56 Norman A. Wood 



to July 8, 1873^ and at Mouse River, August 9 and 22, 1873. Hoffman, 1882, p. 399; 

 rather abundant and associated with flocks of red-winged and yellow-headed black- 

 birds. JuDD, 1917, p. 21 ; abundant summer resident. 



Found in all parts of the state worked. It is a great menace to all small 

 l)ird life because of its parasitical habit. 



195. XantHocephalus xanthocephahis (Bonaparte). Yellow-headed Black- 



bird. 

 Allen, 1875, P- 60; seen but three or four times in the whole journey. A small 

 colony was found breeding near the point where they crossed the Big Muddy, Morton 

 County, 1873. A small flock was seen once on the Heart River. CouES. 1878, p. 602; 

 at Pembina, breeding abundantly in the prairie sloughs the last week in June. 

 Specimens were taken at Pembina, June 17 to 27, Turtle Mountains, August 2, and 

 Mouse River, August 13 to 22, 1873. Hoffman, 1882, p. 399; common in September. 

 JuDD, 1917, p. 21 ; abundant summer resident, nests in colonies. 



It occurs throughout the sjate in suitable habitats and is no doubt a very 

 beneficial species. It was not common at Devils Lake, where it was first 

 seen May 31, 1921, Later, on June 4, I saw a large colony near St. Johns, 

 Rolette County. A specimen collected at Sweetwater Lake, Ramsey County, 

 August II, 1900, by Charles L. Cass is in the Museum of Zoology Collec- 

 tion, also a set of three eggs collected there May 30, 1900. 



196. Agelaius phoeniceus fortis Ridgway. Thick-billed Red-wing. 

 CouES, 1878, p. 602; found only at Pembina, where it was not very common; a 



male and a female were taken there June ig, 1873. Hoffman, 1882, p. 400; abundant 

 and associated with the two preceding species. CouES, 1897, p. 90; July 15, Audubon 

 shot a common red-winged starling near Fort Union. Oberholser, 1907, p. 335; 

 male from Pembina, taken June 19, 1873. Judd, 1917, p. 21 ; common summer resi- 

 dent. Freeman, 1919, p. 14; very common summer resident. 



All the above listed notes were given under the eastern species name, 

 phoeniceus phoeniceus, but fortis is doubtless the only one in North Dakota. 

 Mr. Russell Reid writes that he collected this species May 9, 1920, at Bis- 

 marck and sent it to the United States Biological Survey, where it was deter- 

 mined by H. C. Oberholser as the thick-billed red-wing. 



It was found to be rather common at all the places visited. The earliest 

 record was May 9, 1921, at Devils Lake. It was not as common at Botti- 

 neau as Brewer's blackbird. 



197. Sturnella neglecta Audubon. Western Meadowlark. 



Baird, 1858, p. 539 ; a male from Fort Union taken June 30, 1843, by J. J. Audubon. 

 CouES, 1878. p. 603 ; all the meadow larks observed in this region, where the fauna 

 is so thoroughly Eastern, were typical neglecta. Specimens were taken June 5 to 30 

 at Pembina and July 20 to August 2, 1873. at Turtle TNIountains. Hoffman, 1882, p. 

 400; but two individuals observed. CouES, 1897, p. 67; June 29, Audubon killed a 

 female meadow lark [near Fort Union], the first noted in this country. 



This species was common and generally well distributed over the state. 

 An &gg in the Museum of Zoology Collection was taken June 14, 1900, by 

 Charles L. Cass near Sweetwater Lake. It is a very beneficial bird, destroy- 

 ing numerous quantities of injurious insects. Its song is different, but no 

 more beautiful tlian that of the eastern bird. 



