1921 BIRDS OF MONTANA 133 



about Bozeman (Saunders, 1911a, p. 44) ; couinion in Jefferson, Powell, Deci 

 Lodge and Silver Bow counties (Saunders, 1912a, p. 29) ; rare in Teton and 

 Lewis and Clark counties (Saunders, 1914a, p. 139) ; one at Lake Como, August 

 ;», 1911 (Bailey, MS). I have also seen this species commonly along the moun- 

 tain streams of western Park County and have noted it in Glacier National Parle, 

 in willow thickets at the outlet of Gunsight Lake, at Summit on the Great North- 

 ern Railroad, and along the trail between Iceberg and McDermott lakes. 



The spring arrival on the breeding grounds takes place in April. Dates 

 are: Bozeman, April 9, 1909, and April 2, 1911 ; Divide Creek, Silver Bow Coun- 

 ty, April 11, 1910. The fall migration is not so easily determined. The latest 

 date I have is from Gold Creek, Powell County, August 27, 1910, but I believe 

 the species remains later than this. 



The nesting has not been recorded from this state. ^Ir. G. B. Thomas has 

 informed me that he has found nests containing both eggs and young near Boze- 

 man, but exact dates are lacking. The abundance of this species in the, breeding 

 season seems to have been overlooked by most observers, due to the fact that the 

 birds inhabit the most impenetrable willow thickets, and are very difficult to 

 observe. During the spring they are conspicuous because of the loud, clear 

 song, which may be heard from the first arrival in April until early in July. 

 After that date the birds are very hard to find. The work of most observers in 

 western Montana has been confined to the summer, after this species has ceased 

 to sing, which accounts for their not finding it in regions where it is common. 



252. Pipilo maculatus arcticus (Swainson) 



Arctic Tov^hee 



A summer resident throughout the state, common in most localities. Per- 

 haps not found in extreme northeastern Montana, and rare in some places wesi 

 of the divide. Breeds in the Transition zone, in thickets of willow, wild rose 

 and other shrubs. Recorded by all observers through the eastei^n part of the 

 state, and in the mountainous part east of the divide, but there are only a few 

 records west of the divide. It is not recorded from the Bitterroot Valley, and I 

 have no note of its occurrence in the vicinity of i\Iissoula. At Flathead Lake 

 it is common about Big Fork and rare at Yellow Bay. In Deer Lodge, Jefferson. 

 Silver Bow and Powell counties I noted it but once, in the course of two years 

 observation, then only in spring migration and not breeding. It is quite prob- 

 able that the few birds that do breed west of the divide belong to a more west- 

 ern race than arcticus. 



Migrations take place in May and September. Eight years at Terry give 

 ]May 10 for the average, and May 2, 1894, the earliest. Eight years at Great 

 Falls average May 11, with May 6, 1904, the earliest (Cooke, 1912, p. 289). 

 Other dates are: Lewistown, May 2, 1900, and May 4, 1901 (Silloway, 1903a, p. 

 58) ; East Gallatin River, May 12, 1909; Anaconda, April 15, 1911 ; and Choteau, 

 May 12, 1912. Fall departures in northern Montana average September 24, witli 

 October 9, 1905, the latest (Cooke, 1912, p. 290). Another fall date is from 

 Bozeman, September 13, 1908. 



