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Show 150 by the stock. A night's march brought us to Camp Bowie, the tedium of the road being broken by the songs of the Cassiu's finch, ( Pencata cassini,) a small sparrow abounding in this section, and which at this season has the unusual habit of continuing its plaintive melody through the entire night. From August 6 to the 19th the interval was occupied in collecting about Camp Bowie and also in the vicinity of the neighboring agency. A large number of birds were obtained, among them a humming- bird, ( Doricha enicura,) a beautiful species, knowu only from far south in Guatemala. The ground- squirrel ( Spermophilu8 grammuru*) is an abundant resident of this region, and the curious fact was ascertained here that it has made itself v « ry obnoxious to the settlers by its raid on their henneries, proviug itself an adept at stealing the eggs. From here until we camped at the base of the Sauta Rita Mountains work was prosecuted chiefly as we marched along, and nothing of especial interest was observed. Here several valuable contributions both to our botanical and zoological collections were made. Three species of birds, new to our fauna, were obtained, viz: Myiodynastvs luteirentrU, Circe latirostria, and Picus stricklandi; the evidence sufficiently proving that all these are summer residents in this region. The Arizona sparrow ( Pcvceea cestivalis, var. arizonw) was found abundant in the neighboring Sonoita Valley. Retracing our steps, we turned aside to visit Camp Lowell, arriving there September 8. Perhaps on no single point on our long route was the number of birds found so great as here, and the five days spent in this locality were well rewarded. The desert plains over which our approach to the post was made is the home of several rare forms of bird- life, that are especially adapted for an existence under conditions which would appear most unfavorable. The Bend ires thrush, ( Harporhynchus, var. bendireii,) a recently- discovered bird the Palmer's thrush, ( H. var. palmeri^) and the cactus wren, ( Campylorynchus brunneicapillus,) were all more or less abundant about the various species of the cacti which are scattered over the plains here in every direction) and form, indeed, in places almost the only phase of vegetation ; in others being varied only with the equally desolate- appearing grease- wood and sage- brush. Near the stream which passes by the post the undergrowth was found alive with feathered life, many species of birds finding favorable conditions for a winter- resort. Among these were found numbers of the Rufus- winged sparrow, ( Peuccea carpalis,) and paius were taken to secure a good suite of this little- known species. Returning from here to Graham Peak, September 18, a ten- days1 camp was made, and, besides a large uumber of specimens, two species of birds new to the fauna were found, ( Peucedramus olivacea,) and the Mexican cross- bill, ( Curviroalra, var. mexicana.) The Townsends and western warblers ( Dendroica toionsendi and D. occidentals were also found quite numerous. Returning to Camp Apache via San Carlos, that post was reached October 10. The opportunity was now taken to visit the interior and higher parts of the Sierra Blanca, though the lateness of the season seemed to preclude the probability of much being accomplished in the line of zoology. Such proved to be the case, the deep frosts being found to be almost destitute of animal life. A curious species of owl, which, instead of possessing the usual noctarnal habits, is abroad only in the earlier part of the morning and during the late afternoon, was found to bo very numerous in the piny ravines, where they appeared to associate in regular companies, a rather anomalous fact in birds of that family. Dusky grouse ( Tetrao obscurus) were found to he not uncommon in the high pine ridges, and this is to be regarded with great probability as about the most southern limit to this species, no other of the family extending thus far, or being known at all from Arizona. With our return to Apache terminated practically the field- work ; the late season, combined with the rapidity of our subsequent marches to Santa Fe", preventing any results of importance. Respectfully submitted. H. W. HEXSHAW. Lieut. GEO. M. WHEELER, Corps of Enginecn. III.- NOTES ON TnE ORNITHOLOGY OBSERVED BY MR. C. E. AIKEN, ASSISTANT. My operations for the season of 1874 commenced at Pneblo, Colo., on the 23d of July. Few mammals were noted from this locality, but several species were very abundant. Of these, the prairie- dog ( Spernwphiles ludovicianus) were most numerous; but coyotes, swifts, badgers, hares, and rabbits were also common. I was interested to see, at Pueblo, a cub of the grizzly bear, ( Ursusferox,) which had been captured in the adjacent Greenhorn Mountains. This settles the doubts heretofore existing as to the occurrence of this bear on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. Ornithological collecting at Pueblo was very unsatisfactory. Much of the river- bottom, once cultivated, was now destitute of any vegetation save weeds, and the unfenced |