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Show 152 had been felled by the « e Biugular animals, and apparently without design ; for they lay just where they had fallen, and even the smaller twigs had not beeu disturbed. On the small streams in the mountaius, to the eastward of Fort Garland, where several days were passed, the devices of the beaver to increase the depth of the water were constantly seen iu the form of dams, which were sometimes so abundant as to form a succession of small ponds, the water flowing over the dam of one only to fall into the basin of another. In these mountains, signs of beor and elk were seen in different places and numbers of the mule- deer ( Gervua macrotuit) were seen. The sprightly little four- lined squirrel ( Tamias striata) scampered before us as we forced onr way along the pathless mountain sides, and Richardson's squirrel ( SciuruH richardsoni) barked saucily at us from his retreat in the thick- foliaged spruce- tree. A weasel and two or three species of mice, among the latter the curious kangaroo, or jumpiug- niouse, were also noticed. The scarcity of birds here was probably due largely to the lateness of the season. Amon^ the willows that fringe the streams, the green- tailed fiuch aud MeGillivray's warbler iound hiding-places, and, as they were now moultiug, were more than usually shy. Sometimes the harsh, grating notes of Clark's nut- cracker, uttered far up the side of the mountain, or the shrill cry of the red- tailed hawk sailing overhead, broke the death- like silence, and a troop of mouutain tits or ruby kinglets flitting through the forest, and perhaps a flock of the gray- headed snow- birds, relieved it temporarily of its solitude. On t* o or three occasions covies of dusky grouse were flushed, the birds takiugjrefuge in the tall sproce-trees, where they would stupidly sit with outstretched necks until brought down by the shot- gun. Such was the character of the country that formed my collecting- field during three-fourths of the seanou ; rugged spruce aud aspen clad lnonutains at an elevation of from 8,000 to 12,000 feet; aud the birds and mammals here noticed were, with few exceptions, the only forms found iu such localities. My visit to the above mountains was attended with one excellent result, the detection of the band- tailed pigeou ( Coluinba fasciata) at the western base of the Spanish Peaks. This bird, a prize to obtain at any locality, had never previously been obtained, or its existence even expected in Colorado. Several were seeu at this place, aud later in the season, September 20,1 was fortunate enough to meet with them again iu considerable numbers about fifteen miles above the town of Del Norte, on the Rio Grande. At the latter place, a flock of twenty of these pigeons was found, aud I learned from persons living in the vicinity that the same birds had been noticed throughout the summer; so they had doubtless raised their young there. In their habits they resemble the common wild pigeon, ( Eciopristes migraUnius.) They fly in compact flock, and frequent both the conifers of the mountains and the cotton wood groves of the river- bottom, though apparently preferring the latter. On the Rio Grande, they were feeding greedily upon a small white bexry that grew abundantly upon the river- bank. Leaving the mountains in the vicinity of Fort Garland, our party proceeded southward and westward, through the great San Luis Valley, and theu ascended the Conejos River to its source. The sage- plains of the San Luis Valley were frequented by numerous migrating sparrows, most abundaut among which were the little Brewer's sparrows; and the most interesting, because not previously noticed in Eastern Colorado, were the Bell's finches, ( Poospha belli, var. neradtmeis,) of which two flocks were seen, though owing to their shyness, and my lack of time, only one specimen was secured. On a high barren plain near the crossiug of the Rio Graude, a single specimen of Baird's sparrow ( Centronyx bairdi) was seen and obtained; an interesting capture, notwithstanding the fact that this has, during the past two years, been proved an abundant species in Dakota aud Arizona. Iu the Conejos canon, Townsend's warbler, a little-known bird, and new to this section of the United States, was secured. It was in company with a flock of California nut- hatches, ( Sitta pwilia, var. pygnuta,) in the spruce- timbers bordering the valley. Although this species was ouly met with on oue other occasion, I am lead to believe that it is not uncommon during the migrations iu the mountains of Western Colorado. In the valley of the Conejos River, several forms of animal life were abundant. Foxes were daily seen, aud bands of deer and antelope wereou several occasions surprised by diilereut members of the party. Beaver wore very plentiful, as also were minks and several smaller mammals. The largest trout caught during the season, measuring 21£ inches in length, was taken from the waters of the Conejos. Far up on Summit Peak,' where this river has its source, the common woodchuck ( Arctomys empestra,) was numerous, living iu burrows aud crevices among the masses of loose rocks; and the rocky slides were the homes of conies, { Lagomys prxnceps.) Above the line of timber, at an altitude of 13,000 feet, a very interesting bird, the white- tailed ptarmigan, was found in large numbers. One flock of twenty- five, aud several smaller ones, were seen, from which fourteen birds were killed iu a short timti. They were very unsuspicious, and would sometimes run along the ground before me like a domestic fowl, but, after being once flushed aud thoroughly frightened, they would lie so close in the scant cover that it was almost impossible to find them. |