\ 



\ 



32 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 14 



(Allen, 1874, p. 68). Helena, four shot by Wni. JMuth and A. L. Palmer in 

 August, 1901 (Silloway, from an unpublished manuscript in the possession ol" 

 the University of Montana). Statements are made that this species remain? 

 until the ponds and lakes freeze in (^arly winter, but thci-e are no definite dates 

 on record to show this. 



22. Mergns americanus Cassin 



Merganser 



A sunnner resident in the western part of the state, nuiinly west of the con- 

 tinental divide, where it is reported to breed. Occurs in migration tiiroufihout 

 the state. 



Summer records: Flathead Lake, probably breeding (Silloway. l!)()la. n 

 88). Bitterroot Valley, common breeder (Bailey, MS). Breeds in (Jlaeier i'ark 

 (F. M. Bailey, 1918, p. 58). 



Records in migration : Powder River and Deer Creek, Custer County, May 

 3-19, and September 19, 1860 (Coues, 1874a, p. 584). IMiles City, October, 1889 

 (Thorne, 1895, p. 212). Terry, November 12, 1904 '(Cameron, 1907, pp. 287-288). 

 Lewistown, April 27, 1903 (Silloway, 1903a, p. 12). Choteau, April 16-17. 1912 

 (Saunders, 1914a, p. 127). Corvallis, Ravalli County, j\larch 1, 1911 ; :\larch 7, 

 1912 and February 15, 1913 (Bailey, MS). This species has also been recorded 

 without dates from the Little Blackfoot River (Cooper, 1869, p. 84) and from 

 Gallatin County (Saunders, 1911a, p. 32). In Glacier National Park, Mergansers 

 are reported to remain all winter in open water (F. M. Bailey, 1918, p. 58). 



The only data which indicate the time when tliey nest are from the Bitter- 

 root Valley, as follows: "They breed regularly along the river. I have found 

 them breeding as early as I\Iarch, (]\rarch 28, 1912) and have foimd young no 

 more than a week old in June (June 10, 1910) " (Bailey. ]\IS). 



23. Mergus serrator Linnaeus 



Red-breasted Merganser 



A migrant, fairly common in most localities, and recorded thi-oughout the 

 state. The bird has been frecpiently seen in August and Septembei- in the 

 mountainous parts of the state, and may breed in such localities, though there is 

 nothing to indicate this at present. The only record west of the continental 

 divide is at Lake iMacDonald, where one was shot by a forest I'anger (Sloannker, 

 MS). 



Spring migration dates are as follows: Fort Keogh, April 27, 1889 (Thorne. 

 1895, p. 212). Lombard, Gallatin bounty, April 22, 1909 (Saunders, 1911a, p 

 32). Dawson County, Ai)ril 7, 1890 ((-ameron, 1907a, p. 248). Buxton, Silver 

 P.OW County, May 6, 1910, and Anaconda. May 1, 1911 (Saunders, 1912a, p. 23). 

 Choteau. .May 28, 1912 (Saunders, 1914a, p. 127). 



24. Lophodytes cucullatus (Liunaeus) 



Hooded Merganser 

 Widely distril)uted ovei- the state, apparently bi'ceding in suitable localities, 

 everywhere, but not common anywhere. Summei- I'ccords of the species are 



