88, p. 17 ; 89, p. 67 ; Lowe 94, p. 268 Cooke 97, pp. 81, 207 ; Warren 06, p. 20 ; Cary 09, p. 181 ; Felger 10, p. 89. Description. — Above a n^etallic bronze, becorning steely-blue on the neck and head ; all the feathers edged with white or tawny-white, pro- ducing a streaked appearance ; head strongly crested ; wing more greenish ; tail very strongly graduated ; the three outer pairs of feathers steely-blue with a terminal band of white ; below duU whitish, the feathers of the fore-neck and throat with dusky centres edged with tawny ; iris red, bill and legs dark horny, a bare space round the eye pale fleshy, eyelids blue. Length 20-5 ; wing 7-75 ; tail 12-0 ; culmen 2-1 ; tarsus 2-4, The sexes are aUke, and the young bird is very similar — iridescent from the first, but with more white and less tawny. Distribution. — South-west United States, from California and Colorado south to Mexico, east to south-west Kansas and Oklahoma. The Road-runner is a faii-ly common resident in Colorado along and south of the Arkansas Valley. North of this it is rare, but has been met with on several occasions in El Paso co., by Aiken and others, while Cooke states that Carter once observed it at Littleton just south of Denver, and Felger has recently recorded it fron^ Denver itself ; this is the most northern record. Others are : Las Animas (Goss), Fort Lyon (Coues), Gamne's Ranche (Warren and Cary), Wet Mountains at 8,000 feet (Lowe), Trinchera (Brunner) and La Plata co. (Morrison). It keeps chiefly to the lower altitudes of the cedar and pinon zone, and has not been met with above 8,000 feet (Lowe). Habits. — ^This ground-loving Cuckoo, often known as the Chaparral Cock and by the Mexicans as the Paisano, is a bird of remarkable aspect, and reminds one more of a small hen Pheasant than of a Cuckoo. It is thoroughly terrestrial and a great runner, and is said to be able to outstrip a galloping horse, aided by its wings out- stretched as supporters. It also flies well. The Road-runner is rather unsocial, and only one or two are to be met with together ; it prefers bushy hill-sides and scrub-oak, seldom or never entering pine woods. Its note is compared by Bendire to the cooing 218 Birds of Colorado of a Dove and the cackling of a hen, and it also makes a noise by snapping its mandibles. The food consists chiefly of large insects, such as grasshoppers and beetles, and also lizards, snakes and young birds. Stories of its killing large rattlesnakes are often told, but these appear to be exaggerated. The nest is built in a low bush, as a rule three to eight feet above the ground ; it consists of a flat, shallow and compact mass of sticks, lined generally with dry grass, sometimes with other material such as a few feathers. The number of eggs varies considerably, possibly where twelve have been found they are from two hens. They are ovate, white and unspotted, and measure r54 x 1'18. They are laid at considerable intervals, and incubation commences after the first few are deposited. No details in regard to the nesting of this bird within the State have yet been published. Genus COCCYZUS. Head not crested ; bill stout at the base, compressed and gently downcurved throughout ; wing pointed, about equal to the tail in length ; tail of ten obtusely-ending, strongly graduated feathers ; legs moderate, tarsus about equal to middle toe. Three species are found in the United States. Key of the Species. A. Lower mandible chiefly yellow ; outer tail-feathers strongly tipped with white. a. Smaller ; wing 5-5, culmen -93. C. americanus, p. 218. b. Larger; wing 5 '8, culmen 1*05. C. a. occidentalis, p. 220 B. Lower mandible black ; outer tail-feathers obscurely white at the tip. C. erythropthalmus, p. 220 Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Coccyzus americanus. A.O.U. Checklist no 387 — Colorado Records— Ridgway 79, p. 231 Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 67 ; Cooke 97, pp. 82, 207 ; Rockwell 08, p. 164; Henderson 09, p. 231. (This hst includes records for both subspecies.) Yellow-billed Cuckoo 219 Description.^ — ^Above greyish-brown with a slight bronzy lustre, becoming more rufous on the wings ; the inner webs of the wing-quills largely light rufous ; tail graduated, the three outer-pairs of feathers black, tipped with white ; the outer pair white along the outer web as well ; below white ; iris brown, bill with upper mandible and tip of lower, black, rest of lower and cutting-edges of both yellow, legs plum- beous. Length 10'75 ; wing 5-5 ; tail 5-5; culmen -93; tarsus 1-1. Young birds have less white on the tail and the black not so pure. Distribution. — Breeding in eastern North America, from Nova Scotia and South Dakota south to the Gulf States and West Indies ; in winter, south through eastern Mexico to Costa Rica. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is a rare siunmer visitor to Colorado chiefly met with on the eastern plains, but occasionally penetrating into the mountains up to 8,000 feet. It was noticed breeding in Middle Park by Carter ; it wbs taken at Fort Lyon by Thorne, and there is an example from Ramah in El Paso co., obtained June 4th, in the Aiken collection. Miss Eggleston states that it is a summer resident at Grand Junction, and that a pair nested several seasons in an orchard there (Rockwell). Cooke referred the Yellow-billed Cuckoo of Colorado to the western subspecies C. a. occidentalie, but two examples in the Aiken collection, from Ramah and from Gem, Thomas co., Kans, undoubtedly belong to the smaller race. Possibly the birds from the western slope are nearer the western form. Habits. — ^The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is often called the " Rain Crow," or the " Kow-Kow," the former because it is more noisy when the atmosphere is moist, the latter from its note. It is an arboreal bird, keeping itself concealed in thick trees, and is more often heard than seen. It feeds chiefly on caterpillars, and will devour even the more hairy and spiny forms rejected by other birds. In some cases the stomach-walls have been found full of these spines, without any apparent injury to the birds. They also eat other insects and fruits, and have been accused, but on doubtful evidence, of sucking other birds' eggs. The nest in a shallow, frail structure, poorly put together, placed low down in bushes or vines. The eggs, three to five in number, are light bluish-green in colour ; they 220 Birds of Colorado are unspotted and measure ri9 x '90. Occasionally this Cuckoo shows a tendency to parasitism. Eggs have been known to have been dropped in the nests of other birds, most often perhaps in the nest of the Black-billed Cuckoo. California Cuckoo. Coccyzus americanus occidentalis. A.O.U. Checklist no 387a. Description. — Larger than C. americanus, with a proportionally larger and stouter bill; wing 5-84 ; tail 6-59 ; culmen 1'05. Distribution. — Western North America from British Coluntbia south to Lower California, New Mexico, and the tablelands of Mexico proper. Cooke refers the Yellow-billed Cuckoo of Colorado to this subspecies, but most of the Colorado examples which I have seen appear to be nearer the eastern race. In the State Historical Collection at Denver there are two specimens, obtained in Denver, which perhaps might be referred to the larger-billed fonn, while others taken in Yimaa are certainly smaller, and should more properly be referred to the eastern race. Black-billed Cuckoo. Coccyzus erythropthalmus. A.O.U. Checklist no 388— Colorado Records — Bendire 92, p. 27 ; Cooke 94, p. 183 ; 97, p. 82 ; H. G. Smith 05, p. 82. Description. — Above greyish-brown with a slight bronzy lustre, no rufous on the wings, tail-feathers all like the back, subterminally dusky, terminally obscurely white ; below whit'e ; iris brown, bare skin round the eye red, bill black, sometimes a trace of yellow on the lower man- dible ; legs plumbeous. Length 11 -5 ; wing 5-4 ; tail 6'15 ; culmen -85 ; tarsus -9. Young birds have the feathers of the upper-parts edged with whitish. Distribution. — Breeding in eastern North America from Manitoba, Labrador and Nova Scotia, south to the Gulf States ; south in winter to the West Indies, Central America and northern South America. The Black-billed Cuckoo is even rarer in Colorado than the Yellow- billed. It is probably a summer resident, but has not yet been found nesting, and has hitherto only been met with in the north-eastern plains counties. An example now mounted in the Museum at Fort CoUins was collected by Breninger on Jime 11th. W. G. Smith and Osburn found it rare at Loveland, but believed that it nested there, and more recently H. G. Smith obtained a single example in Jackson's canon, near Wray, on May 21st, 1904. Habits. — ^The Black-billed Cuckoo hardly differs from the Yellow-billed Cuckoo in this respect. Belted Kingfisher 221 Family ALCEDINID^. Genus CERYLE. Bill longer than the head, straight, stout and acute ; head with an occipital crest ; wings long and pointed, almost double the length of the even, twelve-feathered tail ; legs short and weak, tarsus very short ; toes arranged with three in front and one behind and syndactylous — that is, with the third and fourth bound up in a comrnon sheath for about half their length. This is a large and almost cosmopolitan genus of Ivingfishers, but with only one species widely distributed in the United States. Belted Kingfisher. Ceryle alcyon. A.O.U. Checklist no 390 — Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 151, 179 ; Aiken 72, p. 206 ; Henshaw 75, p. 366 ; Scott 79, p. 95 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 196 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 86, p. 153 ; 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 67 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Cooke 97, pp. 82, 207 ; Henderson 03, p. 235; 09, p. 231; Dille 03, p. 74; Markman 07, p. 156; Gihnan 07, p. 154 ; Warren 08, p. 21 ; 09, p. 14 ; Rockwell 08, p. 164. Description. — Male^Above and a pectoral band across the chest slaty-blue with black shaft-Lines ; head crested, a white collar round the nape ; primaries dusky, with white at the base of the inner webs ; a few white spots on the wing-coverts ; tail spotted with white, and black on the inner web ; below, including a spot in front of and below the eye white, except for the pectoral band ; iris dark brown, bill black, legs dusky. Length 11-5 ; wing 6'25 ; tail 34 ; culnaen 2-15 ; tarsus -45. The female has the sides and flanks and a band across the middle chestnut. Distribution. — Breeding from Alaska and Labrador to the southern border of the United States ; a resident from New England, Colorado and Washington, southwards ; in wdnter, south as far as the West Indies and Panama. The Kingfisher is fairly abundant throughout Colorado wherever suitable conditions prevail. It ranges from the plains to about 9,500 feet in summer, while a few birds undoubtedly winter at lower eleva- tions, and where there is open water during this season. The following are recorded localities : Big Thompson in Estes Park, common