©oloytcal Botes from jflatbeat) Xal^e 



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 aljounds, and which were tenanted 

 by many families of birds. 



WESTERN ROBIN, Merula migraloria 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 ])eing 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. 



