Bird Life of North Dakota 57 



198. Icterus spnrius (h'mnseus). Orchard Oriole. 



Allen, 1875, p. 60; a few pair seen near the second crossing of the Heart River, 

 July 5, 1873, were the only ones met with. CouES, 1878, p. 604; one specimen at 

 Pembina, the only locality where it was observed, June 6, 1873. Abbott, 1880, p. 984; 

 not common near Pembina in July, 1879. Ridgway, 1902, p. 276; southern North 

 Dakota. Judd, 1917, p. 21 ; rare on the prairie, found breeding around the large 

 lakes to the south; not found in the Turtle Alountains. Freeman, 1919, p. 14; rare. 



The species was not seen in Ufe, but there is a mounted specimen in the 

 Agricultural College Aluseum taken at Hankinson, Richland County, July 

 23, 1912, by W. B. Bell, and another in the Williams Collection taken at 

 Grafton, July 30, 1904. Mr. Russell Reid found a nest on July 20, 1919, 

 and saw three birds June 4, 1921, near Bismarck. 



199. Icterus galbula (Linnaeus). Baltimore Oriole. 



CouES, 1878, p. 604; abundant at Pembina, the only locality where it was found. 

 Specimens were taken from June 2 to July 8, 1873. Abbott, 1880, p. 984; generally 

 common at Pembina in July, 1879. Judd, 1917, p. 22; tolerably common migrant 

 over prairies, nesting in timber on shores of large lakes and in the Turtle Mountains. 

 Freeman, 1919, p. 14; a common summer resident. May 14. 



This was a very common species at Devils Lake after May 20, 192 1, and 

 it was found in all the localities worked, although it was more common in 

 the eastern part of the state. The orioles are very beneficial in their food 

 habits. 



200. Icterus hullocki (Swainson). Bullock's Oriole. 



Allen, 1875, P- 60; more or less frequent along all the wooded portions of the 

 streams. Observed at Fort Rice in 1873, and on the Heart River. Bendire, 1895, 

 p. 486; Bullock's oriole ranges east to western North Dakota. Schmidt, 1920, p. 313; 

 central North Dakota. 



This species is not noted in many of the state hsts, and it was with pleas- 

 ure that 1 secured a pair of these birds in a small grove of cottonwoods at 

 the edge of the town of Medora on June 14, 1921. These were the only 

 ones seen, although I worked in the region for ten days. 



201. Euphagus caroUnus (Miiller). Rusty Blackbird. 



CouES, 1878, p. 605 ; enters Dakota from the north in September. Thwaites, 

 1905, P- 385 ; Maximilian records seeing this species at Fort Union, June 24, 1833. 

 Judd, 1917, p. 22; very common migrant, arrives the first week in May. _ Freeman, 

 1919, p. 14 ; transient visitant, April 22. 



At Grafton it was nesting commonly at the edge of small sloughs along 

 the railroad north of the city. Mr. Williams said he had found many nests 

 at that place. At the time of my arrival, July 24, the young were flying with 

 the adults. 



202. Buphagus cyanocephalus (Wagler). Brewer's Blackbird. 



Allen, 1875, P- 60; immense flocks in September, 1873, along the Heart and 

 James rivers. CouES. 1878. p. 605; the characteristic blackbird of the whole region 

 in summer. Hundreds spend this season at Fort Pembina and it is no less common 

 a Fort Buford. Specimens were taken at Pembina, June 14 to 24, and at Mouse 



