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Show 153 Another interesting bird obtained in the same place was Allen's finch, ( Leucosticte australi*.) On the 5th of September we arrived at Pagosa Springs, Colo., which point was made the headquarters of oar party for two weeks, giving me an opportunity to reconnoiter the surrounding country for zoological specimens. About eighty species of birds, including those observed on a trip to the Gallinas Mountains, were observed within a circuit of fifty miles. The country which this short trip covered was more interesting to an ornithologist than any other of the same extent visited during the season, and it is to bo regretted that more time could not have been spent there. Nothing new taken, bat the character of the country is well suited to the wants of birds, and both land and water species were numerous. Abundant evidence was bad of bear and black- tailed and white- tailed deer all through this section, but the smaller mammals were sparsely represented; even the little chipping squirrel, which had been so common, aud which we had come to look upon as a component part of the wilderness, we seldom saw here. Owing probably to the lateness of the season, there were very few insects; but several interesting species offish were taken from the waters of the San Juan river. We left Pagosa on the 21st of September, and returned to Pueblo by way of Del Norte and Fort Garland. One day was passed at the San Luis Lakes, a series of marshes and alkaline ponds about thirty miles north of Garland, which offer attractions to water- birds unsurpassed by any other spot in Colorado. At this season, October 3, I found large numbers of water- fowl congregated about them. Along the sandy shores of the larger ponds, Hocks of Baird's sand- pipers and avocets found abundant food, for in all these alkaline waters are myriads of small marine insects. The marshes swarmed with ducks, of which there wore nine or ten species, and on the open water rafts of beautiful snow- geese floated serenely. Besides the snow- geese, three others were common, which, although seen only from a distance, I have little doubt were respectively Anser albifrons, var. gambeUi- Brenta canadensis and Brenta canadensis, var. hutchingsi. On the shores of the largest lake, which is four or five miles in circumference, I saw a singular sight- the bleached skeletons of numerous ducks, maiuly of the species Eris-matura rubida, half buried in thediy 6and. I can only account for this phenomenon by supposing that an epidemic had prevailed among the ducks during the previous spring. The journey from Fort Garland to Pneblo being by stage, few opportunities for collecting were afforded after leaving the former place. The results of my season's collecting, as a whole, were perhaps as good as could have been expected under the circumstances. Onr party being more particularly a topographical one, and natural- history collections a subordinate consideration, the collector labored under disadvantages, and it was impossible to give any particular locality full attention ; and usually the only time available for the preservation of specimens obtained during the day's march was at night, by a candle's dim light. In addition to these obstacles, the country surveyed this year was an elevated mountainous tract, which, although welt watered and rich in vegetation, was, owing largely, I think, to the lateness of the season, almost destitute of animal life in many places. Respectfully submitted. CHAS. E. AIKEN. Lieut. GEO. M. WHEELER, Corps of Engineers, APPENDIX 12. ANNOTATED LI8T OF THE BIRDS OF ARIZONA, BY H. W. HKNSHAW, ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSISTANT. The following list comprises all the birds known to have been taken or observed within the territorial limits of Arizona. In its compilation several sources have been drawn upon. A large proportion of the whole number were either collected or passed under the observation of the author or others of the expedition during the seasons of 1873 and 1874. The portion of Arizona visited by the survey was the eastern section, from a point a little to the north of Camp Apache south to the border- line. In 1873, the time inclusive from July 15 till late in October was spent in this portion of the Territory, and in 1874, from early in July until the last of November, opportunity being thus afforded to investigate pretty thoroughly the summer fauna embraced within the line of operations, as well as to acquire information regarding the winter- residents. In addition to the material thus gathered, I have freely availed myself of the published notes of others, chief among these beiug the list of Arizona birds published by Dr. Coues in 1866, which embraced, besides the birds observed by him at Fort Whipple, LL- 11 |