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 July, 1908 ..:.::. :.  :.... : :.., ANNOTATED LIST OF THE BIRDS OF MESA COUN, .'t o % 79 were seen and one collected in early November, 1895, by A. H. Howell at Grand Junction. This is the only record at hand for Mesa County. Penthestes atricapillus septentri0nalis. Long-tailed Chickadee. Resident, n'ot uncommon. While this species is often seen during the winter in the lower parts of the County, it is not nearly so common as the following species and is more typically a bird of the lower altitudes than gainbelL They probably nest in the higher portions of the County, but the writer has not observed them during the summer. Pnthstes gambli. Mountain Chickadee. Resident, common. The most abundant chickadee in Mesa County, far outnumbering P. a. seplenlrionalis. Dur- ing the winter they are common along the well wooded creek bottoms up to at least 7000 feet even during the most severe weather. As is the case with the two pre- ceding species they are not much in evidence during the summer, but are undoubt- edly common breeders from 9000 feet up. Mr. Sullivan says they occur from October to April at Grand Junction. Psaltriparus plumbeus. Lead-colored Bush-tit. Prof. Cooke says, "Several were seen November 13, 1895, by A. H. Howell at Grand Junction." This is the only record at hand for Mesa County; but during the summer of 1898 Mr. Wm. Cross took a set of eggs at Glenwood Springs, within twenty miles of the northern boundary of the County. Regulus calendula. Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Summer resident, not uncom- mon. Owing to their quiet and retiring habits it is not improbable that these tiny birds are much more common than general observations might lead one to believe. They are typically birds of the higher altitudes during the breeding season, which is at its height the latter part of Jnne. The writer saw one bird June 15, 1897, at an altitude of only 6500 feet, but this was evidently either a straggler or a late migrant. [Regulus satrapa olivaeeus. Western Golden-crowned Kinglet. Cooke states that this bird occurs thruout the State in migration. There is probably no place in the County of suffi- cient altitude to attract these birds during the breeding season.] P01i0ptila carulea 0bscura. Western Gnacatcher. There are three Gnat- catchers in the collection at the State Capitol collected by Mr. W. C. Ferrill near Grand Junction, May 17, 1906, which, altho they have not been positively identi- fied, are probably referable to this sub-species. This is the first record for west of the range. Myadestes t0wnsendii. Townsend Solitaire. Resident', not common. During the winter months they are occasionally seen in the lower parts of the County, but seldom in any numbers. Their migration, which is largely if not wholly a vertical one occurs late in April and by May 15 they have reached the extreme upper edge of their range, where they breed during June and July. Hy10cichla ustulata swains0ni. Olive-backed Thrush. Summer resident. On August 1, 1905, the writer found a deserted nest containing two fresh eggs of this bird at an altitude of about 6500 feet, on Grove Creek in Plateau Valley. I have no further information regarding the occurrence of this species in Mesa County. Hylocichla guttata audub0ni. Audubon Hermit Thrush. Summer resident, common. The only Thrush occurring commonly in the County. Arrives late in May, breeds in June and July and departs for the south in September. July 24, 1901, the writer found a nest containing three incubated eggs of this species on Grove Creek at an elevation of about 6500 filet, but I am inclined to believe the great bulk breed from one to three thousand .feet higher than this. Frequents well-timbered creek bottoms but on account of its retiring habits is seldom seen. One of the most delightful songsters among American birds.