1921 BIRDS OF MONTANA 43 



the fall of 1!)1T. Seen twice in 1918 in the same locality, and a pair with i)ai'- 

 tially completed nest found on ]\Iay 19 (Thomas, MS). 



57. Ardea herodias herodias Linnaeus 



Great Blue Heron 



C'ommon smnmer resident along the larger rivers on the east side of the 

 continental divide. Recorded as a migrant only west of the divide. Records: 

 Fort Benton (Cooper, 1869a, p. 82) ; IMissouri River (Grinnell, 1876, p. 653) ; 

 Yellowstone River (AlcChesney, 1879, p. 2394) ; Custer and Dawson counties 

 (Cameron, 1907, p. 251). For a detailed account of the nesting in this part of 

 the state see also Cameron (1906, pp. 253-262). Nesting at Lake Bowdoin (Wil- 

 lett, 1907, p. 106) ; Gallatin County (Saunders, 1911a, p. 34) ; Jefferson County 

 (Saunders, 1912a, p. 24). Recorded in migration only in Fergus County (Sillo- 

 way, 1903a, p. 16), and in the Bitterroot Valley (Bailey, MS). This species is 

 common all summer along the Missouri River in Cascade, Lewis and Clark, and 

 Broadwater counties. 



Migration dates : Terry, average May 7, earliest May 2, 1905. In fall, Sep- 

 tember 21, latest September 24, 1905 (Cooke, 1913a, p. 39). Lombard, April 

 23, 1909, and Cascade, May 2, 1912. 



Nesting data: Nesting on the ground on an island in Lake Bowdoin, July 



4, 1903 (Willett, 1907, p. 106). Colonies nest on islands in the Yellowstone 



River (Cameron, 1906, p. 252), below Three Forks (Saunders, 1911a, p. 34), 



and near Billings (Thomas, MS). 



I 



58. Grus americana (Linnaeus) 



Whooping Crane 

 A rare migrant in the eastern part of the state. There are records from 

 but three localities: Big Sandy, May 1 to 5, 1903 (Coubeaux), Terry, October 



5, 1904 (Cameron) (Cooke, 1914a, p. 6), and Billings, April 8, 1918 (Thomas, 

 MS). 



59. Gnis canadensis (Linnaeus) 



Little Brown Crane 

 Regular fall migrant in extreme eastern Montana. Not recorded elsewhere, 

 though it may be commoner than supposed and found throughout the state. The 

 only region where it has been recorded is in Custer and Dawson counties, where 

 it is a migrant in fall (Cameron, 1907, p. 251). Migration dates in the vicinity 

 of Terry are September 24, 1894, and October 10, 1898. 



60. Grus mexicana (Miiller) 



Sandhill Crane 

 Found throughout the state, principally in migrations, but not connnon 

 anywhere. There are a number of summer records, and the bird may breed in 

 remote localities that are suitable. It formerly bred commonly, and there is 

 one recent report by Vernon Bailey, of breeding near Midvale. now Glacier Park, 

 in Teton C^ounty (Cooke, 1914a, pp. 11-13). Other summer records are: Flat- 



