July, 1908 ANNOTATED LIST' OF THE BIRDS OF MESA COUNTY, COLORADO 159 gration common. The writer has seen it frequently in spring and fall thruout the County up to 9,000 feet, but has not found it breeding. Mr. Sullivan speaks of it as occurring along the Gunnison River and thinks they breed there. Mr. E. R. Warren and Miss Eggleston report it as a common summer resident at Grand Junction. Nyctic0rax nyctic0rax na?vius. Black-crowned Night Heron. Mr. R. H. Sul- livan says, "I saw a single individual in the slough south of the Sugar Factory (Grand Junction) at 8 p.m. August 22, 1904. The only one I have seen here." This is the only definite record for this species but it is not unreasonable to suppose that it occurs with more or less regularity during migration. Grus mexicana. Sandhill Crane. Summer resident, not uncommon locally. Several pairs of these birds have nested regularly in the high mountain parks at the head of the Muddy, and they are reported frequently from various points on the Grand Mesa. The usual altitude selected for their breeding grounds is from 9,000 to 9,500. [Rallus virginianus. Virginia Rail. Porzaua carolina. Sora. These two species, while of very wide distribution, are usually found in low altitmles. Probably both species occur in the Grand Valley during migration, and a few may summer there.] Fulica americana. American Coot. One was killed during the summer of 1904 by Mr. Floyd Smalley on a small reservoir in Plateau Valley at about 6500 feet. It is probably an occasional summer resident in suitable localities, and a regular migrant, but information regarding its abundance is laqking. [Phalaropus lobatus. Northern Phalarope. lSteganopus tricolor. Wilson Phalarope. Both of the above species undoubtedly occur regularly as migrants.] [Reeurvirostra americana. American Avocet. Occurs commonly in the San Luis Valley and abundantly in Utah so it is reasonable to suppose that it is of regular occurrence. in Mesa County during migration, tho.probably never common.] Himant0pus mexicanus. Black-necked Stilt. Miss Eggleston classes this bird as "irregular migrant" and says, "For a few days during the season of migration this bird may be seen wading in the shallow water of the Rio Colorado in company with the sandpipers. They are more often seen early in the evening when the in- sects are numerous over the water. They are rarely seen in flocks, often only one being noted in a season." Gallinag0 delicata. Wilson Snipe. Information is lacking on this bird. The writer has taken it four times, once in February, 1902, and three times during the winter of 1904-5 in Plateau Valley at an altitude of 6500. ' There is comparatively little suitable ground for it in the County and I think its. occurrence. must be classed as migrant, rather uncommon. " Act0dr0mas maculata. Pectoral Sandpiper. Miss Eggleston classes them as "irregular migrants" and says they are occasionally seen with the other sandpipers for a few days during high water, wading along the edges of the Rio Colorado. Act0dr0mas bairdii. Baird Sandpiper. Miss Eggleston writes, "Regular mi- grant, being seen both in the spring and fall. They come in small numbers, re- maining a few days, apparently feeding upon the helgramites." Actodromas minutilla. Least Sandpiper. Regular migrant. Speaking of this bird Miss Eggleston says, "This is the commonest of the sandpipers in the lower valley. They are seen in small flocks for a few days each spring and fall. They remain longer than the other wading birds except the heron." T0tanus melan01eucus. Greater Yellow-legs. T0tanus fiavipes. Lesser Yel- low-legs. Not uncommon in migration in suitable localities. The writer has seen both species on the reservoirs on the Grand Mesa up to 10,000 feet, and also in
