118 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 14 



April 30, 1894 (Cooke, 1911, p. 145), and Missoula, arrival April 30, departure 

 September 24 (Kittredge). There is no doiibt that this form breeds in Mon- 

 tana, young of the year having been taken at Flathead Lake, but there is no 

 \ record of the finding of the nest. 



225. Passerculus sandwichensis nevadensis Grinnell 



Nevada Savannah Sparrow 



A common summer resident of wet meadows east of the continental divide. 

 Breeds throughout the Transition zone and probably also in the Upper Sonoran. 

 Most observers mention this species, but some have evidently overlooked it. It 

 is found both on the prairies and in mountain valleys, and is particularly abund- 

 ant in valleys where irrigation has gone on for some time and where areas of 

 wet grasslands are common. The identification of races is not well worked out 

 at present. I am assimiing tluit all birds east of the continental divide are 

 nevadensis, and all birds west of it alaudinus. A breeding bird from the Galla- 

 tin Valley has proven to be nevadensis, liut birds from Teton County are doubt- 

 ful, one being thought to be savanna. There is a considerable series of specimens 

 from ]Miles City, taken by C. F. Hedges, in the r'niversity of Montana collection, 

 which have recently been identified as ncradcnsis by Dr. Bishop. Two of these 

 birds, however, are nearer alaudinus. 



Migrations take place in April or May, and probably in September. Dates 

 are as follows: Traill Creek, Park County, May 14, 1909; Big Hole River, :\ray 

 6, 1910; Anaconda, May 12, 1911 ; Choteau, April 30, 1912; Dutton, May 3, 1915, 

 May 1, 1916, and May 9, 1917 (DuBois, ]MS). The only fall date is from Miles 

 City, September 24, 1900 (Hedges, coll. Univ. Montana). 



While this bird is undoubtedly a common breeder, the finding of the nest 

 has been recorded only a few times. I found two at Warm Spi'ings, Deer Lodge 

 County, June 16, 1911, both containing eggs, and another at Priest Butte Lalces, 

 Teton County, June 9, 1912, containing three newly hatched young and an egg. 

 Young are common on the wing by June 30. 



226. Ammodramus bairdi (Audubon) 



Baird Sparrow 

 A rare and little known summer resident or migrant on the prairies of the 

 eastern half of the state. Recorded from but two localities : In Custer and Daw- 

 • son counties it is an irregular migrant in September, where the birds were com- 

 mon September 6 to 10, 1902 (Cameron, 1908a, p. 39). In Teton County birds 

 were noted September 4, 1911, and May 23, 1912 (Saunders, 1914a, p. 138), 

 where they were suspected to be breeding, and where the species has since been 

 found breeding, near Dutton. Two nests have been found there, one with six 

 eggs, advanced in incubation, July 18, 1916, and the other with four eggs, the 

 last one laid July 20, 1916 (DuBois, MS). Mr. DuBois also gives May 24, 1917, 

 as the chite of its arrival in spring migration at Dutton. 



It is possible that this bii-d also breeds in more eastern parts of Montana, for 

 it has been found breeding in Dakota, at one point, Harding County (Yisher. 

 1911, p. 14), within a few miles of the Montana border. 



