84 Proceedings of the 



some means or other. I found no nests in the valley or 

 far back in the hills but all that 1 discovered were on the 

 first slope facing the river or within a few ranges. West- 

 ern Meadowlarks were seen on numerous occasions in other 

 habitats, however, and may very possibly have bred there. 

 In the late fall these birds tend to shift eastward to the 

 edge of the sandhills, for on October 27-29, 1910, M. H. 

 Swenk did not see or hear the species on the Reserve, but 

 from Anselmo, twenty-five miles southeast of Halsey, east- 

 ward across the state it was common. 



76. Icterus spurius (Linnaeus) — Orchard Oriole. 



At least two pairs of Orchard Orioles bred in the under- 

 brush along the Loup river near the Reserve station, and 

 one nest with four eggs was found on the Dismal river on 

 June 16, 1912. During 1911, I saw but a single bird, on 

 June 8. 



yy. Icterus galbula (Linnaeus) — Baltimore Oriole. 



A single male Baltimore Oriole was seen in the thickets 

 along the river on June 7, 23, and 28, 1912. It may have 

 bred in the vicinity but I saw only the male bird and did 

 not discover any nests so its breeding here is in question. 



78. Euphagus carolinus (Muller) — Rusty Blackbird. 



I noted this blackbird on September 22 and 23, 1911, in 

 small flocks in the valley of the Loup river. I did not see 

 it the following year, probably because I left in the fall 

 before its arrival. 



79. Euphagus cyanocephalus (Wagler) — Brewer Blackbird. 



Like the preceding species, the Brewer Blackbird was 

 not seen in 1912, although it was noted in 1911. It ap- 

 peared in small numbers from September 21-23, of that 

 year. F. M. Chapman also lists the species as occurring in 

 May, 1906. 



80. Quiscalus quiscula aeneus Ridgway — Bronzed Grackle. 



A very few Bronzed Grackles were noted at intervals 

 during 1912 until the middle of July, but none were seen 

 after that time and I do not think that those which re- 

 mained up until then bred in the region. The timbered 

 growth along the river seemed to be the habitat most fre- 

 quented by the species. 



