1<,21 BIRDS OF MONTANA 105 



'Slay 20, and the set of six was completed ^lay 25. Two other sets of six were 

 found on this same date, and on May 27 a set of seven and one of eight were 

 found. The latest nest of which I have record had the set of five eggs com- 

 l)leted on June 6, 1912. These nests were all in the same colony. From other 

 sources the earliest nest is May 31, 1902, at Poison (Silloway, 1903h, p. 297). T 

 liave found the nest in Gallatin County with four eggs, ^lay 28, 1909. The 

 latest record for eggs is June 28, 1905, in Custer County (Cameron, 1907, [). -lOO). 



202. Quiscalus quiscula aeneus Ridgway 



Bronzed Grackle 



A common summer resident of eastern Montana, ranging westward to the 

 bases of the mountains. All observers in eastern Montana record this species 

 as common or abundant, but westward it becomes rare. The westernmost rec- 

 ords are from the Rocky Mountains, August 28, 1874 (Coues, 1874b, p. 606) ; 

 Choteau, a pair taken :\ray 25, 1912 (Saunders, 1914a, p. 136) ; Great Falls 

 (Williams, 1888a, p. 15) ; and Bozeman and Belgrade, Gallatin County (Saun- 

 ders, 1911a, p. 41). 



The Bronzed Grackle is stated to arrive at the end of April in Custer 

 County, xVpril 25, 1895, and April 25, 1896, being given as dates of arrival 

 (Cameron, 1907, p. 401). These are the only migration dates available at pres- 

 ent for the spring, and there are none for the fall. I have noted the species in 

 Great Falls, May 1, 1912, when several pairs were seen. These birds, however, 

 may have arrived earlier than this date, as I was at Great Falls only for a few 

 hoars at the time. 



Eggs have been found June 1, 1893, and June 3, 1894, in Custer County. 

 Eggs were observed to hatch on June 11, and young noted on the wing by July 

 15 (Cameron, 1907, p. 401). Others have mentioned the nesting of this species, 

 but there are no other definite dates. 



203. Hesperiphona vespertina montana Ridgway 



Western Evening Grosbeak 



An erratic resident, found throughout the state at various seasons. Pj'ob- 

 ably breeds in yellow pine forests in the mountains, and in the pine hills of the 

 Transition zone. Most common in migrations, but found frequently in winter 

 and sometimes in summer, when there are no indications that it breeds. 



Summer records: Flathead Lake, common, probably breeding (Silloway, 

 1903a, p. 60). It still occurs regularly in the yellow pine woods at Flathead 

 Lake every summer, but the nest has never been located. Fort Custer, flock 

 seen July 24, 1889 (Mearns, 1904, p. 21). June 6, 1900, one male, Custer 

 County, and August 23, 1904, one male, Dawson County (Cameron, 1907, p. 402). 

 Bitterroot Valley, seen throughout the summer of 1908 (Baik^y, MS). Belton. 

 July 28, 1914, and July 22, 1915 (DuBois, MS). Willow Creek, Powell County, 

 September 14, 1910 (Saunders, 1912a, p. 28). These are all the records that 

 may indicate the breeding of this species. The nest has never been found in 

 the state. 



