\ 



1921 



256. 



BIRDS OF MONTANA 



135 



Passerina amoena (Say) 

 Lazuli Bunting 

 A common summer resident throughout the western half of Montana, be- 

 coming rather rare eastward, but evidently found throughout the state. Breeds 

 in the Transition zone, in low thick bushes, such as wild rose, currant, gooseberry 

 and similar shrubs. All observers in mountainous parts of the state report this 

 species as common, not in the higher mountains, but in the foothills. It is omit- 

 ted from man}^ lists in the prairie region but is recorded from the Yellowstont- 

 and Musselshell (Allen, 1874, p. 59), from Fort Keogh (Thorne, 1895, p. 217;. 

 from Miles City (Hedges, coll. i'niv. Montana), and from Custer and Dawson 

 counties (Cameron, 1908, p. 43). In the latter case, liowever, the observations 



Fig. 31. Nest and eggs of Black-hkaded 

 Grosbeak, with one egg of the Cow- 

 bird. Choteau; July 7, 1912. 



on habits and nesting, and the migration dates, indicate that some other species 

 was mistaken for the Lazuli Bunting, perhaps Sialia sialis, the general color- 

 ing of which is similar. 



The migrations occur in May and August. Dates are as follows: Miles City, 

 May 11, 1902 (Hedges, coll. Univ. Montana) ; Bozeman, May 29, 1909; German 

 Gulch, Silver Bow County, IMay 23, 1910; Rocky Canyon, Gallatin County, May 

 29, 1911; Bitterroot Valley, May 20, 1910, June 5, 1911, May 26, 1912, and May 

 31, 1913 (Bailey, :\IS). Fall dates are from Traill Creek, Park County, August 

 23, 1908, and Gold Creek, Powell County, August 28, lf)10. 



This species has been found nesting at Flathead Lake, but the date not given 

 (Silloway, 1901a, p. 24). In the Bitterroot Valley a nest contained two eggs anc! 

 one of the Cowbird on June 15, 1910, another Cowbird's egg being added two 



