BIOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE AT FLATHEAD LAKE. 11» 



corax sinuatus Wagl., were all seen around the lake, though in no great 

 numbers. The raven was often noted, and repeated efforts were mad» 

 to secure specimens, but without success. The only method of approach 

 was by the canvas boat, and by this means the ornithologist was always 

 visible. To enter the timber and get among the rocks was to get out of 

 sight of the prey, and progress was almost impossible. The Americaik 

 crow and Clarke's nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana Wils., were also seen 

 around the lake, the former sparingly, the latter common at elevation of 

 7,500 feet and above. 



The fringillidae, while not numerous in species, were abundant around 

 camp at all times. Most abundant among the seed eating birds was the 

 pine siskin, Spinus pinus Wils., which was everywhere about camp, usu- 

 ally high overhead in the tallest trees. The western chipping sparrow 

 was almost as abundant, Spizella socialis arizonae Coues. High up on 

 the mountain, at an altitude of 7,500 feet or more, Shufeldt's junco, Junco 

 hiemalis shufeldti Coale, was taken, the range extending from this alti- 

 tude down to the lake, 3,300 feet. Among the bushes along the mount- 

 ain sides the call of the spurred towhee Pipilo maculatus megalonyx 

 Baird, was heard, and several were added to the collection. The Black- 

 headed grosbeak, Habia melanocephala Swains., the lazuli bunting, Pas- 

 serina amoena Say, and the Louisiana tanager Piranga ludoviciana Wils., 

 were frequently seen and specimens were added to the list. 



On the eastern side of the lake a colony of cliff swallows, Petrochel- 

 idon lunifrons Say, had made their habitations in the rocks. The song 

 of the red eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceous Linn., was frequently heard and 

 the bird was not uncommon. In common with the warbling vireo Vireo 

 gilvus Vieill. was heard, and now and then a specimen was added to the 

 collection. Audubon's warbler, Dendroica auduboni Towns., was com- 

 mon in the woods, the most abundant of birds, perhaps, while not in- 

 frequently Macgillivray's warbler, Geothlypis rnacgiliivrayi Aud., was 

 noted. 



In the rapids above the lake, and in the waters adjacent, might be seen 

 the American dipper, Cinclus mexicanus Swain. The delightful carol oC 

 the winter wren. Troglodytes hiemalis Vieill., was often heard at the up- 

 per end of the lake, but so secretive was the bird that it was but seldom 

 a sight of it was obtained, and then but a passing glimpse as the bird 

 flitted to a new location, to again begin its song. The Rocky mountain 

 creeper, Certhia familiaris montana Ridgw., was noted almost daily. 

 Also the slender-billed nuthatch, Sitta carolinensls aculeata Cass., 

 and the long-tailed chickadee, Parus atricapillus septentrionalis Harris, 

 were seen. 



A single young Townsend's solitaire, Myadestes townsendii Aud., 

 was captured, and the adult was seen. These were the only specimens 

 of this species seen on the trip. It seems to be very rare to the region. 



The thrushes include the Olive-backed thrush, Turdus ustulatus swain- 

 sonii Cab., which was common, the western robin, Merula migratoria 

 propinqua Ridgw., also common, and the mountain blubird, taken at alti- 

 tude of 7,500 feet, but seen at the lake. 



The bird life of the lake as here given proves very interesting. Tha 

 camp of ten days produced forty-seven species, all of this being the re- 



