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Show 140 Since in previous years the collectors had always been attached to the topographical parties constantly in motion, which, from the nature of their labors, did not afford the same facilities for the prouer study of areas zoologically considered, as would parties specially organized for zoological collecting, it was authorized and permitted that a special party should be dispatched under the charge of Dr. J. T. Rothrock, acting assistant surgeon, U. S. A., the botanist of the expedition, to New Mexico and Arizona, visiting, en route, specified points or localities where little or no zoological work had been done. In addition to the collections made, observations by barometer for the determination of differences of altitude were obtained. Accompanying Doctor Rothrock were Mr. H. W. Henshaw, as ornithologist, and Mr. James M. Rutter, as general assistant. This party was fitted out before leaving Washington, with every requisite lor its work £> r. Rothrock's instructions were that he should proceed from Washington to Santa F£, from which place he was to proceed to Camp Bowie, Arizona, the southernmost point to be visited, passing in his journey the posts of Fort Win gate, New Mexico, Camps Apache and Grant, Arizona, returning via camps Lowell, Grant, Apache, Tule-rosa, and Craig, to Santa Fe\ From the different posts which were to be considered as bases of supply, excursions were to be made to the neighboring forests and mountains to the eastwaid and westward, and in tbi6 manner a considerable area was to be covered in. It is gratifyiug to state that at every post the party experienced the greatest kindness from the officers, and every aid was tendered to enable them to prosecute successfully their arduous duties. The results attained by this party exceed in numbers of specimens those of any previous year's work. It may be mentioned as an example of the character and value of the collections, that 9,000 botanical specimens of probably 1,000 species were secured, and of these 15 or 20 are new to science ; 1,300 ornithological specimens, comprising skins, crania, sterna?, nests, eggs, & c, of which no less than 9 species are new to the fauna of the United States, besides hundreds of reptiles, fishes, and insects; in short, all branches of zoology aud botajjy are well represented. In addition, Dr. Rothrock obtained the altitudes of several important positions by means of barometrical readings. In order that the route followed by his party may be more fully understood in detail, attention is invited to Appendix H 1. An extract from Mr. Henshaw's field- notes is also added, as having special reference to the ornithology of the regions traversed. In view of certain pafeontological work requiring larger intervals of time than could be spared with topographical parties, a second special party was organized and intrusted to my charge, in connection with Prof. E. D. Cope, paleontologist of the expedition. Mr. W. G. Shedd was assigned to it as general assistant, and Mr. R. J. Ains-worth as topographer aud meteorological observer. Instructions required us to proceed from Pueblo, Colo., to Taos, N. Mex., via Fort Garland, Colo., thence to San Iklufonso, N. Mex., on the Rio Grande, thence to Santa ¥ 6 and Algodones, returniug to Sau lldefouso, making this poiut the objective for the season's work, should circumstances justify. From San Ildefonso our course lay up the valley of the Chauia to Abiquiu, theuce to Tierra Am aril la, N. Mex., finally joining the main party at Pagosa Springs, Colo. It may prove of interest to trace out this route and the results of the trip more iu detail. The character of the country from Pueblo to Fort Garland, over the Sangre de Cristo Pass, is so well known that no further description appears necessary, while the geological features will be treated of elsewhere. Little was noticed of special zoological importance until arriving in the vicinity of Badito, where representatives of ornithological and herpetological forms of life began to increase. In this neighborhood the following birds were noticed as tolerably abundant: the burrowing owl ( Spootyto cunicu-laria,) the mountain mocking- bird, ( Oreoscoptes montanua,) the blue- headed jay, ( Gym-nokitta cyanocephala,) besides the titmice and finches. A few fish were taken at the creek, and quite a number of reptiles were secured, prominent among which were the " hog- nosed snake, 7' ( Heierodon nasicu*,) and the horned toads, ( Phrynosoma douglasmi and P. cornutum.) In this vicinity also, Professor Cope collected a number of valuable fossil marine invertebrata from the Cretaceous, and in addition a fair number of butterflies aud other insects were secured. Crossing the mountains at the Sangre de Cristo Pass, the military post of Fort Garland, Colo., was reached July 29, we having seen nothing along the road worthy of special mention. Every form of zoological life appeared scarce, with the exception of numerous butterflies of the commoner species. The absence of birds was especially noticeable, which was partly due to the lateness of the season. Among those seen were, notably, the broad- tailed hummer, ( Selasphorusplatycercus,) cow- birds, ( Molothrus pecoris,) larks, a thrush, { Harporhynehus criiaaUs,) pipelo, & c. |
