Jan., 1910 SOME CENTRAL COLORADO BIRD NOTES 35
M010thrus ater. Cowbird. Seen at Hooper, Mosca, San Luis Lakes, Medano Ranch, Durkee Ranch, Querida, and near Colorado Springs. An egg was found' in a Savannah Sparrow's nest at Medano Ranch. Xanth0cephalus xanth0cephalus. Yellow-headed Blackbird. This species was seen at some of the small lakes near San Luis Lake, and at Medano Ranch, nesting in the bushes and cat-tails. Durand saw one at Querida, another instance of post- breeding wandering. I also saw one a few miles south of Westcliffe. Agelaius ph0eniceus f0rtis. Thick-billed Redwing. Seen a few miles south Of Colorado Springs; near Cation City; near Texas Creek; at San Luis Lake; abund- ant at Medano Ranch, and in the meadows near Westcliffe. Also seen near Buttes Station. Sturnella neglecta. Western Meadowlark. Often seen from Colorado Springs to the Durkee Ranch, very common in the San Luis Valley; next seen on Muddy Creek; common at Westcliffe; seen occasionally between Beulah and Colorado Springs. Icterus bul10cki. Bullock's Oriole. Seen near our Texas Creek camp; at the Durkee Ranch; and a few between Pueblo and Colorado Springs. Much of the country visited was not specially favorable for these birds, and much of course was not carefully examined. They are no doubt more abundant than these notes would indicate. Euphagus cyan0cephalus. Brewer's Blackbird. Seen everywhere between Colorado Springs and the Durkee Ranch, and a very common bird at many places; seen at Muddy Creek; at Westcliffe, late in July, they were beginning to gather in flocks as is their habit after the breeding season. Seen near Beulah. At San Luis Lake, June 18, I found a young one panting under such shade as a greasewood bush afforded in the middle of the day; it was able to fly a little; the birds must nest on the ground here, or in the greasevood bushes, for there are no trees. Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. Bronzed Grackle. Seen at Glendale and Cation City. Carp0dacus cassini Cassin's Finch. This bird was seen at Querida only, where it was rather common about the town. Carp0dacus mexicanus fr0ntalis. House Finch. One seen in Frey's yard at Salida, and one at Mosca. I cannot persuade myself at present to adopt the new A. O. U. name of "California Linnet", for it seems to me that it conveys the im- pression that the species is peculiar to or characteristic of California, and I think that can hardly be said to be the case with a bird which "Breeds ...... from western parts of Kansas and Texas to the Pacific, and from Oregon to northern Mexico". Bailey, Handbook of Birds of Western United States. As long ago as 1874 Coues used the name House Finch in the Birds of the Northwest, so that it is not a newly invented name. I realize that some of the vernacular names present a more difficult problem than the scientific, as so many birds are known by different names in different localities, and it is hard to decide on the most appropriate, but in this case I think the Committee had better have let the old name stand until they could find a really good one. Leucosticte tephrocotis. Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. In February 1, 1909, there was a very large flock of Rosy Finches about Querida, and 10 out of 18 col- lected were Gray-crowns. Leucosticte tephrocotis littoralis. Hepburn's Rosy Finch. One was taken at Querida February 5, 1909. Leucosticte atrata. Black Rosy Finch. One taken at Querida February 5, 1909.