1921 BIRDS OF MONTAi\A 53 



takes place in August. The latest dates that I can find are Gallatin County, 

 August 18, 1908, Shields River, Park County, August 8, 1909, Gold Creek, Powell 

 County, August 17, 1910, and Flathead Lake, August 21, 1914. Other August 

 dates, probably indicating about the latest dates of the species for those years, 

 are August 12, 187-1: (Cones, 1874b, p. 644), and Billings, August 18, 1900 (Jones 

 and Dawson, 1900, p. 29). 



87. Numenius americanus Bechstein 



Long-billed Curlew 



Formerly a very abundant summer resident throughout the state, breeding 

 on the plains and prairies of the eastern part, and in the broad mountain valleys 

 of the western half. Still found in considerable numbers in the more remote dis- 

 tricts, but becoming steadily rarer. Nearly all observers report this species 

 from all parts of the state, and the earlier ones note its abundance. 



The bird nests in ]\Iay and June, most eggs having been found in ]May. Sill- 

 oway records many nests from Fergus County, the earliest date for eggs being 

 May 5, and the latest June 1 (1900a, pp. 79-82, and 1902a, pp. 33-34). Other nest- 

 ing dates are May 18, 1906 (Abbott, 1906, p. 152) ; May 20, Fort Benton (Croft, 

 1882, p. 107). An unusually late date is from Frenchman's River, July 4, 1874 

 (Cones, lS74b, p. 645). P^ggs were found hatching at Button, June 6, 1915 

 (DuBois, MS). 



Spring migration takes place in April. Dates are as follows : Terry, aver- 

 age April 16, earliest April 7, 1906, and Big Sandy, average Api'll 

 19, earliest April 13, 1903 (Cooke, 1910a, p. 72) ; Lewistown, April 24, 1899, 

 and April 25, 1900 (Silloway, 1900a, p. 79) ; Teton County, April 20, 1912 

 (Saunders, 1914a, p. 130) ; Bitterroot Valley, first seen April 7, 1911, and not 

 again till April 20, 1911 (Bailey, MS) ; Button, April 28, 1915, April 26, 1916, 

 and April 22, 1917 (Dubois. MS). Fall migration evidently takes place in August 

 and September, but definite dates are lacking. Silloway gives the middle of Sep- 

 tember (1903a, pp. 20-23), but the only definite date for this month is September 

 4, 1911, for Teton County (Saunders, 1914a, p. 130). In my experience the 

 great flocks of curlews that gather around the prairie ponds in July and August 

 are gone before September. 



88. Numenius borealis (J. R. Forster) 



Eskimo Cltrlew 

 Formerly a migrant. ^lay still occur in small numbers, but recent records 

 are lacking. There are two reports of its occurrence in the state, but one of 

 these is probably not authentic. Three specimens from- the Upper Missouri col- 

 lected in 1841 by Lieut. Warren (Baird, 1858, p. 741). Breeding at Fort Ben- 

 ton, downy young caught in July (Cooper, 1869a, p. 83). This record is obvi- 

 ously to be questioned, as other sources do not indicate that this species ever 

 bred so far south. 



89. Squatarola squatarola (Linnaeus) 



Black-bellied Plover 

 Several birds of this species were seen at Priest Butte Lakes, September 4, 



