PERCHING BIRDS 



[699-] Red-throated Pipit. Anthus 

 cervinus. 



Range. — An Old World species; accidental in 

 the Aleutians and Lower California. 



The nesting habits of this bird are like those 

 of the others of the genus. 



700. Sprague's Pipit. Anthus spraguei. 



Range. — Interior of North America, breed- 

 ing from Wyoming north to Saskatchewan. 

 Winters in the plains of Mexico. 



These birds are common on 

 the prairies and breed abund- 

 antly on the plains of the in- 

 terior of northern United 

 States and Manitoba. They 

 have a flight song which is 

 said to be fully equal to that 

 of the famous European Skylark. They nest on 

 the ground under tufts of grass or up-turned 

 sods, lining the hollow with fine grasses; their 

 three or four eggs are grayish white, finely specked with grayish black or pur- 

 plish. Size .85 X .60. Data. — Crescent Lake, Canada. Nest of fine dried 

 frrasses, built in the ground at the side of a sod. 



^W^, 



Gi'uyish white 



Sage Thrasher 



DIPPERS. Family CINCLID^ 



701. Dipper. Ciiiclns nuwicaiius unicolor. 



Range— Mountains of western North America from Alaska to Central America. 



These short-tailed, grayish colored birds are among the strangest of feathered 

 creatures; they frequent the sides of mountain streams where they feed upon 

 aquatic insects and small fish. Although they do not have webbed feet, they 

 swim on or under water with the greatest of ease and rapidity, using their 

 wings as paddles. They have a thrush-like bill and the teetering habits of the 

 Sandpiper, and they are said to be one of the sweetest of songsters. They nest 

 among the rocks along the banks of swiftly flowing streams, and sometimes 

 beneath falls; the nests are large round structures of green moss, lined with 

 tine grass and with the entrance on the side. The eggs are pure white, four or 

 five in number, and laid during May or June. Size 1.00 x .70. 



WRENS, THRASHERS, ETC. Family TROGLODYTID^ 



70i3. Sage Thrasher. Oreoscoptes montanus. 



Range. — Plains and valleys of western United States, east of the Sierra Ne- 

 vadas, from Montana to Mexico. 



This species is abundant in the sage regions of the west, 

 nesting on the ground or at low elevations in sage or other 

 bushes. Their nests are made of twigs, rootlets and bark 

 strips, lined with fine rootlets; the three or four eggs are a 

 handsome greenish blue, brightly spotted with reddish brown 

 and gray. Size .95 x .70. Data.— Salt Lake Co., Utah, May 

 11, 1900. Nest placed in a sage bush; made of twigs of the 

 same and lined with bark strips. Collector, W. H. Parker, 

 (Crandall collection.) 



419 



•llish lilll. 





l{V 



m 



