— 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 GEOSBEAK, Coccothraustes 

 ■vespertinus montanus (liidgw.) 



Comparatively common in the ^dcinity of Swan Eiver and 

 Flathead Eiver, in the swampy woods. Specimens were seen 

 and heard every day during our visit in June, and it is very 

 probable that it nests in the locality, though no evidence of such 

 nesting was obsei'ved. 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 iirst 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 PUEPLE 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. AMEEICAN CEOSSBILL, 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, 



