\ 



li,21 BIRDS OF MONTANA 137 



most eastern mountain ranges. Occurs rarely in migration in the prairie region, 

 l-^reeds in the Transition and Canadian zones, showing a marked preference for 

 forests of Douglas fir on the east side of the divide, and for mixed forests of 

 Douglas fir, yellow pine and larch on the west side. Occurs in migration in 

 coi tonwood groves in the valleys. 



.Migrations take place in late ^lay or early June, and in August. The aver- 

 age of five years at Columbia Falls is ^lay IS, and the earliest May 18, 1807 

 vOberholser, 1918, p. 18). Other dates are: Bozeman, June 10, 1909; Fipestone 

 Basin, June 5, 1910; Bozeman, May 29, 1911, and Teton County, June 4, 1912: 

 Dutton, ]\Iay 27, 1914 (DuBois, MS), and Kalispell, June 5, 1916 (Sloanaker, 

 MS). Fall dates are: Columbia Falls, September 10, 1894, and Missoula, Sep- 

 tember 11, 1915 (Oberholser, 1918, p. 19) ; Gold Creek, August 27, 1910 ; Ilannari 

 Gulch, Teton County, August 28, 1911, and Flathead Lake, August 20, 1914. 

 One from Fort Keogh, June 1, 1902 (Hedges, coll. Univ. Montana) is the only 

 record from the prairie region. 



This species begins nesting in the latter part of June. It was noted building 

 its nest in the Belt ^fountains June 26, the nest being complete but empty, July 

 3 ("Williams, 1882a, p. 62). At Flathead Lake a nest containing three young 

 was found June 21, 1900 (Silloway, 1901a, p. 23), and another with four eggs, 

 July 4, 1903 (Silloway, 1903b, p. 299). Another nest was being built at Yellow 

 Bay, Flathead Lake, June 24, 1916, and the birds were seen feeding young July 

 22 (Sloanaker, MS). Young out of the nest were observed at Belton, July 15. 

 1916 (DuBois, MS). 



259. Progne subis subis (Linnaeus) 



Purple Martin 

 A summer resident, })erhaps throughout the state, but most of the records 

 are in the eastern part in the prairie region. Records are as follows: Seen frc- 

 'juently on the Yellowstone between Tongue River and Pompey's Pillar (Allen. 

 1874b, p. 54). A pair seen on the Yellowstone (McChesney, 1879, p. 2386). 

 Abundant in mountains, breeds (Grinnell, 1876, p. 644). Numerous in timbered 

 river bottom at Fort Custer (Mearns, 1904, p. 21). Several seen at Lewistown, 

 May 10, 1902 (Silloway, 1903a, p. 59). Not common in Custer and Dawson 

 counties. Arrives about May 15 (Cameron, 1908a, p. 44). Rare at Bill- 

 ings (Thomas, MS). Bozeman, June and July, 1909 (Saunders, 1911a, p. 45). 

 Very plentiful at Bowen, Big Hole Basin, breeding in bird boxes (Forrest. 1914, 

 p. 195). The last two records are the only ones that are not from the prairie 

 region of the state. Three years give an average of May 14 for spring arrival at 

 Great Falls, with the earliest :\ray 10, 1906 (Oberholser, 1918, p. 148). 



260. Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons (Say) 



Cliff Swallow^ 

 An abundant sununer resident throughout the state, reported by all observ- 

 ers. On the whole the most abundant and widely distributed swallow in the 

 state. Breeds in the rpi)er Sonoran and Transition zones, on cliffs in badlands 



