\ 



1921 ' BIRDS OF MONTANA 55 



entirely new, as the winter range of the species is usually given as much farther 

 south. This fact is first recorded by Bailey (1913a, p. 94), and in his notes from 

 the Bitterroot Valley he classes the bird as resident. Another winter record is 

 that of three l)irds at ^lissoula, December 25, 1915 (Kittredge, 1916, p. 30 j. 



92. Podasocys montanus (J. K. Townsend) 



^Mountain Plover 

 A rather rare summer resident of the prairie regions of the state, east of 

 the continental divide. Breeding records: July 1 to 28, 1874, Frenchman's 

 River and Milk River. Eggs collected July 9 (Coues, 1874b, pp. 034-635) ; Hay- 

 makers Creek, young secured August 1, 1874 (Grinnell, 1876, p. 652) ; rare to 

 eastern base of mountains (Cooper, 1869b, p. 298) ; rare. Fort Keogh (Thorne, 

 1895, p. 213) ; Custer and Dawson counties, rare, eggs jMay 23, and newly 

 hatched young June 15, 1898 (Cameron, 1907, pp. 255-256) ; Fergus County, 

 summer resident, ]\Iay to September (Silloway, 1903a, p. 24) ; Sun River and 

 Great Falls (Cooke, 1910a, p. 94). The only record within the mountain val- 

 leys, west of the true prairie region of the state, is Three Forks, June, 1909, 

 observed by Thomas (Saunders, 1911a, p. 34). There are no definite dates of 

 migration on record for this species. Silloway 's statement, given above, Allen's 

 records in September, and McChesney's statement that it is abundant in spring 

 at Fort Custer (1879, p. 2393) are all the data available relating to migration. 



93. Dendragapus obscurus obscurus (Say) 



Dusky Grouse 



A permanent resident iu mountains of the southern part of the state, inter- 

 grading with the form ricliardsoni. Few birds are entirely typical of this sub- 

 species, the great majority being more nearly allied to richardsoni. Records: 

 Big Horn :\lountains (McChesney, 1879, p. 2393) ; Traill Creek, Park County 

 (Grinnell, 1876, pp. 650-651) ; Gallatin County (Richmond and Knowlton, 1894, 

 p. 302; Saunders, 1911a, p. 35). 



94. Dendragapus obscurus fuljginosus (Ridgway) 



Sooty Grouse 



Permanent resident in the mountains of extreme western ^lontana, inter- 

 grading with richardsoni. Records : East to western spurs of Bitterroot Moun- 

 tains, Montana (Bendire, 1888a, p. 32). Big Hole Basin (Forrest, 1914, p. 

 195). Intergrading with }icl\ardsoni at Columbia Falls (Bendire, 1892, p. 50). 



95. Dendragapus obscurus richardsoni (Douglas) 



Richardson Grouse 

 A permanent resident of the mountainous half of the state, extending its 

 range east to the easternmost mountain ranges, and intergrading with obscurus 

 on the south and fuliginosus on the west. All observers in the mountains reeoi'd 

 this species. The easternmost records of this species are Big Horn Mountains 

 (Mearns, 1904, p. 20), Big Snowy Mountains (Silloway, 1903a, p. 24), and Belt 

 ^lountains (Williams, 1882a, p. 63). 



