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BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
Bulletin No. 1 Biological Series No. i

Summer Birds of Flathead Lake

— BY—

P. M. SILLOWAY

Price

University of Montana
1901

Summer Birfcs of jflatbeafc Xafce

P. M. SILLOWAY.

Notes based upon observations made between June 1-i and
August 30, 1900. From June 14 to July 6, observations were
made from the University of Montana Biological Station at
the head of Flathead Lake as a center; from July 9 to July
18, at Sin-yale-a-min Lake, Mission Mountains; from July 19
to July 27, at McDonald Lake, Mission Mountains; from
July 23 to August 3, in the region between the foot of Mt.
McDonald and the foot of Flathead Lake; during the re-
mainder of the period stated, the Biological Station was agaia
the center of operations.

Additional observations were made in June and July, 1901,
which have been recorded in the appropriate places.

Prepared under direction of the University of Montana
Biological Station.

SIN-YALE-A-MIN LAKE.

Sin-yale-a-min Lake lies in a depression of the Mission
Mountains at an elevation of 3900 feet. The depression i-<
probably the result of glacial action, in which the bed of the
lake was scooped out by the moving ice-mass, the trend being
nearly from east to west. The western end of the depression
is blocked by what seems to be a terminal moraine, through
which the outlet of the lake makes its wray. The lake is fed
by a stream which comes dashing down a gorge on the north-
east, the descent being so steep about a quarter of a mile from
the lake that there is a succession of beautiful falls extending
over several hundred feet. Between the lake and the falls the
stream is thickly bordered by massive arbor vitae, whose nu-
merous standing trunks and accompanying fallen growth form
an almost impassable jungle. However, a trail can be followed
from the lake to the falls with no great difficulty. Along this
stream the cheerful chant of the winter wren can be heard,
and in the leaping spray of the falls the American dipper
loves to play.

— 4—

North of the lake, rising quite abruptly from the water's
edge, lies the first of a series of ridges which culminate in
Sin-yale-a-min Mountain, whose bald head and snow-clad shoul-
ders can be seen very clearly from the outlet of the lake.
Between the lake and the summit of Sin-yale-a-min
Peak, whose altitude is approximately 9200 feet, there
rises nearly three miles of wooded mountain-side, the
home of Clarke's nutcracker and Richardson's grouse,
with other birds of Alpine habitat. As on the north, the
southern shore of the lake is the foot of a high, wooded ridge,
where the Rocky Mountain jay and black-headed jay flit among
the trees, and the ruffed grouse hides in the fir thickets.

Following an easy trail leading somewhat southeast from
the lake, the collector passes through a wide ravine for about
a mile, and reaches a small lake or pond a few acres in extent,
surrounded by a woodland free from undergrowth. Here tall
handsome yellow pines (pinus ponderosa) abound, in whose tops
are seen occasional flocks of chirping crossbills, lisping cedar
waxwings, and other inhabitants of the woods.

West of the lake there lies an extensive region of lower
primeval woodland alternating with bushy hillside, through
which the outlet of the lake dashes on its course to the prairie
region of the Flathead Jndian Reservation, all forming an
ideal collecting ground, certain to repay the careful attention
of the ornithologist.

Mcdonald lake.

McDonald Lake is at somewhat lower elevation than Sin-
yale-a-min Lake, being about 3,300 feet altitude. In area
it is not nearly so large, as its length measures only rather
more than half that of Sin-yale-a-min, and its width about
the same ratio in measurement. In our estimates we placed
the length of Sin-yale-a-min at 7,000 feet, and its width at
2,200 feet. Neither is McDonald Lake as deep as Sin-yale-a-min
Lake, the general depth of the former being about 70 feet
while the deepest place in the latter is 250 feet.

McDonald Lake is evidently the bed of an ancient glacier,
whose resistless action can be traced by fine chisellings on
the sides of the jutting rocks along the lake shore. The lake
is fed by a small stream which hurries down between Mt. Mc-
Donald and an adjacent mountain. Along its eastern shore the
lake is overhung by a rugged, picturesque cliff, rising sheer

— 5—

two thousand feet or more, from whose crevices leap several
miniature waterfalls like threads of spray. Along this impend-
ing cliff hawks and ravens rear their young on shelving crags,
and the towering walls give back their harsh cries.

From the southern shore of the lake Mt. McDonald rises
abruptly, stretching southward in craggy outline and snow-clad
sides until it towers majestically into the clouds, the monarch
of the Mission range

Owing to the precipitous margins of McDonald Lake, col-
lecting was attended with unusual difficulty and hardship. A
specimen only a thousand feet away up the mountain side
could be secured only by most arduous climbing, and even
then was likely to take its departure to a more inaccessible
station higher up the slope before the collector was within
gunshot. Unidentified Eaptores circled near the top of the
cliff in perfect disregard of futile efforts to secure them. Once
a. Townsend's solitaire was shot, and it fell five hundred feet
down the cliff, entailing a half hour's work to recover it and
regain the lost ground. However, to the northward of the
lake we found more accessible ground, in the heavy woods
through which the outlet of the lake threaded its way, and
forty-seven species was the result of our notes at this station.

FBOM MT. McDONALD TO FLATHEAD LAKE.

From Lake McDonald, imprisoned at the base of Mt. Mc-
Donald by a small moraine, the descent to the general level
of the Reservation is rapid and easy, the difference being more
than a thousand feet. Within a mile of the lake the variation
in the avifauna is noticeable.

Between the base of the mountains and Flathead Lake, there
is a treeless valley, except such dwarf and water-loving
trees as are found along most of the Montana water-courses.
Scattered here and there over the plain, sometimes no farther
than a hundred yards apart, again separated by a mile or more,
are curious formations, depressions containing pools of stag-
nant water, often fringed by a growth of flags or coarse grass.
Most of these depressions become dry as the season advances,
though the larger ones retain a. supply of water until the fall
or winter storms fill them and change the neighborhood into
spreading marsh. These pools attract the resident and migrant
shore and water birds, and offer a valuable collecting ground
for the ornithologist. The surrounding plain is inhabited by

— 6—

the regular residents of the open prairies, such as the long-
billed curlew, western meadow lark, and species of similar
habits.

Traversing the open prairie of the Flathead Reservation are
several narrow, rapidly-coursing streams. These creeks are
generally fringed by a thin growth of shrubbery, with occas-
ional trees. At our camp on Crow Creek there were a few" pines
of large dimensions, in striking contrast to the dwarf willows
and haw tree and other similar vegetation. Near the streams
the birds occur much more numerously than upon the barren
stretches at either side. There we found the catbird crooning
its lullaby to its helpless younglings in the bushes; the yellow
warbler and American redstart flitted among the foliage of the
smaller trees; the kingfisher plied his art beside the stream;
the song sparrow and the western yellow-throat frequented the
low coverts along the waters edge. One of the delights of our
stay at the Crow Creek camp was the wealth of avian melody
which flooded our ears in the early morning hours. It is doubt-
ful whether any other place could vie with this spot in the
number of bird musicians in so limited an area.

The Biological Station of the Montana State University,
which served as the center of operations, is situated near the
mouth of Swan River, or Big Fork, as the stream is popularly
called by neighboring residents. To the west of the Station
building is the beautiful land-locked harbor, where the boats
are kept. At the right of the mouth of Swan River lies an
extensive low area, thickly set with tall, slender willows, sturdy
aspens, stately cottonwoods, pliant birches, and trees of similar
nature ,margined landward by remnants of the primeval ever-
green forest. This swampy area is annually overflowed by the
rising waters of the lake, and throughout the summer patches
of stagnant water obstruct the passage of the adventurous col-
lector. Among the dense willows the twilight gloom of the
forest ever prevails, yet such uninviting surroundings form
an ideal home for the vireos, American redstart, olive-backed and
willow thrushes, yellow warbler, and other denizens of the
wooded swamps. A generous portion of this region shows the
effect of the rancher's axe, in the extensive growth of bushes and
young evergreens that have quickly sprang up to hide the rava-
ges of the lumberman; here are seen and heard the beautiful ev-
ening and black-headed grosbeaks, the energetic Wright's and
Traill's flycatchers, the gamesome ruffed grouse, and numerous
frequenters of the bush.

Up the river from the Station are bushy and wooded pas-

— 7—

tures. In the tops of the lofty pines growing there, flit merry
troops of pine siskins, and animated Audubon's warblers;
Louisiana tanagers flash among the foliage, and utter their
charming carols; rufous and calliope hummers visit the clus-
tering honeysuckles; Macgillivray's warblers and lazuli bunt-
ings chant among the lower shrubbery; Lewis's and other wood-
peckers forage from the tree-trunks; and as the ornithologist
climbs the rocky crests of the foot-hills beyond, he enters the
summer home of the junco and .Richardson's grouse.

Across the river from the Station, east of the mouth of
the dashing current, are the Kalispell Club grounds, situated
at the terminus of the Mission Mountains, and enclosed by
extensive areas of the primeval forest. In these wooded regions
ihe resounding tappings of the lordly pileated woodpeckers pro-
claim their presence; the milder though sturdy strokes of
the three-toed woodpeckers can be heard; troops of capricious
crossbills give animation to the highest, foliage; the/ western
wood pewee calls querulously from his bare perch in some
lightning-slain forest monarch; here representatives of the
warblers, the thrushes, the vireos, the hummingbirds, the
tanagers, and indeed, of all the feathered residents of the region,
find ample shelter and food, and consequently their days are
spent in melody and animation.

The lake itself is worthy of separate mention, as a field for
the attention of the ornithologist. Over its clear depth the
American ospreys wheel and soar, ever and anon uttering their
shrill whistles, and dipping into the water for their finny prey-
Along its occasional sandy beaches flit the interesting sand-
pipers, and over its wooded shores flap the unsocial ravens.
In suitable hollow tree-trunks families of golden-eyes are
reared, perhaps under the shadow of the platform occupied
by the osprey, a landmark for the adjacent shore. In the
willows of the submerged margins noisy kingbirds rear their
broods, and on projecting branches of deadened timber king-
fishers sit watching for their prey.

In the vicinity of the Station there are several centers of
avian activity which well repay the investigations of the bird
student. Along the road leading southward from the river
bridge, lies a small vale enclosing a stagnant pond called
Daphnia Pond on account of the large numbers of daphnia
pulex in it, among whose fringing rushes the western yellow-
throat, the mountain song sparrow, the sora, red-winged black-
bird, catbird, and other species find convenient retreat. To the
eastward of the road and pond lie several rocky crests and

— 8—

ravines, well covered with bushy vegetation, harboring many
excellent "finds" attractive to the oologist. Continuing along
the road to the southward, the collector finds a beautiful
pond encircled by unbroken forest. This sheet of water is
known as Estey's Pond, and along its wooded borders the birds
sing and thrive. In the darkened woodlands western
horned owls pass the day in meditative silence; over the open
area tree swallows ply to and fro in quest of hovering insects.
Golden-shafted flickers tenant the decayed boles of the over-
flowed margins; indeed, on every hand are seen signs of avian
activity, and the air is vibrant with wildwood melody.

It is scarcely necessary to add that the abundance of food
throughout the region under consideration is a predominating
factor in the presence and distribution of the recorded bird-
life. The damp and decaying vegetation of the swampy area
at the mouth of the river teems with such insect food as is most
attractive to the warblers and vireos. The cleared and burnt
patches abound with wild gooseberries, haws, elder, strawberries,
raspberries, and the foods which are favorites of the chiefly
frugivorous species. The lake shore and the hillsides are clad
with wild honeysuckle, or snowberry, among which dart hum-
mingbirds on whirring wings; and in the waste spots of bushy
areas stand the giant hyssop and other seed-producing plants,
a ready larder for the pine siskins, sparrows, and related
Fringilline species. In few localities has Mother Nature pro-
vided so liberally for her wildwood children, and the region
is accordingly populous both in number of species and in in-
dividuals.

— 9—

©oloyical motes from jflatbeafc Xafce

The following notes are based upon observations beginning
June 14, 1900, and ending July 5, a period when many of the
regular nesting birds of the region had concluded their nidifica-
tion and family-rearing for the season; hence it will be under-
stood that the notes are far from complete as a list of the
birds breeding near the head of the extensive lake where the
observations were made. Furthermore, the unusually early op-
ening of the vernal season rendered the period mentioned cor-
respondingly late for full records upon nidification; and it is
but justice to the collector to state that in no case was any
effort made to examine the tops of tall trees, with which the
region under consideration abounds, and which were tenanted
by many families of birds.

WESTERN ROBIN", Merula migratoria propinqua Ridgw.

The western robin is one of the representative breeding birds
of the Flathead region. Though this species begins nidification
quite early in the season, its habit of rearing more than one
brood prolongs its family cares into the nesting period of many
of the later breeders; consequently nests were found through-
out June, containing eggs in various stages of advancement in
incubation. The site is usually low, generally ranging between
six and ten feet from the ground, and most frequently situ-
ated in an upright crotch. The foundation of the nest is com-
monly made of fine leaves or coarse grasses, upon which are
constructed the mud walls characteristic of the robin and some
of the other thrushes. The cavity ranges between three and
four inches in diameter, and is generally less than two inches
deep, being warmly bedded with soft dried grass, the upper rim
of the walls being usually bare within. Four eggs, of a green-
ish-blue color, constitute the usual complement'. Haw trees
are selected most frequently for the location of the nests.

10

OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH, Turdus ustulatus swainsonii

(Cab.)

'In number of individuals, in the frequency of its melody,
and in its adaptation to the sombre surroundings of the lake
region, the olive-backed thrush is the typical breeding species
of the lake shore. Belonging to a more northern habitat, it
has been attracted by the evident conveniences of our Mon-
tana summer resort, and great numbers of representatives of
the species rear their families in the firs and other trees of the
Station neighborhood. Unlike most of the recorded breeding
species, however, it was only entering the period of nidifica-
tion at the time of these observations, the nests found during
the first few days being either recently completed and not yet
occupied, or having only the beginning of the regular comple-
ments.

The opening of the nesting season for this species seems to
be quite uniform in the Flathead region, for nests examined the
same day showed remarkably equal progress in development
with others. Most of the nests found on June 14 and 15 con-
tained either one or two eggs, or else gave evidence of having
been just completed and not yet regularly occupied. It was
not until June 17 that a nest was examined containing a full
complement.

The olive-backed thrush is one of the low builders. Of
twenty nests, none was over ten feet from the ground; two of
the twenty were placed at the foregoing limit, two were nine
feet from the ground, three at eight feet, three at seven feet,
four at about six feet, and the remainder three and one-fourth
feet and six feet from the ground. The average site is a trifle
over six and one-half feet from the ground. Distances were
carefully measured with a two-foot rule.

The favored site of nests in fir trees was against the main
stem, at the base of one or more horizontal branches, and at a
point about three-fourths the height of the tree. In one in-
stance the nest was placed on a horizontal branch of a fir
tree about two feet from the main stem, at a place probably
measuring two-thirds the length of the branch from the trunk.
The nest nearest the ground was found in a triple crotch of
willow growing upright in a slender sprout. Another nest
was found made in an upright crotch of an oblique portion of a
dead, bent sapling bare of leaves. A syringa bush growing
beside a path where anglers were frequently passing was chosen
in one instance, and the nest placed in an upright crotch among

— II —

nearly perpendicular stems. In another instance the chosen
site was in a larger fir, about ten feet from the ground, on a
horizontal branch four feet from the trunk.

The nest generally measures from three to three and one-
half inches in height, and about four inches in diameter, out-
side measurements, though the structure is somewhat elliptical
in outline. The cavity averages two and three-fourths inches
by two and one-fourth inches, major and minor axes, and more
than one and one-half inches in depth. It is founded on loose
coarse grasses, the walls being made of dried grasses, green
lichens, and fine weed-stems. The lining is generally fine
grass, horsehair, and scanty amount of moss. Frequently a
nest is found having fine bark as part of the wall materials,
and occasional nests are noted without moss or lichen either
in walls or lining.

The eggs of this thrush present noticeable variations in their
markings. The ground color is a light greenish-blue, which
in some eggs seems to be quite pale because of the lack of
other marks. In other eggs the ground color is almost ob-
scured by the number and size of the blotches of pale reddish
brown. On some eggs the marks are mere specks; on others the
markings are bold blotches of color. The distribution of the
marks is very irregular, there being no uniformity in this re-
spect.

The nest complement may be either four or three eggs. Of
seventeen nests examined containing full sets, ten contained
four eggs and the remainder contained three; hence it seems
that in this region nests with four eggs are found more fre-
quently among first sets than with only three.

The open habits in nidification of the olive-backed thrush are
seemingly at variance with its shy, secretive disposition. In
many instances the nests were quite unconcealed, being con-
structed in exposed crotches beside paths and roads, almost
within reach of the passing traveler. Furthermore, the sit-
ting bird will linger with her charge until the disturber has
approached to less than arm's length. Having flitted from
the nest, however, the bird will disappear in the shrubbery
and remain hidden in silence, though sometimes she manifests
her uneasiness by chirping mournfully from her covert.

Nests of this thrush were found in all the localities men-
tioned in the opening paragraphs of this paper. The favored
localities, however, appeared to be the swampy area at the
right of the mouth of Swan Eiver, and the wooded, bushy
lot across the road from the Station grounds. It is

12-

probable that extended examination of the woods .around
Estey's Pond, and the woods between it and the Station, would
show numbers of these birds as making their habitations in
the places suggested. A nest with full complement of eggs is

shown in Plate III. figure 1.

WILLOW THRUSH, Turdus fuscescens salicicola (Ridgw.)

It appears that the willow thrash is not abundant in
the Flathead region during the nesting season. One nest
was taken, but diligent search in the vicinity of the site, and in
favorable localities failed to reveal another nest, or even another
specimen of this subspecies.

The nest was found on the morning of June 29. It was sit-
uated among the stems of a clump of willow saplings, and its
exposed position indicated that there had been little or no in-
stinct of concealment in the selection of the site. The sitting
bird was startled from the nest, though not until the observer
was within six feet of her. As there were then only three
eggs in the nest, and the full complement was extremely de-
sirable, the nest was left undisturbed. The female mean-
while, had flitted to adjacent shrubberjr, and occasionally ap-
peared momentarily to take a look at the movements
of her disturber, quickly flitting back from sight.

Visiting the place on the next morning, June 30, I found
the nest as I had left it on the preceding day, with only its
three eggs. Tbe female at this time was less disposed to show
herself beyond the covert, but at length I was able to secure her
for positive identification.

The nest was built upon the ground, being exposed on all
sides for its full height, which was three and one-half inches
in situ. It was founded on coarse grass stems, which also
formed an external wall for most of its height. The main walls
are constructed of strips of fibrous bark, weed-stems, and por-
tions of delicate dried leaves. The fabric is lined with soft
bark and fine grasses, all of a dark brownish color. The rim
cavity is elliptical, its axes being two and three-fourths inches
and two and three-eighths inches. The cavity is two inches
deep. The three eggs were far advanced in incubation. One of
the eggs is greenish bine, unmarked; the others have faint
specks of pale brownish color, barely definable, upon the green-
ish blue ground.

The nest of the willow thrush was taken in the bushy re-

—13—

gion of the swampy area at the right of Swan Eiver. The
location seems ideal for this swamp-loving songster to he
found commonly, and it is likely that other nests were in the
field of examination, but were overlooked because of the ex-
tensive area and the limited time of the observer.

CATBIRD, Galeoscoptes carolinensis (Linn.)

Though not abundant, the catbird is regularly seen and
heard in the Flathead region in the vicinity of the Station.
Several pairs inhabited the shrubbery about Daphnia Pond along
the road leading southward from Swan River bridge, as well
as the bushy woods about the Kalispell Club grounds, nests
being noted in both these localities. On July 2, a nest of the
catbird was found on the Club grounds. It contained four
fresh eggs. Owing to the extensive distribution of this song-
ster and its well-known/ characteristics, no notes were made
regarding it beyond its presence as a summer resident.

AMERICAN REDSTART, Selophaga ruticilla (Linn.)

The American redstart was noted in abundance as a resi-
dent of the swampy area !at the right of the mouth of Swan
River. So suitably adapted to the needs of this lively warbler
is the willow bottom mentioned, that there the redstart ap-
peared to be the most common warbler. Its ringing song
might be heard throughout the long spring days, and the flash
of its red and yellow might be seen as it fluttered here and
there in quest of its insect fare. Wherever willow or haw
thickets were found the redstart was certain to manifest
its presence by its cheerful ditty or its restless movements
among the vegetation in plying its vocation as a fly-catching
warbler.

The first nest noted was taken on June 28. The nest com-
plement was four eggs, far advanced in incubation. On that
date, four other nests of this warbler were examined, all con-
taining young birds recently hatched. It is likely that first
sets of eggs of the redstart are deposited soon after the middle
of June. However, on June 30 a nest was found containing
four eggs, rosy fresh. Youncr birds from the nest had mean-
while been seen, and it is more than likely that these fresh
eggs were second attempts at nidification. Furthermore, a

— T4 —

nest was examined on July 3, whose complement was two eggs
somewhat advanced in incubation, a fact indicative of a second
laying at least.

All the nests of the American redstart examined by the
writer in the Flathead region were placed in upright crotches
formed by very small twigs branching from the main stem.
The sites varied between eight and twenty feet from the
ground, and were uniformly in the slender willows.

An illustration of a typical nest is given, Plate IV., Fig. 2.
It is a neat, closely-woven structure, made principally of soft
vegetable fibers, fine stems and rootlets, downy feathers, and
bits of delicate leaves, thatched with fragments of gossamer.
It stands two inches in height, with an external diameter of
•two and three-eighths inches. The cavity is one and five-
eighths inches in diameter, and one and three-eighths inches
deep.

The usual nest complement seems to be four eggs; however,
a nest was mentioned containing only two eggs, well incubated.
The eggs are quite variable in amount of markings. The
ground color is white, upon which the markings of reddish
brown are found in irregular specks and blotches.

MACGILLIVBAY'S WAEBLEE, Geothlypis macgillivrayi

(Aud.)

Like the willow thrush, Macgillivray's warbler appeared to be
less common than might be imagined from the suitable
environments. Only one nest was noted; however, as this nest
complement was so far advanced in incubation that only one
of the eggs was saved for a specimen, it is likely that the
lateness of the season precluded the finding of other nests
of this elegant ground warbler. Favorable localities in the
neighborhood were searched repeatedly without results as de-
sired.

The nest mentioned was found in a grass tuft beside a
trail made by anglers in passing up and down Swan River.
It was noted on June 14, the day of the writer's arrival at the
Station. The female flitted from the nest to adjacent shrub-
bery, acting quite indifferent regarding observation of her
movements. As there was no means at hand of securing her,
she was allowed to return to her . nest for further ob-

—i5—

servation. When the nest was approached later in the day,
however, she slipped away among neighboring stems, and gave
no opportunity of securing her. She succeeded in repeating the
trick several times the next day, but was finally taken for
identification.

The nest was placed in a tuft of grass growing among fallen
branches and sprouts. It was about eight inches from the
ground, probably having been raised by the growth of the
grass after the construction of the nest, as frequently happens
to nests of the yellowfliroat and other birds that nestle in the
grass tufts. The outer wall of the nest was made of long stems
of dried grass; the inner of fine rootlets and horsehair. The cav-
ity was two and one-fourth inches in diameter, and one and
seven-eighths inches in depth. There were five eggs, far ad-
vanced in incubation. The ground color of the eggs is white
with a faint creamy tinge. The markings are specks and
blotches of dark brown, the heavier marks being generally ar-
ranged around the larger end. In situation and construction
of nest, and in the appearance of the eggs, the home of Mac-
gillivray's warbler is much like that of the yellowthroats, of
whom the former is a congener.

Like the other ground warblers, the warbler under consider-
ation spends most of its time among the shrubbery, and in
its movements it is much shyer than the western yellowthroat.
In the nuptial season, however, the male frequently takes a
favorite position in the summit of one of the less lofty trees
of the neighborhood, and there utters at frequent intervals a
pretty though short and unvaried ditty, likely to be inter-
rupted by the approach of any meddlesome ornithologist, as
the performer then generally flits to a less prominent place of
recital.

AUDUBON'S WARBLER, Dendroica auduboni (Towns.)

Away from the willow swamps, in the coniferous trees of the
higher woods, Audubon's warbler is the most abundant repre-
sentative of its family in the Flathead region. Among the
firs, with pine siskins chattering in the lofty summits, Audu-
bon's warbler flits in the middle and lower stories, chanting
its joyous measures, sporting with its fellows, or attending to
the cares of its family ensconced in a tuft of the fir branch.
Upon our arrival at the Station, this warbler was quite notice-
able in the animated life among the higher trees, and our first

— 16—

day's collection included several males o( this beautiful species.
At that early date for warbler nidifieation, a pair was ob-
serve diligently earing for the wants of their young in a nest
in a large pine, far out toward the extremity of a long horizontal
branch: ami as late as July 3 a nest was found containing young
birds recently hatched.

The finding of the first nest with eggs o( this interesting
warbler was an event which 1 recall with pleasure. Like many
good finds of the collector, it was by tin- rarest fortune that
this one habitation of Dendroica auduboni was taken, for
though the swampy area was thoroughly searched, no other
nest of this species rewarded our eager quest; however, another
nest with voting birds was found in a ditl'erent locality several
days later.

On June 27, while limiting for soras in a small grassy open-
ing in the swamp, my attention was attracted by the peculiar
chirping of a pair of western evening grosbeaks flying overhead.
Noticing that they flew rapidly in one direction. 1 thought
perhaps there was a nest in their line of flight, or that their
objective point might be their nesting place, a desideratum
far too valuable to be neglected. Entering the thick growth
of slender willows enclosing the grassy slough. I had proceeded
but a few steps when I espied a small grayish mass up in a
crotch of one of the willow stems. "Without being certain that it
was a nest, T shook the stem, when a sitting bird flew downward
obliquely and was rapidly making away among the bases of
surrounding trees as T caught her by a fortunate shot. The
prize proved to be a female of Dendroica auduboni, and I was
not long in ascending to the nest and securing it, with its five
fresh eggs. Tt is needless to add that 1 was not rewarded so
happily in my quest for the nest of the grosbeaks.

The nest under consideration was eighteen feet from the
ground, in a crotch of the main stem of the tree, so situated that
it was quite exposed to view, there being no foliage for many
feet above. In the gloom of the willow swamp, however, the
nest was scarcely distinguishable to an observer on the ground.
Tt appeared that the nest was rather accidental in location, for
generally this warbler seemed to prefer the tufts on horizontal
branches of the firs and pines.

The nest shown in Plate XT1T.. is two and one-fourth inches
in height, and three inches in diameter. The cavity averages
one and seven-eighths inches in diameter, and is one and three-
fourths inches deep. The structure is stronglv made of dried
weed stems, vegetable fibres, and soft grasses, with feathers

I

and horsehair worked into the inner portion of the wall for
lining. The eggs are grayish white, with specks and blotches of
blackish brown principally at the larger end.

As stated in a preceding paragraph, an extended search of
the locality between the month of Swan Hirer and the site
of the nest, a region about a half mile in length, failed to reveal
a second nest of this warbler. It seemed to the collector that
every tree in the willow tract was closely scanned, but without
results; hence the reason for the statement that this nesting
seemed to be accidental or unusuaL On July 2 a nest of
Audubon's warbler was found along the lake, upon a
rocky ridge which precipitously faced the water . was in
a medium-sized fir tree near the shore, and was about twenty
feet from the ground, the site being five feet from the trunk,
near the end of a branch. Both parent birds were industries
feeding the young birds in the nest.

YELLOW WAEBLEB, Dmdmfca aedim (GmeL)

The yellow warbler is a common summer resident in the
Flathead region, though outnumbered by the American red-
start in the willow swamps and by Audubon's warbler in the
upland localities. The wide distribution of this warbler, and
its preference for younger vegetation in selecting sites for its
nest, give it more extended acquaintance than can be claimed
for most of the other warblers. The predominance of the
dear yellow in its attire makes this beautiful fellow-bird19
i.z. i.--.~i.-.-..-~ :.-.i:> :':■: -':.-. -:;-. :<: -.:.- ::^r^:. -.:.. .:.- v.-.,;^--
ehant causes the groves to ring with melody in the wmaHmg and
nesting season; thus striking color, noticeable »mg. and neigh-
borly manners add to the popularity of the so-called "wild
canary", and serve to make it the best known represemtaf

The accompanying illustration, Plate XT., is of a nest of the
yellow warbler taken on June 18. It was made in an upright
\r.-.\ '-:. :--.'. ::::. "- _-: :i: ::. i \ ...::-;. :: -':'::.:\. "••':..:■':.
grew m the margin of Swan Biver near the end off the bridge.
As can be seen in the figure, the nest materials are woven
mi and the oblique twigs forming the site. It is a thickly felted
--;\\-::- :-■-.•::- '.— ; \ :. : r::-~-~ ..-:..- :zjk.v- '::. :~y~

7 '. - ■ " . • '• - ' :: : _■ ■ ■

— 18—

woven grayish downy materials, fibres of weed bark, and bits of
gossamer, with a lining of horsehair. This nest is almost gray
on its exterior surface from the amount of gossamer and
bleached vegetable fibers. It contained five fresh eggs. They
have a grayish white ground, variously flecked with pale brown.
Generally the dots are gathered into an imperfect wreath
around the larger end of the egg.

One of the handsomest nests of this warbler ever examined
by the writer was noted in a haw tree near the point of land
at the mouth of Swan Kiver on the western side. This nest
was lined throughout with white down of vegetable growth, giv-
ing the inner wall of the structure the appearance of the ma-
terial in a lady's white slipper. As the nest contained young
birds at the time it was found, it was left for further use of
the owner; but when the place was re-visited about a month
later, to secure the nest, it could not be found, having been
destroyed while laborers were grubbing in that locality.

In this connection it will not be amiss to mention two nests
of this warbler found late in the fall in another region. Both
had evidently served their purpose as homes for families of
young warblers; but under the soft texture of the base each
of the nests had two eggs of the cowbird snugly covered. It
was apparent that when the nests were finished, the cowbird
had appropriated the snug cots before the owners had taken
permanent possession, and had left their eggs for the care of
the warblers. The warblers, however, being apparently un-
willing to take upon themselves the care of the cowbird off-
spring, had immediately placed additional material upon the
eggs of the parasite, thus defeating the aim of the cowbird.
and relieving themselves of unwelcome inmates in their home.
Such action of the yellow warbler, to avoid the care of the young
cowbirds, is by no means uncommon.

Following the preceding paragraph, it will be in place to
state that in no instance was evidence of the cowbird found in
the "Flathead region as one of the breeding residents. Nests
of vireos, sparrows, warblers, and other species were exam-
ined, whose homes are generally imposed upon by the parasite,
but no nest was found containing an egg of the cowbird. It
seems unusual that such should be the case; it would be far
stranger that the cowbird should be uncommon in this region
in the nesting season.

WARBLING VIREO, Vireo gilvus (Vieill.)

The warbling vireo appeared to be one of the most abundant
species in the vicinity of the Biological Station. Every locality
described was enlivened by the presence and notes of this
charming greenlet. On the day of our arrival at the Station,
June 14, a nest of the warbling vireo was taken in the lot across
the road from the laboratory grounds. This nest was eight
feet from the ground, suspended in a small fork near the ex-
tremity of an oblique stem, and contained four eggs quite
advanced in incubation. The female occupied the nest when
it was discovered, and the male was singing in an evergreen
tree above the clump containing the nest. While the nest
was being disturbed, the female remained in the immediate
neighborhood, uttering ditties similar to those of the male.

On the following day, June 15, a nest of this species was
noted in a swampy woods at the right of Swan River. It was
nine feet from the ground, situated as usual in a dependent
fork, and contained three fresh eggs. As in the preceding
instance, the female was attending to her home duties, while the
male was singing near the nest. Indeed, the song of this
vireo is generally a sure index of a nest in the immediate vicin-
ity, during the nesting season.

East of the Swan River bridge and to the left of the road
leading thence southward, there is an extensive area of low,
damp woodland, which forms a very desirable home for the
vireos, the olive-backed thrush, and other species. A nest
of the warbling vireo was examined in these woods on June 18.
It was six feet from the ground, pendent in a fork near the
end of a low sprout. Four fresh eggs formed the complement,
upon which one of the parent birds was sitting when disturbed
by the collector.

Flanking the road and adjacent woods, a rocky ridge stripped
of tall timber by fires and overgrown with maple clumps
and small evergreens, invites the attention of the collector.
On June 20, a nest of the warbling vireo was found there, sit-
uated nine feet from the ground in a maple clump. It con-
tained four eggs advanced in incubation.

The woods around Es'tey's Pond form coverts for numbers
of warbling vireos. While exploring the margins of this pond
on June 22. we took a. nest of the warbling vireo from a
fork in bushes five and one-half feet from the ground. The
branch sustaining the nest overhung a trail along the pond,
so that anyone passing would likely brush against the nest

— 20 —

with his head. This nest contained four eggs advanced in in-
cubation.

The eastern or left hank of Swan River, from the bridge to
its mouth, has a well-worn trail made by fishermen. A nest
of the warbling vireo was noted on June 23 beside this path.
It was six feet from the ground, in a clump of syringa, and con-
tained three well-hedged young. This instance and the pre-
ceding one illustrate a common tendency of several familiar
species to establish their homes along paths and trails in gen-
eral use, a trait mentioned in our notes concerning the nidifi-
cation of the olive-backed thrush.

The woods across the road from the laboratory grounds fur-
nished us another note for June 26. A nest of the warbling
vireo was found suspended as usual in a fork in a small clump
of maple, eight feet from the ground. This nest contained
four eggs, in which incubation had begun.

From the date last given until the end of our observations
on July 5, nests of this vireo were examined each day, but
at this period of the nesting season no more nests were found
containing eggs. The foregoing notes will suffice to show the
general location of the nest-site and the usual nest com-
plement.

Plate XII. shows an illustration of a typical nest of this
species.

The nest figured in the illustration is an unusually handsome
structure, having its exterior covered loosely with fragments of
gossamer and bits of soft birch bark, besides showing the
shreds of wasp paper woven into the outer wall. The walls are
made of fine grass fibers resembling delicate pine shavings. An
examination of the illustration will show the manner in which
the nest is suspended by its brim. The cavity is two and one-
fourth inches and two inches major and minor axes of the
brim, the walls curving outward below the rim to give the
cavity a sub-spherical form.

The form of this species found in the Flathead region is
described under the subspecific name of Vireo gilvus sivainsonii.

RED-EYED VIREO, Vireo olivaceus (Linn.)

This persistent songster is fully as abundant in the Flat-
head region as I have found it anywhere in its Mississippi Val-
ley range. Everywhere throughout the wooded localities, either
in the low willow areas or in the heavily timbered uplands,

21

the song of this tireless musician can be heard in the nesting
season. Frequenting the treetops with other avian neighbors,
it frequently falls a victim when the collector is hoping to
obtain a more valuable specimen. In general, it haunts a
somewhat higher level of the woods than does the warbling
vireo, as its nesting sites average farther from the ground;
and it does not manifest the same degree of confidence in
human associations as is noticeable in the manners of its
congener last described. On the day of our arrival at the
Station, the red-eyed vireo was one of the commonest
and noisiest (noticeable in song) birds of the woods, heard
everywhere at all times during the day. Owing to the fact
that this vireo generally chooses a higher site for its nest than
the warbling vireo, not so many notes were made regarding
its nidification.

On June 16, an apparently abandoned nest of the red-eyed
vireo was found in the swampy woods at the right of the
mouth of Swan River. It was pendent in a fork of an oblique
willow stem, twelve feet from the ground, and contained four
fresh eggs, one of which was partially destroyed, as it had a
large hole pecked or gnawed in its side. The damage may
have been done by a squirrel or chipmunk, the latter being
a very active agent in the destruction of eggs of native birds.

On the afternoon of the same day, June 16, a nest of the red-
eyed vireo was taken in the low thicket immediately west of
the laboratory'. This nest was nine feet from the gTound, in
a drooping fork of a haw tree. The complement was five fresh
eggs. Like the structure of the warbling vireo described in
the preceding notes, this product of the red-eyed vireo is finished
exteriorly with bits of gossamer, birch bark, and flakes of wasp
paper. It is attached less securely to the fork, and the walls
are somewhat thinner. The materials are much the same,
though those used by the red-eyed vireo are darker and less at-
tractive. In interior measurements the nests are about the
same size. The eggs of these vireos are quite similar, having;
a clear white ground, with specks of blackish brown irregularly
and sparsely scattered over the surface, frequently more numer-
ous at the larger end. The eggs of the red-eyed vireo average
slightly larger than those of the warbling vireo.

In Plate XL a nest with a full complement of eggs is shown.
Compare with Plate XII.

— 22

CEDAE WAXWING, Ampelis cedrorum (Vieill.)

The cedar waxwing is probably abundant everywhere through-
out Montana. In the Flathead region it was found commonly
in all localities mentioned in these notes. In the vicinity of
the Station it finds adequate supplies of food in the haws and
elder berries in season. As a flycatcher, the cedar waxwing
is as expert as the kingbird and pewees, for from a station
in the top of some denuded tree, it will sally forth for long
distances, take its prey with expert skill, turn in air,
and return to its post in true flycatcher-like manner. Except
in the nesting season, the cedar waxwing manifests its social
disposition by nocking with others of its kind, resembling the
crossbill in its restless movements from one treetop to another.

My first nest of the cedar waxwing was found on a trip to
the Cedar Islands, at the head of McGovem's Bay, which
forms the upper end of Flathead Lake. The nest was in a
cedar tree, neax the extremity of a horizontal branch at the
top of the tree. The site was eighteen feet from the ground,
but about nine feet above a rocky ledge under the tree. The
structure was made entirely of the long dark green lichen
or moss which droops so plentifully from tamaracks and other
evergreen trees. The mossy material was pinned together with
needles from the pine tree. This nest contained five eggs, in
which incubation had begun, June 24.

On July 1 a nest of this species was found in the lot across
the road from the laboratory. It was made in the top of a low
fir tree, the situation being similar to that usually selected
by the olive-backed thrush. The nest was nine feet from the
ground, made among twigs against the main stem of the fir.
It further resembled the work of the thrush in being placed upon
a foundation of coarse dried grasses and weed stems. The nest
proper, however, was constructed of lichen pinned together with
needles, as described in the note upon the foregoing nest. The
nest cavity was two and one-half by three inches, major and
minor axes, and two inches deep. The complement was five
eggs, somewhat advanced in incubation. The eggs are ashy
gray, marked irregularly with spots of blackish brown.

TREE SWALLOW Tachycineta bicolor (Vieill.)

This beautiful swallow was found nesting abundantly in all
suitable regions. Estey's Pond, whose margin was fringed with

— 23—

dead trees containing cavities made by woodpeckers in preceding-
season?, was a favorite resort for this species. East of the
ridge mentioned as flanking the Helena Club grounds and
the road leading southward, was a depression which contained
many tall boles with holes inhabited by the tree swallow. The
islands at the head of McGovenrs Bay formed attractive resorts
for the tree swallow, and there we found the only nest ex-
amined containing eggs. The site of the nest was a cavity
in a large cedar tree, about twenty feet from the ground, but
not more than half that distance from the top of a rocky ledge
beside the tree. The cavity was a natural crack in the decayed
trunk, about a foot deep, in which a nest of soft chicken feath-
ers had been made. On the day of observation, June 24, there
was but one egg in the nest. The egg of this swallow is pure
white, closely resembling that of the downy woodpecker, or
the chimney swift.

LOUISIANA TANAGER, Piranga ludoviciana (Wils.)

The Louisiana tanager is one of the bird beauties of the
Northwest. The male, with his clear lemon-yellow attire, varied
with crimson-hued head, is a striking feature of the evergreen
woods. The female is not so attractively dressed, having a robe
of olive instead of brighter colors. In voice, also, this species
is worthy of unusual consideration. The male has a warble
quite like that of the robin, though careful discrimination may
note that it is uttered more hurriedly and sharply. Its usual
call consists of two syllables, which may be represented
by the word "truckee", accented on the last syllable.

It was my fortune to find one nest of this tanager, and that
one contained young birds about three days old, on June 21.
I had been in the vicinity of the nest repeatedly on previous
days, but not until this occasion was my attention directed to
it. The fact of having young at this time led the parent
birds to disclose their secret by their anxiety, which had not
been so great when I had been near the place while the nest
contained eggs. The actions of other nesting birds in that
particular clump of woods, however, had aided to cause me to
overlook this tmisTer home on former occasions, for the
bushes had claimed my attention to the neglect of the trees
overhead.

The nest of the Louisiana tanager was in the woods across
the road from the Station grounds. It was in a fir tree, twelve

—24—

feet from the ground, placed near the extremity of a drooping
horizontal branch. The style of architecture was similar to
that of the grosbeak, rootlets being the principal material,
which were woven into a loose basket; the surrounding ma-
terial, however, afforded additional service in the nature of
nest walls.

LAZULI BUNTING, Passerina amoena (Say)

The beautiful lazuli bunting is a bird of the bushes, clear-
ings or burnt areas overgrown with shrubbery being its favorite
resorts. In song and habits it is the counterpart of its eastern
congener, the indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea (Linn.)
Mounted in the top of a tall tree, it will chant at frequent
intervals its monotonous song, seemingly in happy enjoyment
of the sunshine.

Though the lazuli bunting is very common in the region
under consideration, but one nest was found; however, no
particular effort was made to find this one or another, chance
leading the collector upon it while diligently searching for the
nest of a less common species. It was in a growth of young
tamaracks on a ridge along Swan Eiver. The ridge had been
fire-swept in a preceding season, and over the fallen trunks had
grown the tamaracks and bushes. The nest was two and one-
fourth feet from the ground, slightly suspended among up-
right stems of sprouts growing among the tamaracks. The
female was flushed from the nest, and while her home was
being despoiled she manifested considerable anxiety, flitting
here and there with her mate and chirping apprehensively.

The nest is figured in the accompanying illustration, Plate X.
It is a rounded basket-like cup made of long dried grasses and
weed fibers. The lining is made of fine grasses and scanty
horsehair. The cavity averages two and one-fourth inches in
diameter, and is two inches deep. The complement consisted
of three fresh eggs, which are pale greenish-blue in color,
almost white, unspotted.

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, Habia melanocephala(8w2iim)

This beautiful western congener of the rose-breasted grosbeak,
Habia ludoviciana (Linn.), is a common summer resident of
the Flathead region. Its charming song is so nearly like that of

—25—

the rose-breasted grosbeak that the listener who is acquainted
with the latter might imagine that the eastern species had
wandered beyond its elm and maple groves of eastern local-
ities, and had taken up its residence in our western evergreen
woods. The lower trees and thickets are more congenial to
the black-headed grosbeak, haw trees being usually selected
for nesting sites. Like its eastern relative, it is a tireless song-
ster in the nesting season, everywhere proclaiming its presence
by its rich, mellow expressions of content.

On our lirst exploring trip, in the afternoon of June 14, I
found a nest of the black-headed grosbeak beside the road
leading up Swan River on the eastern side. The nest was in
a clump of saplings, built in a crotch twelve feet from
the ground, among upright stems so small that a bundle of
them had to be strapped together to support the weight of
the collector. When the nest was discovered, the male was at-
tending to family duty, a trait of the grosbeaks notable with
the rose-breasted species. The nest is made loosely of weed-
stems and rootlets, with a lining of fine grass stems, all hav-
ing a brownish color. The cavity is three inches in diameter,
and one and one-fourth inches deep. The nest contained four
eggs far advanced in incubation. They are light olive green,
marked irregularly with specks and blotches of pale brown,
usually more numerous on the larger end. One egg of this
set was destroyed by a gust of wind, which carried the egg
off a table and landed it upon a rock in the foundation of the
laboratory. The nest with the three remaining eggs is shown
in the accompanying illustration, Plate VI.

On June 19, a second nest was found in the woods at the right
of the mouth of Swan River. As in the preceding instance,
the nest was beside a road leading out upon the point at the
river's mouth, though not generally used. The site was an
upright crotch thirteen feet from the ground in a haw, near
the extremity of an oblique branch. In this case the male
was likewise sitting upon the eggs. The nest was made like
the former, of brownish stems and rootlets, lined with fine
grass stems. There were four eggs, which were advanced in
incubation. This nest is also figured in an accompanying illus-
tration, Plate IX.

—26—

WESTERN CHIPPING SPARROW, Spizella socialis arizonae

Coues.

This familiar species was everywhere abundant, and its well-
known familiarity and very general distribution caused it to re-
ceive little attention beyond the note regarding its presence in
the various localities visited. Whether climbing rocky crests
in search of juncos or threading the bushes in quest of other
species, we were certain to find the omnipresent chipping spar-
row, generally with an insect morsel in its mouth to hand over
to its hungry younglings crouching in the bush.

Only one nest of the western chipping sparrow was taken,
the record being for June 15. It was found in a bush near
the edge of the woods at the right of the mouth of Swan
River. The site was three feet from the ground, near the
top of the bush. There were four eggs, in which incubation was
well advanced. The nest is made altogether of very fine black-
ish rootlets, with a substantial lining of horsehair. The cavity
is an inch and three-fourths in diameter, and one and one-half
inches deep. These eggs are dingy pale green, marked prin-
cipally with pale rusty brown in blotches of varying size. Be-
sides these, there are blotches of black color irregularly found
as markings.

WRIGHT'S FLYCATCHER, Empidonax wrightii Baird.

Though common as one of the breeding birds of the
Flathead region, Wright's flycatcher seems to limit its resi-
dence during the summer to a very short season, only sufficient
to rear its brood. Four nests of this flycatcher were taken
during the period under consideration in these notes, and in
each instance the female was taken to secure perfect identifi-
cation; upon our return to the Station in the first week of
August and during the month following, we were unable to
secure a specimen of Wright's flycatcher in any of the localities
where they had been observed earlier in the season. How-
ever, this flycatcher is unusually shy under observation, gen-
erally managing to place itself behind friendly foliage, hence
its presence could be easily overlooked. It is more than proba-
ble, however, that like Traill's flycatcher, common in the
same localities, it takes its departure for southern climes to-
ward the end of July, or rather disappears from its accustomed
haunts about that time.

—27—

A nest of Wright's flycatcher was found on June 15 in the
edge of the woods at the right of the mouth of Swan River.
It was in an upright fork five feet from the ground, in a clump
of maple sprouts. It contained four fresh eggs. The nest
stands three inches in height and three inches in diameter.
The cavity is one and seven-eighths inches in diameter, and one
and one-half inches deep. The nest is constructed of grayish veg-
etable fibers and shreds of birch bark, with minute downy
feathers woven into the inner wall for lining, together with
fine grasses used sparingly. The eggs are pale creamy white.

The second nest was taken on June 18, on the ridge east of
the bridge. It was ten feet from the ground, in a crotch
near the top of a maple clump, and contained five eggs ad-
vanced in incubation. This nest was also made of long grayish
vegetable fibers, the coarser ones being used externally. In the
inner portion of the wall were woven small downy feathers,
one noticeably yellow, besides cottony material which gave the
lining a felted appearance similar to some nests of the yellow
warbler, Dendrnira aestiva. This nest is one and three-fourths
inches average diameter and one and three-fourths inches deep,
internal measurements, In outward dimensions it is the same
as in the preceding instance.

The third nest was found on the eastern side of the ridge
which lies east of the Swan River bridge. It was situated in a
crotch four feet from the ground in a clump of maple sprouts.
In construction and appearance it is similar to the two nests
described. It contained three eggs, the set being evidently in-
complete, as the eggs were quite fresh, though the female
was sitting when the nest was discovered. The record is for
June 20.

The fourth nest of this flycatcher was taken on June 25, hav-
ing been found some days before but left for further examina-
tion. It was in the edge of the swampy woods at the right
of Swan River, eight feet from the ground in a crotch against
an oblique stem in the periphery of a clump of maple sprouts.
This nest contained four eggs, in which incubation had well
begun.

Thus our notes show that the average distance of these nests
from the ground was somewhat less than seven feet; all were
placed in upright forks or crotches in clumps of maple, gen-
erally in the periphery of the clump; all were made of grayish
vegetable fibers, having downy feathers woven into the inner
surface of the walls; and the complement generally consists
of four or five eggs.

—28—

KINGBIRD, Tyrannus iyr annus (Linn.)

The kingbird is common as a summer resident in the locali-
ties mentioned in these notes. It is seen most numerously
along the margins of the lake, in the willows whose bases are
submerged by the back water; there it is noisy and ubiquitous,
exercising its sway over its claimed domains with its usual
pugnacious disposition, and rearing its broods in the low trees
of the lakeshore. Several families were noted along the mar-
gin of Daphnia Fond; and because of an unusual nesting site
selected by a pair of kingbirds along the shore of this pond,
this note is made. The nest was made in a cavity in a dead, de-
nuded tree, the cavity being broken open so that the nest
was exposed to view on one side, and the sitting bird easily
seen as she faced the entrance or front of the cavity. As she
sat thus with observant eyes for passing events, the male fre-
quently visited her with some dainty morsel for her refresh-
ment. The cavity was about eighteen feet from the ground. The
bare stem, from which the branches had been swept by fire,
resembled a pole in appearance.

The kingbird in this region chooses sites much nearer the
ground and more exposed in situation than it does in more
eastern localities. On July 6, as we landed from the launch
that had carried us to the foot of Flathead Lake, it happened
that a nest of the kingbird containing young birds was in a
dwarf tree near our landing-place. A crowd of Indian lads as-
sembled to witness our landing, and some of them espied the
nest with its noisy young. It is needless to state that in a few
minutes the younglings had fallen victims to the heartless-
ness of the crowd, being pitched out upon the water and then
pelted with stones as they fluttered helplessly upon the ripples.

The dwarf trees and bushes found generally along the
streams of the Flathead Reservation are commonly populated by
the kingbird, and most of the nests are so low that they can
be examined without climbing or reaching. In notes made
later in the Reservation we find a nest in a corner of
a rail fence, at a point about half the height of the fence; an-
other in a bush by a streamside not three feet from the ground;
such instances are the rule and not the exception.

WESTERN NIGHTHAWK, Chordeiles virginianus henryi

(Cass.)

The western nighthawk is very common in the Flathead

—29-

region. Its wonderful aerial evolutions at dusk, and in the
afternoon of cloudy days, have given it extended acquaintance,
hence it is more generally known than many of our avian neigh-
bors. Not all persons, however, who have witnessed its vola-
torial powers, have heard the strange sound, resembling a
steamer or gong whistle, which it utters sometimes as it
plunges downward in its flight. The rocky ledges near the
Station afford the nighthawk suitable nesting sites, and during
the day we frequently startled the drowsy birds as they sought
retirement after a period of activity at dusk and in the early
morning.

One nest of the western nighthawk, or rather one set
of eggs, was found, and that was taken on the last day of our
collecting trip at the Station, July 5. The two eggs were on a
bare rock back of the store at Holt. No nest was made for
them. They were quite advanced in incubation. In color
they were stone gray, with spots of blackish brown.

RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, Sphyrapicus varius nuchalis

Baird.

Most of the woodpeckers nest early, hence little attention
was given to their nesting habits; moreover, most of them nest
in sites which require strenuous climbing to reach, and as this
was not our purpose while making these notes, the woodpeckers
were generally passed with little notice. A family of red-naped
sapsuckers, however, had selected a site so obvious that this
note is given to them. It was in a dead aspen in the margin
of the grassy slough in the woods at the right of Swan River,
mentioned in an introductory paragraph. When the birds
were observed, they were feeding their young in the cavity,
the entrance being a small sub-circular hole about eight feet
from the level of the water, which had surrounded the foot of
the tree. On June 26, when the note was made, the young
appeared to be quite well-grown, judging by the buzzing clamor
they raised when the parent bird stood at the entrance with
food.

BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, Coccyzus erythroplithalmus (Wils.)

While I am aware that the identification is questionable, T
submit the following note for what it is worth. No specimens

— 3o—

of the black-billed cuckoo were taken, or seen in the region around
Flathead, a fact which makes the note of even less value;
however, subsequent observation may give additional light upon
the question here raised regarding this species as a summer
resident of the Flathead region.

On July 3 the writer picked up an egg in a path through
the swamp-woods at the right of Swan Eiver. In size and ap-
pearance, the specimen closely corresponds to the egg of the
black-billed cuckoo, or the western representative of the yellow-
billed cuckoo. It had evidently been dropped in the path,
and was fractured somewhat on the side on which it rested,
but it made a fair specimen awaiting identification.

AMERICAN OSPREY, Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (Ginel.)

The American osprey is the most noticeable bird of prey in
the vicinity of the Station. One of the regular noises of the
day was the peculiar whistle of the osprey, which has some-
what of a ventriloquial effect, as it seems to issue from a point
nearby when the author is much farther from the hearer. The
cry is uttered most frequently when the birds are approach-
ing or leaving the nest, or wheeling in the neighborhood of
their home.

On the bank of the river opposite to the Station, in the
Helena Club grounds, a pair of ospreys had established a
home at the top of a lofty pine stub. The site had been used
by ospreys in previous seasons, and was evidently a regular
tenement. At our advent to the neighborhood, on June 14,
the nest contained well-fledged young, which kept the elders
industriously engaged in supplying the demand for fresh meat
in the form of fish. We left the place on July 6, but upon our
return on August 6, the nest was still used as a place of re-
sort and as head-quarters for the parent birds in providing
for the wants of the dependent youngsters. The nest is shown
in Plate VIII.

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, Accipiter velox (Wils.)

Owinw to the retiring habits of this little Accipiter in the
breeding season, few notes were made upon its occurrence near
the Station. The thickets of the low swamp at the right of
Swan River doubtless formed congenial resorts for this hawk,

—3i—

and as the same localities were abundantly populated by small
birds which the sharp-shinned hawk is known to prey upon,
there was little occasion for it to stir far abroad. Indeed, it is
unusual for this hawk to be found far from its nesting site;
if either of a pair is observed foraging regularly in a thicket in
the early breeding season, a nest is likely to be found in the
vicinity at the appropriate time.

A nest of the sharp-shinned hawk was taken on July 3, in
the swamp woods at the right of Swan Hiver. A most admira-
ble site had been selected. Two large birches grew in a clump
of fir trees, so that the stems of the birches and a fir formed
a triangle measuring about two feet on each side. The nest
was made on fir branches between the two birches, eight feet
from the ground, being thus exposed to view only upon one
side. It was a mass of small twigs fifteen inches in diameter,
the cavity being six inches across and one and one-half inche3
deep. As is usually the case in the architecture of this hawk,
there was nothing whatever to serve as lining. The com-
plement was four handsomely marked eggs, well advanced in
incubation.

The eggs of this set are quite variable in marking, follow-
ing the rule with eggs of the sharp-shinned hawk. The gen-
eral ground color is pale bluish-white. Upon this two of the
eggs have their larger ends entirely covered with blotches of
bright umber, the thickness of the markings giving the ap-
pearance of one large blotch. Over the remainder of their sur-
faces there are scattering marks of the same color. The third
egg has the blotches arranged in a wreath around the smaller
end, forming a likeness to a band of pale umber, with scatter^
ing marks upon the remainder of the surface. The fourth
egg has the markings chiefly upon the larger end, but not so
solidly as in the case of the two first described; in addition,
the fourth egg has several prominent blotches of blackish brown,
seemingly upon the umber markings. Of the eggs of this
species, Oliver Davie says: "The eggs of the sharp-shinned
hawk, Mr. ISTorris states, are subject to great variation in
markings, and yet, as a rule, they can be identified at a glance.
With the exception of the sparrow hawk, they are the smallest
laid by any of the hawks found in North America, and among
the most beautiful eggs of any of the Raptores. Their ground
color varies from bluish-white to grayish-white, spotted,
blotched, speckled, streaked and clouded with light fawn color.

—32-

burnt umber, chestnut, lavendar-gray, chocolate, russet-brown
and cinnamon, exhibiting an endless variety of bold and indis-
tinct patterns of coloration and design."

SPOTTED SANDPIPER, Actitls macularia (Linn.)

The spotted sandpiper was found breeding in abundance along
the lakeshore. Wherever there was sandy beach or gravelly
shore to any extent, there the spotted sandpiper could be heard
uttering its "peet weet", and could be seen "teetering" in its
characteristic manner as it gleaned along the margin of the
water. The long sandy stretches between the mouth of Swan
River and of Elathead River were favorite resorts of the sand-
pipers, and there they could be heard calling at all hours of
the day, and late into the evening. This shore was being
gradually exposed by the falling water of the lake, and the
great sandy flats were exactly suited to the tastes of the little
"teeter-up".

The first nest of the spotted sandpiper was found on June
18, on the sandy point at the right of the mouth of Swan
River. The female was flushed from the nest about dusk. The
site was under a bare drift log, and was made in a depression
three inches in diameter and one inch deep. It was made of
coarse weed-stems, bits of bark and rubbish. The complement
was three eggs, two placed small ends together, the third
placed along the small ends of the other two. Incubation was
quite advanced in these eggs. Their ground color is a polished
clay, upon which are spots and blotches of dark reddish brown
and blackish-brown.

My notes for June 20 record a nest of this species found on
the wooded island below the Station, in Swan River, the island
afterward becoming part of the mainland as the water of the
river receded into its narrow channel. The nest was made
in the open sand, though under trees, about ten feet from
the water. It was three inches in diameter, and one and one-
half inches deep, made of refuse rubbish banked around the
depression in the sand. There were four fresh eggs
placed small ends together and downwards, almost half buried
in the loose materials of the structure.

A third set of eggs of the spotted sandpiper was taken on
June 25, on the same sandy point mentioned in the former
instance. The nest was in a little clump of sprouts, about
twenty feet from the water, and well concealed on all sides.

—33—

It was three inches across, one and one-fourth inches deep,
and was made of pieces of dried weed-stems and rubbish. There
were three eggs, in which incubation had begun.

On June 27, a nest of the spotted sandpiper was found on
the sandy beach at a point near the mouth of Flathead River.
It was in a willow bush about twenty feet from the water, made
of drift rubbish, measurements as in the preceding instance.
This nest contained four fresh eggs.

A set of eggs is shown in Plate XIV.

Supplementary Botes, 1901

Fourteen nests of olive-backed thrush, Turdus ustulatus
swainsonii, were examined in the region under consideration, in
1901. Of these, the highest site was eight feet, the lowest
three and one-half feet, the average being six and one-half
feet from the ground. Ten of these nests contained four eggs
or young as the complement, and of the remainder, two held
three fresh eggs, which might constitute incomplete sets. Nine
of these nests were in upright crotches, of which eight were
in maple saplings and one in a birch; the other nests were in
firs, on horizontal branches beside the main stem. The first
was found June 18, with fresh eggs; the last one contained
eggs quite advanced in incubation, July 5.

A nest of the willow thrush, Turdus fuscescens salicicola,
was found in the swamp-woods bordering the Jocko River at
Selish, on June 16. It was made on a heap of dried and decayed
leaves on fallen branches, one foot from the ground. The
nest was similar in construction to that described on page 12.
It contained four eggs, incubation well advanced. From the
frequent notes heard, it seems that this species is more com-
mon than we supposed from our observations in the preceding
season.

A nest of the American dipper, Cinclus mexicanus, was taken
at Lake McDonald, from a shelf of rock about four feet above
the water of the lake shore. It was constructed entirely of
green moss, and was situated in an angle of the rock, the
site giving it an ellipsoidal form. It was nine and one-half
inches long, and seven and one-half inches high, with a width of
seven inches from front to back. The entrance was a sub-cir-
cular hole three inches in diameter, near the middle of the

—34—

front side immediately above the floor. The walls varied from
one to two inches in thickness, forming a neat spherical cavity
as yet unoccupied, June 24.

A nest of Wilson's warbler, Sylvania pusilla (Wils.), was
taken on June 24, in the vicinity of McDonald Lake. It was
found under the projecting shelter of a moss-covered, decayed
prostrate log in a dense arbor-vitae swamp-woods. The brim
was flush with the surroundings in decayed leaves, moss, and
punk. The walls were made of coarse weed fibers, and the
lining was a scanty layer of reddish-brown fibers and horse-
hair. The cavity measured two inches in diameter, and one
and one-fourth inches in depth. There were four eggs, incuba-
tion quite advanced, and one egg was broken in blowing. The
female was startled from her cozy home as I stepped over the
log almost over the nest. In size and appearance, the eggs
closely resemble those of the chickadee, having a whitish ground
irregularly marked with fine specks of thin reddish-brown, the
markings being thickest at the larger end.

On June 29, a nest of western yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
occidentallis Brewst., was taken on a mountain-side near Flat-
head Lake, at an elevation of 5,000 feet. It was in the base
of a low bush, eight inches from the ground. It was made
entirely of coarse weed-stems, with a lining of horsehair. The
cavity was one and five-eighths inches across, and one and
three-eighths inches deep. There were four fresh eggs, which
had a pinkish white ground, with irregular dots and blotches
of thin reddish-brown. Besides this nest, several others of the
year were found, one in Daphnia Pond in a tuft of rushes
being made of coarse rush blades, with a scanty layer of fine
stems for lining.

Macgillivray's warbler was noted more frequently than in
1900, though no nests with eggs were taken. On June 30, a
nest of this warbler was found in the base of a low bush in the
woods near Flathead Lake. It was eight inches from the
ground, made of coarse dried grasses and lined with horsehair.
The cavity was two and one-fourth inches in diameter, and
one and three-fourths inches in depth. I accidentally brushed
against the nest, which was filled with fledglings about ready
to fly, and they fluttered out quickly into the adjacent bushes,
entailing a great degree of chirping by the parents to collect
the scattered younglings.

This year we were more fortunate in our search for the home

— 35—

of the junco. A nest of Shufeldt's junco was found on July
9, in the woods near the base of MacDougal Peak. It was on
the side of a small moss-covered mound, which had been formed
by tlie uprooting of a tree in other years. The nest
was in a recess, and was made of coarse weed-stems
and lined with fine light grasses. It was four inches across and
two inches high after removal from the site. The cavity meas-
ured two and one-half inches in diameter, and one and one-
fourth inches in depth. Its complement was four fresh eggs,
which were greenish-white, marked with reddish-brown, the
larger end as usual having the greater amount of markings.

While at Sin-yale-a-min Lake, a number of used nests were
examined, the work of the black-headed jay, cyanocitta stelleri
annectens (Baird). They were found in small firs, invariably
along the streams, and generally about twelve feet from the
ground, on horizontal branches beside the main stem. The
chosen site was usually about three-fourths the height of the
tree. They were made of an outer framework of coarse twigs,
and were about eight inches across in exterior measurement,
and five inches high. The outer wall was made of muddy moss
and coarse stems, the lining being of coarse brown rootlets. The
cavity averaged four and three- fourths inches in diameter, and
three inches deep.

On June 28, I found a nest of the black-headed jay near a
bridge over a small stream where we stopped for lunch. The
nest was eighteen feet from the ground, in a stout upright fork
of the main stem, which leaned over the water. It was made
as described in the foregoing paragraph, having an outer frame-
work of coarse twigs, walls of mud about a half-inch thick, an
inner wall of coarse black rootlets, and a bedding of finer
rootlets. There were four egg's, on which the female was sit-
ting. She was secured for identification, and later, when the
male came near, with a mouthful of grasshoppers, he was also
taken. The eggs were quite advanced in incubation. They
were light green in color, irregularly spotted with dark-brown.
About twenty feet from the tree containing this nest was an-
other with an old nest similar in construction, situated in a
small fir as previously described. It is likely that the nest
with eggs was a second nesting of this pair of jays; if such
is the case, it wall account for the late date of nidification, as
the usual season of this jay had apparently closed in the neigh-
borhood.

-36-

While passing through St. Ignatius, on the Reservation, our
attention was attracted by the Arkansas kingbird, Tyrannus
verticallis Say, and a nest was found in a corral, on the groove
of a windlass, beside one of the uprights. It was about twelve
feet from the ground, and was made of soft fibers, stems, and
cordage. It, contained three eggs, in which incubation had
begun. The eggs of the Arkansas kingbird closely resemble
those of the kingbird, being cream-white with irregular spots
of reddish-brown.

Conclusion

If the foregoing were intended to be a list of the breeding
birds of the Flathead region, there are many notes which might
be incorporated in this report. However, it is intended simply
as a record of what was done in the period mentioned; hence
every note stands for a nest or specimen actually seen. On
June 18, a brood of young ducks was led to the water by the
parents, American golden-eye, Glaucionetta clangula americana
Bonap., from a hole in a cottonwood near the boat-house on
the Helena Club grounds. The parent birds were observed
visiting and leaving the hole by younger members of our
party, and upon their reporting the matter to me, we went to
the place, to find that the family had taken to the water and
doubtless forever abandoned their woody cell. On another oc-
casion, when a pleasure party was spending a day near the
bridge, one of the boys discovered a nest of a hummingbird,
doubtless the rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus Gmel., as
it was taken from bushes overhanging the bank of Swan River.
Before it was brought to my notice, the two eggs were lost and
the nest destroyed. These instances are mentioned to show
that no attempt has been made to prolong this list beyond the
actual observation of the collector, nor was it the intention to
secure a lengthy list. As a record of private collecting, it is
given here in the desire to contribute to a more general dis-
tribution of the natural bistorv data of the state.

-37-

Wet of Birfcs of tbe fflatbeafc Xafee IReoion

List of birds, with notes on their habits and distribution, ob-
served in the Mission Mountains, the Mission Valley, and at
Flathead Lake. The list comprises the birds seen from June 5
to August 29, 1900. Skins of most of the species here men-
tioned are deposited in the museum of the University. The
numbers correspond to the A. 0. U. check list.

4. AMERICAN EARED GREBE, Colymbus nigricollis cali-

fornicus (Heerm.)

On June 20, 1901, a brood of American eared grebe was
seen on Sin-yale-a-min Lake. There were nine or ten speci-
mens in the family, and three were taken. The brood had
evidently been reared on the lake, as the youngsters were in-
capable of extended flight, though they were in full plumage.
A specimen was taken later at Mud Lake, near Flathead.

6. PIED-BILLED GREBE, Podihjmbus podiceps (Linn.)

Not common at the northern end of Flathead Lake. One
specimen noted on the eastern shore, below the mouth of Swan
River.

7. LOON, Urinator imber (Gunn.)

Common on Flathead Lake, singly and in pairs. Also
common on Swan Lake, where its clear laughing calls resound
far over the little valley enclosing the lake. Not noted at Mc-
Donald Lake.

It is not likely that the Loon is more than a summer visitant
to Sin-yale-a-min Lake. This sheet of water is a desirable
stopping place for passing birds at nightfall. A pair of loons
spent one night at the lake during our visit, and an effort was
made to secure a specimen the next morning, but without
success.

-38-

11. RED-THROATED LOON, Urinator lumme (Gunn.)

A female of this species was taken at Mud Lake, near Flat-
head, on July 15, 1901. It was alone, though several American
mergansers were near it.

40. WESTERN GULL, Larus occidentalis Aud.

A common visitor at the northern end of. Flathead Lake. A
specimen was taken on Aug. 29, at the sand-bar near the mouth
of Flathead River, associating with Larus delawarensis and
Sterna forsteri.

54. RING-BILLED GULL, Larus delawarensis Ord.

A regular visitor to the upper end of Flathead Lake, appear-
ing in pairs and flocks of eight to twenty, generally after bois-
terous days on the lake. It manifests unusual curiosity,
as a boat or launch will attract it to hover about, often to its
harm. Specimens were frequently taken, Aug. 23, 24, and fol-
lowing dates.

69. FORSTER'S TERN, Sterna forsteri Nutt.

Irregular visitor to the northern end of Flathead Lake. On
Aug. 23, a specimen was taken near the mouth of Swan River,
flora a small flock that flitted capriciously over the water.

129. AMERICAN MERGANSER, Merganser americanus

(Cass.)

On Aug. 23, a flock of six or eight mergansers appeared in
the bay immediately west of the station, near the boat landing.
A specimen was taken from this flock on Aug. 24, and there-
after this Ashing duck was regularly noted. When one of the
flock succeeded in capturing a fish, the others would pursue the
successful fisher, and a playful scuffle for possession of the prey
would ensue, in which the victim was generally dismembered
by the harsh teeth ct' the captors.

131. HOODED MERGANSER, Lophodytes cucullatus (Linn.)
On July 15, 1901, a female hooded merganser was taken

—39—

at Mud Lake. This was the only specimen noted, though this
merganser is common in this region as a regular resident.

132. MALLARD, Anas boschas Linn.

This fine duck is a common migrant at the upper end of
Flathead Lake, appearing in flocks there as elsewhere. A spec-
imen was taken on Aug. 24. Numbers were noted at the right
of the mouth of Flathead River, where a small cove offered them
convenient anchorage. It often breeds in the neighborhood.

139. GREEN-WINGED TEAL, Anas carolinensis Gmel.

A flock of green-winged teal appeared on Daphnia Pond
about the middle of August, and a specimen was taken on
August 17. Thereafter this teal was noted regularly on the
pond, and in the mouth of Swan River.

143. PINTAIL. Dafila acuta (Linn.)

The pintail doubtless breeds at the north end of Flathead
Lake, as specimens were regularly noted in the swampy area
between Swan River and Flathead River, during our observa-
tions in June. Numbers were accumulating in the cove west
of the mouth of Flathead River during the latter days of Au-
gust, with the mallard, green-winged teal, American golden-eye,
American merganser, and other species.

144. WOOD DUCK. Aix sponsa (Linn.)

A brood of young wood ducks appeared on the gra&sy slough
in the swamp-woods between Swan River and Flathead River,
and a young male was taken, July 31, 1901. Residents of the
neighborhood report that the wood duck is disappearing, be-
ing seen much less frequently than it was several years ago.

151 AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE, Glaucionebta clangula amer-

icana (Bonap.)

A pair of American golden-eyes were seen about Sin-yale-a-
min Lake at various times, and one specimen was taken. On
the little pond in the ravine to the southwest, a family o-f

— 4o—

American golden-eye was found, and several specimens uf
the .young were taken with the parent birds. Every little
sheet of water, along whose margin cavities can be found in
convenient trunks, seems to have its family of American golden-
eye. This species appeared to be by far the most abundant
of the summer ducks in the Flathead region.

A common breeder at the north end of Flathead Lake, and
on the adjacent ponds. Specimens were frequently taken, in
June and in August. The numbers are increased by migrants
toward the end of August.

153. BUFFLE-HEAD, Charionetta albeola (Linn.)

On July 30, 1901, a flock of young bufne-heads was noted at
the head of Flathead Lake, and a specimen was taken for iden-
tification. It is likely that broods are commonly reared along
the lakeshore, as several families are regularly observed to
appear on the lake at the appropriate season.

172. CANADA GOOSE, Branta canadensis (Linn.)

Abundant during the migration early in August, ap-
pearing in flocks of ten to twenty on the sand-bars near
the mouth of Flathead River. When approached by the ob-
server, a flock will line up in single file along the shore before
taking flight, and thus take wing while the observer is beyond
shotgun range.

190. AMERICAN BITTERN, Botaurus lentiginosus (Montag.)

An American bittern was seen at nightfall on June 25, 1901,
flying low over our camp at Post Creek. On July 16, 1901, a
specimen of American bittern was taken in the reedy bog
fringing Mud Lake.

214. SORA, Porzana Carolina (Linn.)

The Sora occurs commonly on the reedy ponds and marshy
areas of the lake shore. A pair inhabited a small weedy opening
in the swampy woods between Swan River and Flathead River,
and others were noted at Daphnia Pond. Specimens were
taken at both places.

— 4I—

223. NORTHERN PHALAROPE, Phalaropus hiatus (Linn.)

Occurs regularly on the migrations at the north end of Flat-
head Lake. A specimen was taken near the mouth of Swan
River, August 27. It generally appears with the yellow-legs,
swimming along the water's edge somewhat beyond the depth
of its companion, and feeding near it.

230. WILSON'S SNIPE, Gallinago delicata (Ord.)

This "Jacksnipe" is noted commonly near Flathead Lake. A
specimen was taken on August 18, on the shore at the right
of the mouth of Swan River.

241. RAIRD'S SANDPIPER, Tringa bairdii (Cones )

Appears regularly along the lake shore about the middle of
August, in flocks of fifteen to twenty, feeding along the water's
edge in restless, irregular movement, and taking flight simultane-
ously upon sufficient alarm. In air the flock retains a close
formation, sweeping low above the water, and generally flying
some distance before alighting, if previously alarmed.

248. SANDERLING, Calidris armaria (Linn.)

Regular migrant at the north end of Flathead Lake. Speci-
mens were taken near the mouth of Swan River, August 29. It
frequents the reedy shore's, in company with the spotted sand-
piper, Baird's sandpiper, and other shore birds.

£54. GREATER YELLOW-LEGS, Totanus melanoleucus

(Gmel.)

Noted commonly on the pools of the Reservation, and along
the creeks. A pai^ were taken on one of the pools when we
crossed from Lake McDonald to Post Creek. Specimens were
noted at Crow Creek, and also at the foot of Flathead Lake.
Common near the mouth of Swan River, on the sand-bars near
the boat landing, and also on the sandy shores between Swan
River and Flathead River.

255. YELLOW-LEGS, Totanus flavipes (Gmel.)
Usually seen in company with Totanus melanoleucus. Speci-

—42 —

mens were taken on the pools of the Reservation. Common at
the foot of Flathead Lake. Also common near the mouth of
Swan River.

256. SOLITARY SANDPIPER, Totanus solitarius (Wils.)

This sandpiper was common on the Reservation, generally
along the creeks. Specimens were taken on Crow Creek. In
its hahits it closely resembles the spotted sandpiper, though
its larger size aids in distinguishing it from the latter. Two
specimens were taken near the mouth of Swan River, August 8,
and it was regularly noted in our daily lists.

261. BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER, Bartramia longicauda

(Bechst.)

The Bartramian sandpiper was found locally distributed over
the Reservation, meadows near ranch-houses being the favored
haunts. A family or small colony inhabited a meadow on Mr.
Felsman's ranch, near Sin-yale-a-min Lake, where a specimen
was taken, June 21, 1901. On the same day a young Bar-
tramian sandpiper, yet in downy plumage, was captured alive on
the prairie between Post Creek and Mt. MacDonald. An-
other pair of these birds was found on a ranch near the foot
of Flathead Lake, and several miles up the Lake a small colony
or family was noted, June 26.

2G3. SPOTTED SANDPIPER, Aditis macularia (Linn.)

Noted everywhere in the localities visited. Abundant as a
summer resident along the north end of Flathead Lake. Nests
were frequently found in June on the sand-bars.

264. LONG-BILLED CURLEW, Numenius longirostris Wils.

Young birds of this species were running about over the
prairie when we crossed from Lake McDonald to Flathead
I ake. Several young of the year were taken. The curlew was
common in the vicinity of Flathead Lake, near Poison, where
flocks were forming on the prairies.

273. KILLDEER, Aegialitis vocifera (Linn.)
The killdeer was common throughout the Reservation. Spec-

—43—

imens were noted on the pools, and along the streams, as well
as at Flathead Lake.

Frequently observed near the boat landing, on the gravelly
bars of Swan Eiver. Specimens were taken on August- 8, and
regularly noted thereafter.

2S9. BOB-WHITE. Colinus virginianus (Linn.)

This fine game bird has been successfully introduced in the
locality between Flathead Lake and Kalispell, where the varia-
tions of meadow, grainfield, and brushy ravine are particular-
ly suitable to the needs of the bob-white. His mellow whistle is
delightfully gratifying: to the ears of tho=e who knew him in
his native habitat, and we may hope that he will take kindly
to his trans-mountain conditions. Friends of this partr. _
should see that he is permitted to adjust himself fully to his
new environments and to multiply in peace, before he falls a
prev to the desire to kill. Xo true sportman will molest the
bob-white whose rich piping greets his ears, nor will he raise
his destructive gun when a startled bird may whir away from
the covert at his feet, until the numbers are sufficiently great
to warrant the taking of an occasional bird.

--

29Tb. EICHAEDSOIPS GBOTJSK Dendragapus dbscuru*

richardsonii (Dougl.)

This form of the sooty grouse was common in the vicm::y
of the Sin-yale-a-min Lake S] erimens were frequently taken.
In a trip to the summit of Sin-yale-a-min Peak, on ■T*ily 12.
chicks about three days old were taken with the female, at
an altitude of 7,000 fee:. The chicks were easily caught with
the hand. 8 reral similar instances indicate that this
grouse nests much later than is usually given in data re-
garding its nidification. or that it is generally unfortunate in
the issue of its earlier attemr:-.

This grouse was common on the slopes leading up toward
Mt. McDonald, and elsewhere on the bushy hillsides Speci-
mens were frequently taken.

On June 23. a fine male Bichardson's grouse was taken on
the eastern side of the ridge east of Daphnia Pond. He
was feeding on the red berries growing in profusion on the
hillside, bavins' his crop full when taken. When distur
he strutted among the clump- t>i sprouts, --reading his large.

—44—

fan-like black tail, and puffing out the naked air-sacs on the
sides of his neck. He did not attempt to fly or to make any
effort to escape.

On August 16, a female Richardson's grouse was taken on
the same hillside

299. FRANKLIN'S GROUSE, Dendragapus franklinii

(Dough)

Franklin's grouse was common in the vicinity of Lake Mc-
Donald. A female with young about two weeks old was taken
on Mt. McDonald at an altitude of 7,500 feet. Other speci-
mens were taken near the lake. This grouse is the "fool hen"
of popular reputation, by which name it is very generally
known in this region.

300 b. GRAY RUFFED GROUSE, Bonasa umbellus umbel-
hides (Dougl.)

The gray ruffed grouse was found as a common resident of
the thickets near the lakes. At the time of our first observa-
tions, females with young just beginning to fly were frequently
flushed. When disturbed with her brood, the female some-
times utters a strange hissing noise, and running at her dis-
turber with inflated air-sacs and outspread wings, she pre-
sents a very peculiar appearance. At such times, when she
does not threaten the observer, she slinks among the bushes
uttering a cat-like "meow", which is a close counterpart of
the characteristic feline cry. Toward the close of the warm
July afternoons, these birds were most likely to be found near
the water's edge; at other honrs of the day, they generally re-
sorted to the clumps of small firs.

Abundant in the swampy area between Swan River and
Flathead River, where several broods were noted in June; also
on the ridges east of the lake, where several families were
found. By the first of August, young birds were taking
to the trees and higher bushes when disturbed.

308 a. COLUMBIAN SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, Pedio-

caetes pliasinnellus Columbian us (Ord.)

This grouse was observed in the meadows near Crow Creek,
where it appeared to be common as elsewhere in the cultivated

— 45-

bottoms of the state. Hillsides near water-courses, along which
are hay meadows and grainfields. are the summer resorts of this
fine gamebird of the Northwest.

Abundant on the prairie between Flathead Lake and Kal-
i-pell. On Aug. 30, a large flock was seen beside the road
a short distance beyond Holt. The open districts north of the
lake form the regular resorts of this common gamebird, and
every ranch doubtless has its flock of "chickens".

316. MOURNING DOVE, Zenaidura macroura (Linn.)

The mourning dove is not uncommonly noted in the Reserva-
tion, being observed most generally near the water-cour- -
We listed several specimens at Crow Creek, though no others
were seen until we reached the head of the lake, and there onlv
sparingly. It is evidently nowhere abundant in this portion of its
range. Specimens were regularly noted along the road from
the Station to Holt, near the margin of the swampy region
between Swan Eiver and Flathead River.

331. MARSH HAWK, Circus hudsonius (Linn.)

The marsh hawk is common along the foot of Flathead Lake.
We did not note it elsewhere in the Reservation, though it is
undoubtedly found at suitable localities along the water-
courses.

332. SHARP-SHIXXEB HAWK. Accipiter velox (Wils.)

This spirited little accipiter was found regularly near Mc-
Donald Lake. On one occasion a specimen darting around a
clump of dwarf trees nearly flew into my arms; seeing me,
he quickly darted upward and tried to escape, but a fortunate
shot brought him to earth.

This hawk was found nesting in the swamp woods between
Swan River and Flathead River, where a female was taken
when flushed from her nest, in which were four eggs, July 3.
On August 16, a male sharp-shinned hawk was taken on the
bushy ridge east of the road leading to Daphnia Pond.

333. COOPER'S HAWK. Accipiter cooperii (Bonap.)

Cooper's hawk was common along the cliff east of McDonald
Lake. We frequently observed them feeding young, or heard

_46-

the cries of the young as the elders brought supplies to their
rocky eyries. Once we climbed about half way up the cliff
toward a nest of young birds whose cries attracted us; but as
we neared the site the elders chitted the place and the young
birds ceased their cries, thus defeating our object of finding
the nest.

On August 14, a male Cooper's hawk was taken on the road
leading from the bridge up Swan Eiver. Specimens were
taken successively on August 22 and 23, on the ranch at the
right of the mouth of Swan River. This hawk was not noted
during our observations in June.

337 b. WESTERN RED-TAIL, Buteo horealis calurus (Cass.)

This fine large hawk was found breeding along the eastern
shore of McDonald Lake. One specimen was taken.

A mutilated specimen of the western red-tail was found in
the road through the woods leading to the point at the mouth
of Swan River, August 22. It had probably been shot by one
of the parties staying at the Club houses, and had fallen or
been dragged there by one of the dogs scouring the woods
for game.

o"-

34? a. AMERICAN ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, Archibuteo
lagopus sancti-johannis (Gmel.)

The American rough-legged hawk was commonly seen soar-
ing overhead above the woods and hills east of the lower end
of Flathead Lake. Several efforts were made to secure a speci-
men, even to scaling the cliff in hopes of getting a shot, but the
game was always beyond reach.

349. GOLDEN EAGLE, Aquila chrysaetos (Linn.)

The Mission Mountains and adjacent regions offer congenial
resorts for the golden eagle. Frequently it was observed soaring
over the ranges, but no specimen was taken, though effort was
frequently made to get within range of one. A fine specimen
was observed feeding on a carcass and it allowed us to ride
within fair view of it, but departed before we were within ef-
fective shotgun range.

352. BALD EAGLE, Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Linn.)
Though not noted by our party, the bald eagle was reported

—47—

on Swan Lake near its head, by Mr. Leffingwell, who took a
fine specimen there during our stay at the Station in the latter
part of August. His accurate knowledge of this species war-
rants the including of the bald eagle in this list upon his identi-
fication.

360 a. DESERT SPARROW HAWK, Falco sparverious de-

serticolus Mearns.

This species did not appear to be as common near Sin-yale-
a-min Lake as elsewhere in its usual range. We noted it oc-
casionally in our daily lists. In our ascent of Mt. Sin-yale-a-
min, this little falcon was seen at an altitude of 7,700 feet,
pursued by five or six pine siskins. It was found regularly
on the hillsides, though not abundantly, but was common every-
where over the prairies of the Reservation.

The sparrow hawk was not uncommon in the vicinity of
Lake McDonald. It was noted most frequently near the outlet
of the lake, and along the cliff on the eastern shore. No speci-
mens were taken here. A small butte near our camp at Crow
Creek was used as a sort of watch tower by the sparrow hawks,
and generally several would be flushed when we climbed to its
rocky summit.

Abundant on the ranches near Flathead Lake, preferring
the edges of the woods. It resorts to rail fences, flying from
one station to another ahead of the observer; or from a watch
tower in the top of isolated trees in the meadows it scans the
subjacent ground for venturesome mice, grasshoppers, crickets,
and similar prey.

364. AMERICAN OSPREY, Pandion haliaehis carolinensis

(Gmel.)

The osprey was noted only occasionally in our daily lists
at Sin-yale-a-min Lake. It is likely that a pair of ospreys in-
habited the ravine leading to the little pond, for the speci-
mens we noted were generally seen in that locality. The lake
did not appear to be frequented to any extent by the osprey,
though it certainly afforded a generous supply of fish, which
forms almost the entire bill of fare of this species. The inlet
and outlet of the lake, which are stocked abundantly with
trout, doubtless offer easier larders than the deeper waters of
the lake.

-48-

Common at Flathead Lake, especially near the mouth of
Fend d' Orielle River, Swan River, and Flathead River. A
family had possession of a large nest at the top of a tall,
naked stub near the river on the Helena Club grounds, (see
Plate VIII.), and two specimens wore taken from this family
during our stay in August. The osprey was also found very
commonly on Swan Lake, where we spent two days near the
foot, August 20 and 21.

366. AMERICAN LONG-EARED OWL, Asio wilsonianus

(Less.)

The long-eared owl, being more generally nocturnal in its
habits than the other owls, is less frequently noted than others.
Only one specimen was observed, which was in the dark swamp-
woods of the Jocko River at Selish.

373 e. ROCKY MOUNTAIN SCREECH OWL, Megascops
asio maxwelliae (Ridgw.)

A specimen of this screech owl was taken on Post Creek,
where it was shot from our camp as it was perched in a dead
tree beside the creek, having begun its nocturnal foraging soon
after dusk.

375 a. WESTERN HORNED OWL, Bubo virginianus sub-

articus (Hoy.)

This form of the great horned owl apears to be common in
the parts of the Flathead region included in our itinerary.
The dense woodland are peculiarly adapted to this powerful
nocturnal marauder. It manifests its presence more particu-
larly in the fall and winter months, when many specimens are
captured by the ranchers. The only individual of this species
we saw at McDonald Lake was taking an evening outing along
the low shore near the outlet, resting occasionally on the sum-
mit of some tall stub ere continuing his perambulations.

The western horned owl was reported as common along Crow
Creek, though we did not take any specimens. The abundance
of food would imply its presence. For some reason the Raptores,
which we expected to find at this station, seemed less common
than usual.

—49—

On June 22, a specimen was seen at Estey's Pond. On
August 6, a fine specimen was brought to the Station by Mr.
Estey, who rejDorted the species very common on his ranch.
No notes were made concerning its occurrence nearer the
Station.

390. BELTED KINGFISHER, Ceryle alcyon (Linn.)

The belted kingfisher is a common resident in summer along
the shore of Sin-yale-a-min Lake. Xo specimens were taken,
but were easily accessible, and were noted in all our daily lists.
The clear waters of the lake furnished this avian fisher very
attractive accommodations. By measurement it was found that
we could see objects to the depth of thirty-five feet, and the
schools of minnows playing near the shore were easy prey for
the kingfisher. However, the kingfisher is not always success-
ful in its dashes for its finny victim; in my opinion it fails more
frequently than it succeeds. It always seizes its prey with
its bill, and frequently finds it necessary to thrash its victim
against a stake or branch before it can stow the morsel away
in its gullet.

It was daily noted plying its vocation near the inlet of Lake
McDonald. At the month of the inlet the fishing was par-
ticularly fine, and the fact that the water from the ravine
above the lake entered the reservoir by several small mouths
rendered the sport unusually excellent. It appeared that only
one pair of kingfishers claimed the fishing rights of this lab1
No srjecimens were taken.

The kingfisher was seen at all times near the Slation, fre-
quenting the banks of Swan River near its mouth, and es-
pecially near the boat landing, where the shallower water afford-
ed easier fishing grounds than the more turbulent flow
of the river proper. This species was also found abundantly
on Swan Lake, where we took several specimens while stand-
ing in our camp at the foot of the lake. Though we had rea-
son to believe that there were no fish in Daphnia Pond, and
few in Estey's Pond, the kingfisher was observed at both sta-
tions, and we concluded that the numerous frogs along the
margins of the ponds offered the avian fisherman easier preT
than the snort at Swan River.

— 5o—

393 d. CABANIS'S WOODPECKER, Dryobates viltosus hylo-

scopus (Cab.)

This species or form of the hairy woodpecker is not un-
common in the vicinity of Sin-yale-a-min Lake. Specimens
were generally noted and one was taken. It is doubtless a per-
manent resident.

A specimen was noted visiting the large pine trees at our
Crow Creek camp. It was not included in our list for the
foot of Flathead Lake. Doubtless regularly found in the tall
trees of the water-courses. Specimens were frequently taken
near the Station at Flathead Lake.

394 b. BATCHELDER'S WOODPECKER, Dryobates puU-

scens oreoecus Batch.

The downy woodpecker in this Rocky Mountain form did
not appear to be common in the immediate vicinity of Sin-
yale-a-min Lake. No specimens were taken, and those noted
were more frequently heard than seen. More thorough exam-
ination of the locality might disclose its presence in greater
proportion than our notes indicate. It is common in the vicin-
ity of the Biological Station.

400. ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, Picoides

arcticus (Swains.)

noted as commonly as the Alpine three-toed woodpecker.
A specimen was taken at Swan Lake, August 3, 1901.

401b. ALPINE THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, Picoides
americanus dorsalis Baird.

One specimen of this three-toed woodpecker, a young male,
was taken in the woods north of the lake. The vigorous,
deliberate, though intermittent tapping of this woodpecker is
a pretty certain index of its presence near the observer; how-
ever, the wary nature of the woodland carpenter leads him to
desist when the collector approaches his 'station. This speci-
men allowed me to walk past without my discovering him;
but began his tapping immediately after my back was turned.
Not uncommon near the mouth of Swan River. A specimen
was taken in the woods east of the Club grounds, Aug. 16.

—5i—

402 a. RED-NAPEE SAPSUCKER, Sphyrapicus varius nu-

chalis Baird.

On the day of our arrival at Sin-yale-a-min Lake, and on
the following day, a pair of red-naped sapsuckers claimed quar-
ters along che trail near our camp, and were frequently ob-
served sporting on the tree-trunks, uttering their harsh calls
as they flitted restlessly about their claimed domains. On
the second day, a party of Indian campers stationed themselves
near the phice, and used the trail for their racing and shoot-
ing frolics. The sapsuckers disappeared, and we made no
further note? regarding the presence of this interesting species.
Unlike other members of the woodpecker group, this sap-
sucker frequents the lower story of the woods, doubtless be-
cause of its fondness for the sap-laden inner fibers of the
bark which it finds nearer the bases of the trunks. Its nest-
in g site is also much lower or nearer the ground than the av-
erage of those of the other woodpeckers.

It is common in the woodlands in the vicinity of Lake Mc-
Donald. One specimen was taken, and it was regularly included
in our daily lists. Its harsh, impatient call betokens its pres-
ence in any neighborhood, its noisy ways being decidedly in
contrast with those of the three-toed woodpecker.

A pair of red-naped sapsuckers reared a brood in the weedy
area in the swamp woods at the right of the mouth of Swan
River, where specimens were frequently taken. Also frequently
observed in the woods east of the Helena Club grounds.
This species was apparently more frequently noted than either
the Alpine three-toed woodpecker, Cabanis's woodpecker, or
Batchelder's woodpecker, in the vicinity of the Station.

405. PILEATED WOODPECKER, Ceophheus pihatus (Linn.)

The pileated woodpecker was not uncommon in the wood«
near the Station, and occasionally a specimen would even visit
the Station grounds, uttering its loud flicker-like call from the
top of one of the taller trees. On August 15 a specimen was
taken in one of the trees on the western side of the grounds.
This woodpecker was frequently heard in the swamp woods
at the right of Swan River, and even more frequently in the
Helena Club grounds at the left of the river. Two specimens
were taken on August 27. in the woods west of the road lead-
ing to Daphnia Pond. Both were tapping on medium-sized

—52—

trunks, at points abont half way up the boles. The shooting
we had done in the woods during the preceding three
weeks did not appear to have had any effect in frightening
away this wary woodpecker from the old landmarks. How-
ever, the woodsman's axe will doubtless hasten this undesirable
outcome.

This lordly inhabitant of the primeval woodlands is common
in the vicinity of Sin-yale-a-min Lake. A pair had a home in
the ravine leading westward from the lake. Their favorite
haunts were tall denuded pines and tamaracks, though they
were not often seen near the summits of the boles, apparently
preferring a middle station. Their loud, resounding tapping
generally disclosed their presence, together with their loud,
vibrant, flicker-like call. Our frequent shooting in the neigh-
borhood and in the ravine where they made their head-
quarters did not 'seem to disturb them, though when we tried
to stalk them they managed to keep out of range, silently flap-
ping away when we aproacbed, so that no specimens were taken
at this camp.

Likewise at McDonald Lake, after we had been in camp
some days and had been shooting in the immediate neighbor-
hood at all times during our stay, two specimens, an old female
and a young male, were taken within a hundred yards of the
camp.

408. LEWIS'S WOODPECKER, Melanerpes torquatus (Wils.)

This peculiar woodpecker was common in the woods near the
outlet of Lake McDonald. It prefers the largest pines, from
which it will fly out and capture an insect in air as expertly
as a kingbird or other flycatcher, and return to its chosen sta-
tion. There is a degree of wary secretiveness in its nature,
however, for when an observer is near, it will remain silently
lurking in the top of the tree until the patience of the observer
is likely to be exhausted.

A pair were seen feeding young birds in a hole about fifty
feet from the ground in a living pine, July 28, at Post Creek.
This woodpecker was a common visitor to our camp at Crow
Creek. We also noted it among the scrubby haw trees near
our camp at the foot of Flathead Lake.

On the day of our first arrival at the Station, June 14,
Lewis's woodpecker was a noticeable visitor to the Station
grounds, and two specimens, which were making frequent sal-

— 53—

lies into the air from the tops of tall dead trees in quest of
passing insects, were taken as a tribute to our curiosity in
regard to this peculiar woodpecker. Upon our return to the
Station, in the first week of August, Lewis's woodpecker was
abundantly represented by specimens along the road leading
toward Holt, where they would sit on the rail fences like crows
or robins, each sitting quite upright and bunched together like
an owl a-perch. On August 1G a specimen was taken that had
one inner toe missing, which had apparently been severed close
to the place of insertion. Around Daphnia Pond this wood-
pecker was also abundant, as well as at other stations in the
neighborhood.

413. RED-SHAFTED FLICKER, Colaptes cafer (Gmel.)

This flicker is common everywhere in localities visited where
trees of any size can be found. On one occasion at Sin-yale-
a-min Lake, three red-shafted flickers were observed flirting and
coquetting at the top of a tall denuded stub. In our ascent
of a ridge of Mt. McDonald, this nicker was noted at an alti-
tude of 7,700 feet. It is the most common woodpecker in the
vicinity of McDonald Lake. In the wooded localities in the
open regions of the Reservation, the red-shafted flicker ap-
pears to be less numerously represented than the Lewis wood-
pecker.

420 a. WESTERN NIGHTHAWK, Chordeiles virginianus

henryi (Cass.)

The western nighthawk was not common at Sin-yale-a-min
Lake, though specimens were noted occasionally in twilight
flight. No specimens were taken.

It was commonly seen flying about at nightfall at McDonald
Lake. One specimen was taken as it was flying to and fro
over the water at early dusk.

Abundant in the vicinity of Crow Creek. A small butte near
our camp was a favorite haunt of the nighthawk, and from
its top we secured several specimens at nightfall. "We also
found it abundant at the foot of Flathead Lake, and at the
upper end as well, where it was found breeding.

-54—

433. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, Selasphorus rufus (Gmel.)

This hummingbird was a common visitor to our camp, and
was noted regularly near the lakes. A female was taken while
sitting on a naked branch near our tent, at McDonald Lake.

Very common in the vicinity of the Station. On the day of
our arrival, a male rufous hummingbird was taken in the woods
across the road from the Station, and others were noted. In
the swampy woods between Swan and Flathead Rivers, this
hummingbird was frequently observed darting at Traill's and
other flycatchers, and pursuing them angrily for short dis-
tances, as though the latter were intruding upon its domains.
Later in the season, August 11, a family was noted visiting the
snowberry, a species of honeysuckle, and also feeding on the
giant hyssop growing rankly beside the fences near the Station
grounds.

436. CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, Stellula calliope Gould.

The calliope hummingbird appeared to be common along the
cliff east of McDonald Lake. It was noted particularly in the
vicinity of the waterfalls that dashed from the crevices of the
cliff, where it would alight within a few feet of the observer,
sitting on some dead twig to preen its plumage or rest after
a journey along the rocky wall.

A family of calliope hummingbird was observed on the east-
ern side of the ridge east of the Helena Club grounds. Both
elders and young were darting about from bush to bush,
and apparently had one or two chosen stations for perching,
generally bare twigs projecting from the periphery of a, maple
clump. The male parent bird was shot, and I had turned from
picking him up, when another of the family was seen perched
upon the same twig. No other specimens of this humming-
bird were noted near the Station.

444. KINGBIRD, Tyrannus tyrannus (Linn.)

Abundant in the willows of Flathead Lake shore at the north-
ern end, and also near Daphnia Pond. Nests were observed in
the early season.

The kingbird ^,vas abundant along the streams of the reserva-
tion, and also along the foot of Flathead Lake. Many pairs
were yet feeding young birds in the nest.

It was not observed at the smaller mountain lakes.

—55—

447. ARKANSAS KINGBIRD, Tyrannus verticalis Say.

This noisy, handsome kingbird was abundant about the
ranches of the Reservation. It is very noticeable in its move-
ments and demonstrative in manners, having a short musical
twitter which it utters generally upon alighting, accompanying
the twitter with a fluttering or quivering movement of the
wings. Like its congener the kingbird, it is very pugnacious
in its disposition, chasing away the magpie or other invader of
its domains. Its calls is vigorous in enunciation, resembling the
syllable "ki". We noted it at Post Creek, Crow Creek, and at
the foot of Flathead Lake, at all of which places it was mani-
festly prominent because of young birds lately upon the
wing. The familiarity of this kingbird is measurably beyond
that of Tyrannus tyrannus, as it will boldly establish itself in
the midst of the busiest scenes. A pair had a nest on a cross-
piece upon a telephone pole on Main Street in Missoula, on
one of the busiest corners in the city. There the female would
sit jauntily while people were hurrying along below her; and
there the male would visit her with refreshing tid-bits regard-
less of the evidences of activitv around their chosen domain.

459. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, Contopus borealis

(Swain.)

First observed on July 11, 1901, on the ridge leading to Mac-
Dougal Peak, at an altitude of 6,500 feet. A specimen was
sitting in the bare top of a tall tree, uttering its harsh, quer-
ulous call. Though not then taken, it was readily identified
by the white flank-tufts which show prominently between the
wings and back when the bird is at rest. On August 10, 1901,
a specimen was taken in the woods at the base of MacDougal
Peak.

462. WESTERN WOOD PEWEE, Contopus richardsonii

(Swains.)

This interesting species Avas common on the hillsides near
the shores of the mountain lakes. Its sharp call,
though suggestive of the plaint of the wood pewee
of eastern regions, is quite different from the far-
away-sounding call of the latter, being uttered in a more
impatient, garrulous manner. The western species appears to

-56-

prefer higher stations as its lookout, consequently seeking its
food in a higher story of the forest than its eastern congener,
and building its nest in sites higher in the trees. It generally
chooses a station in a tall tree on a bare limb above the middle
point, and there utters its sharp, querulous call, making oc-
casional sallies into the air to capture passing insects. Trees
on bushy hillsides are its most favored resorts.

466. TEAILL'S FLYCATCHER, Empidonax traillii (Aud.)

Common in the woods and bushy localities during August.
It was not observed during our first visit to the Station. This
flycatcher frequents a lower story than does the western wood
pewee, being seldom observed higher than the middle of med-
ium-sized trees, and usually preferring the clumps of maple and
willow of fire-swept districts. It was most frequently noted
in the woods between Swan River and Flathead River. Com-
mon near McDonald Lake.

469. WRIGHT'S FLYCATCHER, Empidonax wrigHii

Baird.

ISTo specimens of this little flycatcher were taken at Sin-
yale-a-min Lake, but it appeared to be common on the hill-
sides south of the lake, where there was an extended growth
of bushes and younger trees. There it could doubtless be
found nesting in the breeding season, though no nests of the
season were noted. In fact, it seemed that few birds had nested
near this lake, judging by the absence of nests for the year.
I am of the opinion that the lake is used by the birds more as
a place for occasional resort than as a breeding ground.

Wright's flycatcher was found nesting in bushy localities
near tbe Station, generally inhabiting the clumps of maple
sprouts in the edges of the heavier woods or on ridges where
former fires had prostrated the taller growth and given place
to bushes. Four nests were found during the June collecting,
but this flycatcher was not observed during our visit to the
same localities in August.

474 c. DESERT HORNED LARK, Otocoris alpestris arenicola

Hensh.

This horned lark was abundant on the prairie regions of the
Reservation, and is doubtless the prevailing form in summer.

—57—

The pallid horned lark, Otocoris alpestris leucolaema (Coues),
is probably the prevailing winter form in Montana. The desert
horned lark was found regularly from the base of Mt. Mc-
Donald to the shore of Flathead Lake, generally feeding along
the roads, or flitting about in the vicinity of the pools. Most
of the specimens taken were young of the year.

475. AMERICAN MAGPIE, Pica pica hudsonica (Sab.)

Abundant in the thickets of the foothills and along the
streams; also in the dwarf trees along the shore of Flathead
Lake. Many nests of the spring were noted, some high in the
pines, though most of them were within reach without climb-
ing, in dwarf haws and similar growth.

The magpie was not listed at Sin-yale-a-min Lake, but it was
noted at McDonald Lake.

478 c. BLACK-HEADED JAY, Cyanocitta stelleri annectens

Baird.

This mountain form of Steller's jay was quite common in the
vicinity of Sin-yale-a-min and McDonald Lake. Such speci-
mens as were wanted were taken, for they did not manifest a
suspicious nature when the collector was near. All our speci-
mens were in very poor plumage, undergoing the moult during
our visit to the lake.

484 a. ROCKY MOUNTAIN" JAY, Perisoreus cannadensis

capiialis Ridgw.

The Canada, jay in its Rocky Mountain form did not seem
to be common near our itinerary. One specimen was taken at
Sin-yale-a-min Lake while lurking in a fir clump near where
we were sitting, on the southern shore of the lake; its curiosity
perhaps led it to betray its presence. No other notes were
made regarding its occurrence.

486. AMERICAN RAVEN, Corvus corax sinuatus (Wagl.)

A family of this species had a home up the hillside on the
western shore of McDonald Lake. The noisy croakings were
heard throughout our visit, and the birds were frequently

-5»-

seen flying over the lake. Several unsuccessful attempts were
made to secure specimens. The American raven appears to be
generally distributed over the Flathead region.

It was represented near the Station by a pair that frequented
the swampy woods at the right of the mouth of Swan River.
These were noted regularly when we visited the locality named,
and frequent efforts were made to capture one, but the wary
creatures invariably kept well beyond shotgun range, generally
flying away with hoarse croakings to another part of their
claimed domain when we entered the area anywhere near them.

488. AMERICAN CROW, Corvus americanus And.

Not listed at Sin-yale-a-min Lake, but noted frequently in
the woods near the inlet of McDonald Lake. On one occasion
four or five were observed in a group in the tree-tops at the
upper end of McDonald Lake.

It wyas regularly noted in our lists, both at Crow Creek and
at the foot of Flathead Lake. It was most generally observed
in the vicinity of the water-courses, where the fringing trees
offered more congenial resorts than the bare prairies of the
intermediate areas.

The American crow occurs only occasionally near the Sta-
tion. On June 30, one was seen flying over the station grounds.
No other notes were made concerning its occurrence in the
vicinity of the Station.

491. CLARKE'S NUTCRACKER, Nucifraga- columbiana

(Wils.)

No specimens of Clarke's nutcracker were seen except in our
ascent of the peak near Sin-yale-a-min Mountain, when the
first nutcrackers were noted at an altitude of 4,700 feet; thence
they were observed while we were in the timber, which ceased
at an elevation of 7,700 feet, owing to the bare, rocky charac-
ter of the ridge forming the higher regions of the mountain.
The hillsides surrounding the lake are probably congenial re-
sorts of the nutcracker, but as our observations were practi-
cally confined to the immediate margins of the lake, no other
record concerning this species was made.

494. BOBOLINK, Doliclionyx oryzivorus (Linn.)
A troop of bobolinks visited our camp at Crow Creek, doubt-

—59—

less attracted by the shorn grainfields and meadows near the
stream. Their metallic ''clink'' revealed their presence, and
several specimens were taken. They are likely quite common in
the creek bottoms in the fall migration. The bobolink of this
region is now placed in the subspecies albinueha.

495. COWBIRD, Molothrus ater (Rodd.)

The cowbird was only occasionally noted in our lists, and
then only at Crow Creek and the foot of Flathead Lake. One
specimen, a young of the year, was taken at our camp at the
outlet of Flathead Lake. This species seems to occur in smaller
ratio in this region than might be fancied from knowledge of its
wide distribution.

498. RED- WINGED BLACKBIRD, Agelaius phoeniceus

(Linn.)

Common at suitable places near the head of Flathead Lake.
It was found nesting in the reeds at Daphnia Pond, where a
small colony had established itself. Very few specimens were
seen near the pond in August.

501b. WESTERN MEADOWLARK, Stumella magna neg-

lecta (Aud.)

This meadowlark was abundant in the prairie regions, es-
pecially in the neighborhood of the ranches and water-courses,
everywhere from the foothills to the shore of Flathead Lake.
It was most abundant near the stubble fields in the vicinity of
the lake.

508. BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, Icterus hullochi (Swains.)

We found Bullock's oriole common in the groves at the foot
of Flathead Lake. Nests of the year were observed, and sev-
eral specimens of adult birds were taken.

510. BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, Scokcophagus cyanoceplalus

(Wagl.)

Abundant everywhere in the vicinity of the ranches and

— 6o—

water-courses. Flocks were forming for summer feeding and
fall migration, and were much in evidence near the lake shore.

514 a. WESTERN EVENING GROSBEAK, Coccolhrausles
■vespertinus montanus (Ridgw.)

Comparatively common in the vicinity of Swan River and
Flathead River, in the swampy woods. Specimens were seen
and heard every day (hiring our visit in June, and it is very
probable that it nests in the locality, though no evidence of such
nesting was observed. Specimens were frequently taken, both
in June and in August. The fruit ranches in the vicinity of
the woods mentioned appear to offer unusual attractions to the
birds of the neighborhood; our first specimen of this gros-
beak was taken as it was being allured by the store of rasp-
berries at hand. The call of this species is closely imitative of
that of a young chicken; if intensified and greatly increased in
volume it would resemble the cry of the osprey.

This handsome bird was common along Crow Creek, where
a specimen was taken immediately upon our arrival, before
our camp was established. The tall pines in the neighborhood
were regular stations for this grosbeak, and frequently a troop
of six or eight would take possession of a treetop and chirp
cheerily for a few minutes. It is not likely that the grosbeak
is found far from the streamsides in the prairie region of the
Reservation, as trees and thickets are its usual resorts.

518. CASSIN'S PURPLE FINCH, Carpodacus cassini Baird.

This purple finch does not appear to be common in the Flat-
head Lake region. A male was taken at Swan Lake on Au-
gust 3, 1901. It was resorting to the grounds around an un-
occupied cabin, associating with pine siskins in gleaning from
the dooryard. Only one specimen was seen.

521. AMERICAN CROSSBILL, Loxia curvirostra minor

(Brehm )

Along the immediate shore of Sin-yale-a-min Lake, the cross-
bills were not often noted; but around the pond mentioned
as being southeast of the lake, the American crossbills were
abundant, frequenting the tops of the tall trees in small flocks,

— 6i—

and announcing their presence by their sharp chirps. Both
adult specimens and young of the year were taken, always from
the summits of the loftiest trees.

The American crossbill was regularly noted at Crow Creek
and at the foot of Flathead Lake. Like the evening grosbeak,
it is partial to the streamsides in the prairie regions, moving
restlessly from place to place in troops of small numbers, and
chirping merrily from the treetops.

It is common in the vicinity of the Station, frequenting the
tops of the tall trees in small flocks, uttering short, sharp me-
tallic chirps. It generally associates with the pine siskin and
other frequenters of the upper story of the woods. It is rep-
resented more numerously in the fall, and during the latter
part of August we found it abundant in the neighborhood of
Daphnia Pond and Estey's Pond, moving about capriciously
from one treetop to another and chattering its enjoyment in
the liberty of its wildwood domain.

533. PINE SISKIN", Spinus pinus (Wils.)

The pine siskin was commonly seen in the tops of the tallest
trees, though at Sin-yale-a-min Lake and McDonald Lake it
is more generally heard passing overhead, uttering its goldfinch-
like call, or chirping vigorously to its fellows. It is a social
creature, and its familiarity will lead it to alight in the midst
of the camp to glean refuse from the tables. The only speci-
men taken at Sin-yale-a-min Lake was shot in camp while it
was picking up morsels of food near the cooking-tent.

This animated resident of the higher woodlands was abun-
dant near the Station. During our visit in June, the pine
siskin was one of the most noticeable birds of the neighbor-
hood, flitting in sportive enjoyment among the treetops, and
uttering a loud sibilant chirping as it bounded from tree to
tree. Frequently specimens visited our camp and alighted at
the door of our tent, to glean from the refuse of the table,
manifesting all the familiarity of the chipping sparrow. One
evening about sunset, while I was exploring the woods on the
Helena Club grounds, a nest in the top of a small fir tree
caught my attention. Giving the tree a vigorous shake to alarm
any occupant of the nest, I was surprised to see a brood or
flock of pine siskins, five or six in number, flutter out of the
nest and away from the neighborhood, chattering with lively
scolding at being thus rudely routed from their home.

—62—

The pine siskin is commoner up the mountain slopes than
near the lake shore. We noted it at all elevations up to 9,200
feet. Its call is so much like the plaintive "pee" of the gold-
finch, which it also closely resembles in appearance except when
the latter is in nuptial plumage, that one unacquainted with
the pine siskin might fail to notice it as a different species.
The young of the year appear to show brighter yellow in their
plumage than the elders, which further adds to its likeness to
the goldfinch.

In August the pine siskins were observed clinging to the
heads of the giant hyssop, which grew extensively along the
roadsides near the Station. A small flock would thus congre-
gate in a patch of the hyssop, feeding from the heads in the
manner of goldfinches, the resemblance being increased by the
bright colors of some of the young of the year and by the gold-
finch-like chirps of the pine siskins. The horse mint, Monarda
fistulosa, was also a favorite food of this species.

540 a. WESTERN VESPER SPARROW, Poocaetes gramineus

conpZnis Baird.

This vesper sparrow occurs abundantly throughout the prairie
regions of the Reservation. It frequents the grainfields and
margins of the ranches in numbers, and is especially noticeable
near the lake shore, where it visits the water's edge to refresh
itself from the heat of the summer afternoons. Near the lake
it appeared to be almost as numerous as Brewer's blackbird,
at the time of our visit.

546 a. WESTERN GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, Ammod-
ramus savannarum perpallidus (Coues.)

This sparrow was found to be common on the prairie local-
ities of the Reservation, and several specimens were taken for
identification. The males would frequently sit on a post of the
rail fences and utter their queer songs, and also emit a sharp
stridulating chirp or call, scarcely regarding our presence.

560 a. WESTERN CHIPPING SPARROW, Spizella socialis

arizonae Coues.

The western chipping sparrow was found abundantly every-
where throughout our travels in the Flathead Reservation.

—63—

Everywhere we found it the same unsuspecting, social character,
industriously caring for the wants of its younglings. It pre-
fers the bushes and smaller trees for its resorts, and like the
pine siskin, will frequently enter the camp in cpuest of morsels
of food.

On August 24, the chipping sparrow was noted in flocks of
twenty-five to thirty, near the borders of the ranches in the
vicinity of the Station, probably preparatory to migration.

567 b. SHUFELDT'S JUNCO, J unco hyemalis shufeldli

Coale.

This mountain form of the slate-colored junco is abundant
in the vicinity of Sin-yale-a-min Lake and on Mt. McDonald
to an altitude of 7,500 feet. It undoubtedly breeds in the
neighborhood, as several specimens were taken while carrying
food evidently for young birds. On one occasion the writer
was convinced of the existence of a nest of this junco near a
fallen log and adjacent brash., and searched closely for it, but
was unable to discover it. The rattling ditty of the junco
was heard regularly in the woods near Sin-yale-a-min Lake, a
performance cpiite similar to that of the chipping sparrow,
though uttered with more force and less rapid enunciation.

The junco is common on the wooded ridges near the Sta-
tion, and undoubtedly breeds there. On June 20, a female was
observed carrying food, and chirping anxiously at our presence,
as if she had a nest or dependent young in the immediate
neighborhood, but search for the nest was unavailing.

581b. MOUNTAIN SONG SPARROW, Melospiza fasciata

montana Efensh.

Common along the margins of Crow Creek. It was still in
song, in accordance with its usual habit of singing throughout
its entire summer residence. Several specimens were taken
in the coverts near the water. The song sparrow was not noted
at the foot of Flathead Lake, nor at the other lakes in the
Mission Range.

The song sparrow was common in the brushy borders of the
lake near the Station; also in the shrubbery along Daphnia
Pond. Its melodious cadenzas were regularlv heard in suitable
surroundings, and specimens were frequently taken.

-64-

583. LINCOLN'S SPARROW, Melospiza lincolnii (And.)

This sparrow was not infrequently noted near the Station.
A specimen was taken on July 3, from a troop of three flitting
among the bushes along the road bordering the Station grounds.

584. SWAMP SPARROW, Melospiza georgiana (Lath.)

Though far to the westward of its regular range, a specimen
was taken on August 11, in the bushes along the road border-
ing the Station grounds, that seemed to be no other than an
undoubted swamp sparrow. It was in company with several
other sparrows, apparently of the same species, but only one
was secured. If the identification is correct, it will perhaps
establish a record for the western range of the species.

585 c. SLATE-COLORED SPARROW, Passerella iliaca

schistacea (Baird.)

This sparrow was found at our camp near Echo Lake, on
July 12, where the loud, clear song of the males was heard in
the vicinity of a small slough. Later a male yet in song was
seen feeding young, and on the following morning a singing
male was taken in the bushes bordering a small stream flow-
ing through the slough. The slate-colored sparrow was not
heard or seen elsewhere on our itinerary.

588. ARCTIC TOWHEE, Pipilo maculatus arclicus (Swains.)

Not uncommon near the Station in the shrubbery of the
hillsides surrounding the ponds. It was noted regularly in the
vicinity of Daphnia Pond, but was not observed generally in
our collecting near the Station.

This towhee was common in the bushes of the mountain-
sides in the vicinity of McDonald Lake. Specimens of adults
and young in first plumage were taken.

596. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, Habia melanocephala

(Swains.)

No specimens of the black-headed grosbeak were taken or
noted along the shore of Sin-yale-a-min Lake, but this species
appeared to be common in the vicinity of the pond southeast of

~65-

the lake, and there its rich notes could be heard in the warm
July afternoons. On our visits to the pond we always ob-
served it in the higher trees, though elsewhere it manifests a
preference for the smaller and dwarf trees. However, when
away from the immediate vicinity of its nest, it generally
rises to a higher level to enunciate its song or to glean for its
insect fare. We found it still in song at McDonald Lake.

Its singing was one of the enjoyable features of the swamp
woods during our June visit to the Station, and upon our re-
turn in August it still regaled us with its melody as late as
the 12th. The song is almost an exact counterpart of the rich
performance of the rose-breasted grosbeak, which the black-
headed grosbeak also greatly resembles in habits. Several
nests were found in June.

599. LAZULI BUNTING, Passerina amoena (Say.)

Common in the shrubbery of the bushy hillsides and ridges.
It was found nesting in June. Its song is very much like that
of its congener, the indigo bunting, so that a person familiar
with the eastern species will readily recognize the lazuli bunting
by the likeness of its musical performance to that of its relative.

607. LOUISIANA TANAGER, Piranga ludoviciana (Wils.)

The Louisiana tanager is one of the commonest birds of the
vicinity of Sin-vale-a-min and McDonald Lakes. It was seen
and heard daily in our observations, and such specimens as were
needed were taken. Its chirping whistle is a familiar feature
of the evergreen woods, and its brilliant livery is in noticeable
contrast to the sombre regions it inhabits.

It is abundant everywhere in the woods near the Station.
Its song so closely resembles that of the robin that the differ-
ence is not readily detected except when both are performing
within hearing. It breeds regularly in the neighborhood, nest-
ing in June. In August the Louisiana tanager was observed
feeding on the raspberries of the fruit ranches near the Station.
On August 20 we noted that the tanager was no longer ob-
served in our daily collecting, and it is likely that it departs
rather early for its southern winter-quarters.

—66—

612. CLIFF .SWALLOW, Petrochelidon lunifrons (Say.)

This swallow was regularly noted near the creeks, where ranch
buildings furnished it sites for its bottle-shaped mud homes.
At the foot of Flathead Lake it was represented by a colony at
Poison, and specimens were a-wing at all hours of the day,
coursing over the meadows near the shore and above the haw
groves in quest of the insects that swarmed the trees and rip-
ened fruit.

613. BARN SWALLOW, Chelidon erythrogastra (Bodd.)

Small colonies of the barn swallow were noted at St. Ignatius,
Eonan, and other settlements of the Reservation.

v

614. TREE SWALLOW, Tachycineta bicolor (Vieill.)

Small colonies of the tree swallow are found at suitable local-
ities at Poison and near the Station. Valleys between hill-
sides denuded by former fires, where tall boles and bare spires
are standing, are generally inhabited by this swallow, as well
as the margins of ponds where naked dead trees are found.
It was found nesting at the Cedar Islands, in McGovern's Bay,
in cavities of the decaying cedars.

616. BANK SWALLOW, CUvicola riparia (Linn.)

The bank swallow was regularly noted at suitable places in
our travels through the Reservation, mingling with the cliff
swallow in aerial evolutions above the meadows and the water
in about equal numbers. It was observed at Crow Creek and
also at the foot of Flathead Lake.

This swallow breeds regularly in the vicinity of the Station,
and the graceful aerial movements of the bird a-wing gener-
ally called attention to the presence of the species in the neigh-
borhood. Specimens were regularly seen near the buildings of
ranches, and near a house the only bank swallow taken, for
positive identification, was shot as it flitted over the road with
others in its restless pursuit of food and pleasure.

619. CEDAR WAXWTNCt, Ampelis cedrorum (Vieill.)

This handsome bird, though lacking the power of song by
which many of our avian friends call attention to their pres-

-67-

ence, was seen and noted in all our daily lists. Near the pond
in the vicinity of Sin-yale-a-min Lake, this waxwing was very
common, for above the stagnant water it found the hovering
insects that furnished it a plentiful larder. Though the cedar
waxwing has only the well-known lisping note with which to ex-
press all the scale of its avian emotions, it can vary its utterances
of this feeble call to a considerable degree, even to such an
extent that it sounds like another note.

The species was abundant in occurrence at the Crow Creek
station and at the foot of Flathead Lake. At the latter place
it was resorting to the haw thickets, where it feasted on the
swarming insects, catching them among the branches in true
warbler-like manner, and lisping its pleasure in the bounteous
banquet spread for it by Mother Nature.

The cedar waxwing was found nesting in June at the Cedar
Islands and in the woods adjacent to the Station grounds. At
times it alights on oblique stems of low bushes, flies outward
to capture passing insects, and returns to a similar station,
acting greatly like a small flycatcher such as Traill's. On
August 18 a cedar waxwing was taken which had the bill de-
stroyed except the bases, as though the mandibles had been
amputated while the bird was yet in the nest. The waxwing
is very fond of black haw berries; it will generally swallow two
or three berries, and then fly away with another in its bill.
Between August 22 and 27, a medium-sized haw tree heavily
laden with fruit was completely stripped by the waxwing, with
the assistance of a half dozen western robins. Later in August
the cedar waxwing was observed feeding on elder berries.

624. RED-EYED VIREO, Vireo olivaeeus (Linn.)

Everywhere in our travels we noted the red-eyed vireo as
quite common. Regularly we heard its emphatic monitorial
song, and caught frequent glimpses of the performer as he
gleaned industriously among, the foliage near the branches
which supported him. During our stay at Sin-yale-a-min Lake,
the young vireos recently from the nest were claiming the at-
tention of the parent birds, and upon hearing the harsh "gay"
of the elder, we knew that one or more youngsters were crouched
in the foliage nearby waiting for some dainty tidbit from the
fond parent. This vireo breeds abundantly in the vicinity of
the Station.

— 68—

627. WARBLING VIREO, Vireo gilvus (Vieill.)

The warbling vireo was found regularly in all localities under
consideration. Like the red-eyed vireo, it breeds abundantly
in the Flathead region. The charming song of this vireo,
which is not interrupter! until the author takes its departure
for its winter home, enlivened the bushy woods near the lake,
and frequently regaled the ear of the collector when all other
songs had been hushed by the mid-afternoon heat. It is inter-
esting to watch this songster as it warbles forth its ditty while
engaged earnestly in seeking its insect food, seldom lifting
its head from its task, singing as it works.

652. YELLOW WARBLES Dendroica aestiva (Gmel.)

The yellow warbler was found abundantly in the haw thickets
at the lower end of Elathead Lake, where its song was still
heard, and its movements observed as it flashed among the
branches in its active pursuit of insect fare. We also noted its
common occurrence at Crow Creek, in the thickets fringing the
streamside.

It is abundant in the swamp woods between Swan River and
Elathead River, nesting regularly in the breeding season.

656. AUDUBON'S WARBLER, Dendroica auduboni (Towns.)

This handsome warbler was found to be common in the region
under consideration. The clear, ringing songs of the males
were regularly heard in the earlier part of the season, uttered
from the middle and upper stories of the taller evergreens.
It was observed on the sides of Mt. McDonald to 7,500 feet
elevation.

Common everywhere near the Station in the higher woods,
and nesting regularly in the earlier season. Very common in
the woods in middle August, when the fall migration probably
begins. In a day's collecting at Estey's Pond, August 27. the
most active bird of the surrounding woodland was Audubon's
warbler, and several specimens of adults and young of the
year were taken by accident beyond what we needed, from diffi-
culty in identifying them in the tall trees which they generally
prefer.

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(368. TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, Dendroica townsendi

(Towns.)

Whenever we entered a particular clump of small firs and
bushes at Sin-yale-a-min Lake, a Townsend's warbler would
appear and manifest great anxiety by chirping in nearby shrub-
bery. The place was searched repeatedly for evidences of nest-
ing, but without avail. It is likely that the parent bird was
feeding a youngster in the thicket, for before the end of our
stay in the neighborhood the warbler had disappeared. We
noted one or two other instances of the occurrence of this
warbler at this camp.

Townsend's warbler was noted only occasionally in our col-
lecting at the head of Flathead Lake. A specimen was taken
August 6, on the Helena Club grounds, opposite the Station
across the river, and an occasional note made thereafter re-
garding its presence in the woods in the neighborhood. It
was generally observed in a lower story of the woodland than
Audubon's warbler, frequenting about the same level as the
smaller flycatchers or the yellow warbler.

680. MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, Geothlypis macgilli-

vrayi (Aud.)

Not uncommon near the Station, where it was found breed-
ing in June, though only one nest was noted. Specimens were
taken frequently in the woods daring our August collecting.
This warbler is a bird of the bushes, like the yellow-throat, but
prefers bushes in low woodland to bushes near water. It was
frequently noted in our lists at Sin-yale-a-min Lake; and a
family just from the nest was found at McDonald Lake.

681a. WESTERN YELLOW-THROAT, Geothlypis trichas

occidentalis Brewst.

This yellow-throat was not uncommon in the bushes along
Crow Creek, where its song was heard and specimens were
taken. It was also frequently noted in the shrubbery near our
camp at the foot of Flathead Lake, bordering the haw thickets.

Common in the bushes and weeds of Daphnia Pond, where
it undoubtedly breeds, as it was regularly noted there both
during June and August. It was also frequently observed in
the bushes near the boat landing, in August.

_7o—

683 a. LONG-TAILED CHAT, Icteria virens longicauda

(Lawr.)

This western form of the chat was abundant in the bushy
localities near the Jocko River at Selish. Apparently the nest-
ing season was just beginning, June 16, as the males were in
full song and persistently voluble; but though the bushes were
thoroughly searched, nothing was found but structures in the
first stages of erection.

685. WILSON'S WARBLER, Sylvania pusilla (Wils.)

This warbler, regularly making its summer home north of
the United States, sometimes lingers in the Boeky Mountain
regions along its northward course, and rears its brood within
our borders. One note was made of its occurrence along our
itinerary, where it was found nesting at McDonald Lake, June
24, 1901.

687. AMERICAN REDSTART, Setophaga ruticilla (Linn.)

Abundant in all suitable localities near the Station. In June
it was found nesting in numbers in the swamp woods be-
tween Swan Biver and Flathead Biver. Not frequently ob-
served in the higher woods. Its songs were heard until the
middle of August.

This species occurs commonly in the trees and shrubbery
along the streamsides. We found it abundant at the foot
of Flathead Lake, frequenting the haw groves and willows.

701. AMERICAN DIPPER, Cinclus mexicanus Swains.

Along the dashing waters of the falls above Sin-yale-a-min
Lake the American dipper finds a congenial home. Its dark
gray attire is quite in harmony with the rocks upon which it
stands in the midst of the roaring rapids, as well as the sombre
light of the thick forests which surround its chosen domains.
Though we searched diligently among the rocks along the
falls, we were unable to find a nest. The American diper was
also observed along the outlet of the lake, where the little
stream dashes among the boulders on its way down the ravine.
We also noted it at the outlet of Lake McDonald.

The American dipper occurs not uncommonly along Swan
River, between the head of the rapids and the mouth. Very
likely breeds, as it was observed both in June and August.

—7i—

701. CATBIRD, Galeoscoptes carolinensts (Linn.)

We found several families of the catbird near our camp at
Crow Creek, one nest containing three helpless young and an
infertile egg. The low crooning of the catbird was frequently
heard in the thickets, and occasionally the louder recitals at
daybreak. At our camp near Poison we found it to be one of
the common visitors to the haw thickets, and it is very proba-
ble that nests were in the adjacent shrubbery.

Regular summer residents near the Station. Nests were
found on the Helena Club grounds and in the shrubbery bor-
dering Daphnia Pond. No notes were made concerning its
occurrence in August.

721 b. WESTERN HOUSE WREN, Troglodytes aedon aztecus

Baird.

Not uncommon on bushy hillsides near the Station. It was
regularly noted in June, and notes were made regarding its
presence in August.

715. ROCK WREN, Salpincies obsoletus (Say.)

The rock wren was regularly noted at Selish, where it in-
habited the rocky mountain-side east of the Jocko River bot-
tom. No specimen was taken.

722. WINTER WREN, Troglodytes luemalis Vieill.

The dark shades of the arbor vitae forest at the head of Sin-
yale-a-min Lake, through which the inlet dashes in its tortuous
course, is peculiarly suitable to the desires of the winter wren.
There is whiles away its hours in happy content, pouring forth
with astonishing persistency its little roundelay of song, and
whirring from one side of the stream to the other at fancy's
impulse. As in the case with the American dipper, we searched
for a nest of this diminutive songster of the brookside. With
equal result we tried to secure a specimen without its falling
into the hurrying water. There is no doubt, however, that
the winter wren is a regular summer resident at this place,
rearing its young undisturbed by wandering collectors, a.nd
making melody unheard except by occasional visitors to the
falls.

—72 —

Noted regularly in the thick woods along the inlet and outlet
of Lake McDonald. It was still in song. As at Sin-yale-a-min,
we were unable to secure a specimen without destroying or
losing it in the hurrying water. This diminutive hermit of the
arbor vitae forest is wonderfully expert in dodging observa-
tion, whisking in and out of the observers view with provoking
restlessness, and generally perching upon branches extending
over the water.

726 b. ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHEEPER, Certhia familiaris

montana Ridgw.

The Rocky Mountain creeper was not uncommon in the
woods near our various camps. It occasionally visited the ad-
jacent trees, and was generally noted in our daily lists. Spec-
imens were frequently taken on the grounds of the Biological
Station.

727 a. SLENDER-BILLED NUTHATCH, Sitta carolinensis

aculeata (Cass.)

Common in the vicinity of the lakes and water-courses. Like
the creeper, it frequently manifested its presence near our
camp by its weak, penny-trumpet call.

728. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, Sitta canadensis Linn.

Quite common in the woods near the Station. On the first
day of our return to the Station, a specimen of this nuthatch
was taken on the Club grounds. We also noted its occurrence
at Estey's Pond, and in all suitable localities included in our
August collecting.

735 a. LONG-TAILED CHICKADEE, Parus atricapittus

septentrionatis (Harris.)

Common throughout the Flathead region.

738. MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, Parus gambeli Ridgw.

This handsome chickadee is doubtless a common resident of
the mountainous regions in the vicinity of Flathead Lake, but

-73-

it was not noted by us until Aug. 11. 19013 when a specimen was
observed on MacDougal Peak, at an altitude o: . I feet. Xo

-
other note was made regarding its occurrence.

748. GOLDEX-CKoWXED KINGLET, Regulus satrapa

Lieht.

The golden-crowned kinglet was rather common in the moun-
tainous woodlands of our itinerary, and undoubtedly breeds
here, as it was noted regularly in the middle of June, always
active in the tops of medium-sized evergreens and birches.

749. RUBY-CBOWNED KIXGLET. Regulus calendula

(Linn.)

This diminutive inhabitant of the evergreen foliage was not
uncommon in the wooded mountains. It was noted at Echo
Lake, near MacDougal Peak, in the middle of July, several
individuals generally associating in restless movements as they
foraged among the trees fringing the water. One specimen was
taken.

754. TOWXSEXD"S SOLITAIPE. Myadestes townsendii

(Aud.)

A young of the year of this species was taken on the cliff
at the lower end of McDonald Lake. The female parent bird
was observed at the same time, but she was not secured. X
other specimens of Townsend's solitaire were noted, but its
calls were often heard near our camp.

756 a. WILLOW THEUSH, Turdus fuscescens salicicola

(Bidgw.)

One nest was found in June, in the willow swamp between
the two rivers. The female was taken with the nest. Xo other
specimens were taken, or other notes made concerning its oc-
currence. Later it was found to be not uncommon in the willow
swamp-woods.

758 a. OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH. Turdus ustulatus swain-
son ii (Cab.)
This thrush is common in the region near Sin-

—74—

yale-a-min and McDonald Lakes. It did not appear
to be nesting as commonly elsewhere as at Flat-
head Lake, as no nests of the season were found.
However, a nest was found along the trail beside Sin-yale-a-min
Falls, on a horizontal branch directly above the head within
reach of the hand, containing two eggs, July 11. The notes
of the olive-backed thrush were regular features of the woods
during our stay at Sin-yale-a-min.

Abundant in all localities near the Station, and breeding in
numbers in June. Probably disappears from the neighborhood
about the middle of August, as our last notes regarding its
presence were made on August 9.

761 a. WESTERN ROBUST, Merula migratoria propinqua

Ridgw.

We did not find the robin as common near Sin-yale-a-min
Lake as might be fancied. With the exception of one family on
the northern shore of the lake, we did not note the occurrence
of this species. In this instance, the parents were feeding-
young still in the nest.

A nest was found on the cliff-side east of McDonald Lake in
a clump of maple, with three eggs. The robin was observed
visiting the water falls in the face of the cliff, to bathe and
drink.

Abundant in the vicinity of the Station as a summer resident.
In the second week of August, the robin was observed in small
flocks of ten to twelve. During the last week of August, the
robin was feeding greedily on the black haws, associating with
the cedar waxwing at the plenteous banquet.

768. MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, Sialia arctica Swains.

Not common, but occasionally observed and noted in our lists.
A specimen was taken on Mt. McDonald at an elevation of
7,500 feet.

■75—

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Oi the one hundred twenty-eight species included in the
foregoing list, it is probable that at least eight are fall mi-
grants, breeding in the far north and entering the United
States early toward the close of summer. It is likely that the
remaining one hundred twenty species breed in the Flathead
Lake region or near the northern border of the state. At
least thirty of the birds listed are permanent residents of the
region; the others are summer residents only, spending the
colder months in more southern localities.

In this connection it may not be amiss to make a brief
statement of facts, gathered from the preceding notes, which
are considered as worthy of special emphasis. The long-tailed
chat, Icteria virens longicauda, according to the A. 0. U.
Check List of North American Birds, ranges north to southern
Montana; our observations continue the northward range
of this chat to beyond the middle line of the state, as we
found it common at Selish in the middle of June. The note
relating to the occurrence of the swamp sparrow, Melospiza
georgiana, may require revision, as the specimen passed from
the hands of the collector, who was unable to obtain author-
itative identification; the skin is now in the University collec-
tion, and will receive careful attention in due time. The same
statement applies to the specimen labeled western gull, Larus
occidentalis, as there is a doubt regarding its identification.
If authentic, it may denote an unusual eastern range for this
gull.

The abundance of the western evening grosbeak in the vicin-
ity of the Biological Station should be remarked. From the
middle of July the characteristic chirp of this grosbeak was
especially noticeable, and at that time parent birds were gen-
erally observed feeding young of the year in the trees near the
station. There is no doubt that this grosbeak breeds plenti-
fully in the neighborhood, and I am of the opinion that it
nests later than is generally supposed, thus causing its nest-
ing to be frequently overlooked.

In conclusion, the writer desires to thank the Director of
the University of Montana Biological Station, Prof. M. J.
Elrod for the excellent facilities afforded and the opportunity
of a thorough study of the summer birds of the region under
consideration; also to thank the President of the University of
Montana, Dr. 0. J. Craig, for the neat and artistic manner
in which this report is presented for public distribution.

-76-
INDEX

Page

Aceipiter

cooperi 15, 46

velox 30, 31, 45

Actitis macularia 32, 33, 41, 42

Aegialitis vocifera 42

Agelaius plioeniceus 59

Aix sponsa 39

Ammodramus savannarum perpallidus 62

Ampelis cedrorum 22, 66, 67

Anas

bosehas 39

carolinensrs 39

Aquila chrysaetos 46

Arohibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis 46

Asio wilsoniaims 48

Bartrainia longicauda 42

Bittern, American 40

Blackbird

Brewer's • 59, 62

Red-winged 59

Bluebird, Mountain 74

Bobolink 58, 59

Bob-white 43

Bonasa umbellus umbelloides 44

Botaurus lentiginosus 40

Branta canadensis 40

Bubo virginianus subarctieus 48

Buffle-head 40

Bunting

Tndigo 24, 65

Lazuli 7, 24, 65

Buteo borealis calurus 46

Calidris arenaria 41

Carpodacus cassini 60

Catbird 6, 7, 13, 71

Ceopbloeus pileatus 51, 52

Certhia familiaris montana 72

Ceryle alcyon 49

Charionetta albeola 40

Ghat, Long-tailed 70, 75

—77—

Page

Chelidon erythrogastra 66

Chickadee

Long-tailed 34, 72

Mountain 72

Chordeiles Virginian us henry i 28, 29, 53

Cinelus mexicanus 33, 70, 71

Circus hudsonius 45

Clivicola riparia 66

Coccothraustes vespertinus montanus 60, 61

Coccyzus erythrophthalmus 29, 30

Colaptes cafer 53

Coliims virginianus 43

Colyrnbus nigricollis californicus 37

Contopus

borealis 55

richardsonii 55, 56

Corvus

americamis 58

corax sinuatus 57, 58

< owbird 18, 5X.)

Creeper, Rocky Mountain 72

Crossbill, American 4, 7, 22, 60, 61

Crow, American 53, 58

Cuckoo, Black-hilled 29, 30

Curlew, Long-hilled 42

Cyanocitta stelleri annectens 35, 57

Dafila acuta 39

Dendragapus

f ranklini 44

ohscurus richardsonii 43, 44

Dendroica

aestiva 17, 68

auduhoni 15, 68

townsendi 69

Dipper, American 3, 33. 70, 71

"Dolichonyx oryzivorus 58

Dove, Mourning 45

Dryohates

puhescens oreoecns 50

villosus hvloscopus 50

Duck, Wood . . . '. 39

Eagle

Bald 46, 47

-78-

Golden 46

Empidonax

traillii 56

wrightii 56

Falco sparverius deserticolus 47

Finch, Cassin's Purple , . 60

Flicker

Golden-shafted. Erratum: read Red-shafted. 8

Red-shafted 8, 53

Flycatcher

Olive-sided 55

Traill's 6, 26, 54, 56, 67

Wright's 6, 26, 27, 56

Galeoscoptes carolinensis 13, 71

Gallinago delicata 41

Geotblypis

macgillivrayi 14, 34, 69

trichas occidentals 34, 69

Glaucionetta clangula amerieana 36, 39, 40

Golden-eye, American 7, 36, 39, 40

Goldfinch, American 62

Goose, Canada 40

Grebe

American Eared 37

Pied-billed 37

Grosbeak

Black-headed 6, 24, 25, 64, 65

Rose-breasted 24, 25, 65

Western Evening 6, 16, 60, 61, 75

Grouse

Columbian Sharp-tailed 44

Franklin's 41

Gray Ruffed 4, 6, 41

Richardson's 4, 7, 43, 44

Gull

Ring-billed 38

Western 38, 75

Habia melanocephala 24, 61

FTaliaetns leucocephalus 46

Hawk

American Rongh-legyed 46

Desert Sparrow 31, 17

Cooper's 45, 46

—79-

Page

Marsh 45

Sharp-shinned 30, 31, 45

Hummingbird

Calliope 7, 54

Rufous 7, 36, 54

Icteria vireus longicauda 70, 75

Icterus bullocki 59

Jay

Black-headed 4, 35, 57

Rocky Mountain 4, 57

Juuco, Shufeldt's 7, 26, 35, 63

Kilkleer 42

Kingbird 7, 22, 28, 36, 52, 51, 55

Arkansas 36, 55

Kingfisher, Belted 6, 7, 49

Kinglet

Golden-crowned 73

Ruby-crowned 73

Lark

Desert Horned 56

Pallid Horned 57

Larus

delawarensis 38

occidentalis 38, 75

Loon 37

Red-throated 38

Lophodytes cucullatus 38

Loxia curvirostra minor 60

Magpie, American 55, 57

Mallard 39

Meadowlark, Western 6, 59

Megascops asio maxwelliae 48

Melanerpes torquatus 52

Melospiza

fasciata montana 63

georgiana 64, 7 5

lincolni 64

Merganser americanus 38

Merganser, American 38, 39

Hooded 33

Merula migratoria. propinqua 9, 23, 74

Molothrus ater 59

Myadestes townsendii 73

— 80-
Page

Nighthawk, Western 28, 53

Nucifraga columbiana 58

Nil m emus longirostris 42

Nutcracker, Clarke's 4, 58

Nuthatch

Red-breasted 72

Slender-billed 72

Oriole, Bullock's 59

Osprey, American : 7, 30, 47, 48, 60

Otocoris alpestris arenicola 56

alpestris leucolaema 57

Owl

American Long-eared 48

Eocky Mountain Screech 48

Western Horned 8, 48

Pandion haliaetus earolinensis 47

Parus

atricapillus septentrionalis 72

gamheli 72

Passerella iliaca schistacea 64

Passerina amoena 24, 65

Pedioeaetes phasianellus col umbi anus 44

Perisoreus canadensis capitalis 57

Petrochelidon lunifrons 66

Pewee, Western Wood 7, 55, 56

Phalarope, Northern 41

Phalaropus lohatus 41

Pica pica hudsonica 57

Picoides

arcticus 50

americanus dorsalis 50

Pintail 39

Pipilo macnlatus arcticus , 64

Piranga ludoviciana 23, 65

Podilymhus podiceps 37

Poocaetes gramineus eonflnis 62

Porzana Carolina 40

"Raven, American 5, 7, 57, 58

Redstart. American 6, 13, 14, 17, 70

Red-tail, Western 46

Regulus

calendula 73

satrapa 73

—81-
Page

Robin, Western 9, 23, 53, 65, 67, 74

Salpinctes obsoletus 71

Sanderling 41

Sandpiper

Baird's 41

Bartramian 42

Solitary 42

Spotted 7, 32, 33, 41, 42

Sapsucker, Red-naped 29, 51

Scolecophagus cyanocephalus 5!)

Selasphoms rufus 36, 51

Setophaga ruticilla 13, 14, 17, 70

Sialia arctiea 74

Siskin, Pine 7, 8, 15, 47, 60, 61, 62, 63

Sitta

canadensis 72

carolinensis aeuleata 72

Snipe, Wilson's 41

Solitaire, Townsend's 5, 73

Sora 7, 16, 40

Sparrow-
Lincoln's 64

Mountain Song 6, 7, 63

Slate-colored 64

Swamp 64, 75

Western Chipping 26, 61, 62, 63

Western Grasshopper 62

Western Vesper 62

Sphyrapicns varins nnchalrs 29, 51

Spinus pinns 47, 61

Spizella socialis arizonae 26, 62

Stellnla calliope 54

Sterna forsteri 3S

Sturnella magna neglecta 59

Swallow

Bank 66

Barn 66

Cliff 66

Tree 8, 22, 23, 66

Swift, Chimney 23

Sylvania pnsilla 34, 70

Tachycineta bicolor 22, 23, 66

Tanager, Louisiana 7, 23, 65

—82-

. I'aga

Teal, Green-winged 39

Tern, 1'orster's 33

Thrush

Olive-backed 6, 10, 11, 19, 20, 22, 33, 73, 74

Willow 6, 12, 14, 33, 73

Totanus

llavipes 41

melaiioleucus 41

solitarius 42

Towhee, Arctic 61

Tringa bairdii 41

Troglodytes

aedon aztecus 71

hiemalis 71

Turdus

fuscescens salicicolus 12, 14, 33, 73

ustulatus swainsoni 10, 19, 33, 73

Tyrannus

tyrannus 22, 28, 36, 51

verticalis 36, 55

TJrinator

imber 37

lumme 38

Vireo

gilvus 19, GS

olivacens 20, 21, 67

Eed-eyed 6, 20, 21, 67, 68

Warbling 6, 19, 20, 21, 68

Warbler

Audubon's 7, 15, 17, 68, 69

Macgillivray's 7, 14, 34,69

Townsend's 69

Wilson's 34, 70

Yellow 6, 17, 27, 68, 69

Waxwing, Cedar 4, 22, 66, 67, 74

Woodpecker

Alpine Three-toed 7, 50, 51

Arctic Three-toed 7, 50

Batchelder's 23, 50, 51

Oabanis's 50, 51

Lewis's 7, 52, 53

Pileated 7, 51, 52

-83-

Pi-gO

Wren

Eoek 71

Western House 71

Winter 3, 71

Yellow-legs 41

Greater 41

Yellow-throat, Western 6, 7, 15, 34, 69

Zenaida macroura 45

Bui. Univ. of Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate I.

a'
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liul. Univ. of Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate'll.

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Bui. Univ. of Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate III.

CD

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Bui. Univ. of Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate IV.

Fig. 1. Nest and*Eggs of Wright's Flycatcher. Empidonax wrightii
Haird. Com pa re -with Plate VII and XVI.

Fig. 2. Nest and Eggs of American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla L.

Bui. Univ. of Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate V.

W
c+

P

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Bui. Univ. of Mont., Biol. Series No. I.

Plate VI.

Nest and Egg of Black-headed Grosbeak, Habla melanocephala Swains.

I-Jul. Univ. Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate VII

Nest and Eggs of Wright's Flycatcher, Empidonax wrightii. Com-
pare with Plate IV, Fig. 1, and Plate XVI.

Bui. Univ. of Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate VIII.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2,

Fig. 1. Osprey Nest on the Bank of Swan River, opposite the Biological Sta-
tion. Taken with wide angled Lens, orthochromatic Plate.

Fig. 2. Same Nest as Fig. 1. taken from the same Place and at the same Time,
with telephoto Lens, magnification eight Diameters.

Bui. Univ. of Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate IX.

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Bui. Univ. of Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate X.

Nest and Eggs of Lazuli Bunting, Passerina amoena Say.

Bui. Univ. of Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate XI.

Nest and full Complement of Eggs of Red-eved Vireo, Vireo oliva-
ceus L. From Photograph with Orthochromatic Plate and Ray
Filter.

Hul. Univ. of Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate XII.

Nest and Eggs of "Warbling Vireo, I'ireo gilvus Vieill.

Bui. Univ. of Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate Xlll.

Nest and Eggs of Andubon's Warbler, Dendroica auduboni Towns.
From Photograph made at the University of Montana Biological Sta-
tion, with Orthochromatic Plate and Ray Filter.

Bui. Univ. of Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate XIV.

85 C*

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Bui. Univ. oi Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate XV.

Nest and Eggs of Yellow Warbler. Uendroica aesfira Gmel. From
Photograph made at the University of Montana Biological Station.

Bui. Univ. of Mont., Biol. Series No. 1.

Plate XVI.

Wright's Flycatcher, hmpidonax wrightii. Top View, looking into thereat.
Compare with Plate IV, Fig. 1, and Plate VII.

«