Bird Life: of North Dakota 6i 



217. Rhynchophanes mccozwii (Lawrence). McCown's Longspur. 



AnEN, 1875, p. 56; in considerable abundance from the Missouri to the Yellow- 

 stone. In September, 1873, the prairies were alive with immense flocks, some of 

 thousands of individuals. Hoffman, 1882, p. 398; less common than the preceding 

 species. Abbott, 1916, p. 3 ; less common, but its song more pleasing than the chest- 

 nut-collared longspur. JuDD, 1917, p. 23;. has become more and more rare as the 

 country has settled, until now, 1910, it is rarely seen. FrEEman, 1919, p. 14; tran- 

 sient visitant, May. 



This species was not observed in life, although I visited the high, dry 

 prairie benches which it prefers. Mr. Eastgate, of Bottineau, told me that 

 it bred west of the Mouse River in the northwestern part of North Dakota. In 

 the Museum of the Agricultural College at Fargo I saw a skin taken at Sen- 

 tinel Butte, August 4. 1913, by W. B. Bell, and there is a skin in the Museum 

 of Zoology Collection from Chief Mountain, North Dakota, August 15, 

 1874, collected by Dr. Elliott Coues. 



All of the longspurs are very beneficial and destroy great quantities of 

 weed seeds and injurious insects. 



218. Proecetes grmnineus con finis (Baird.) Western V'esper Sparrow. 



CouES, 1878, p. 589; extends over the whole region explored. Specimens were 

 taken at Pembina, June 5 to 19; Turtle Mountains, July 20 to August 2; Mouse 

 River, August 30; and Long Coteau River, September 8, 1873. Hoffman, 1882, p. 

 398; rather common, many killed by the Indian boys with bow and arrows at Fort 

 Berthold in September. CouES, 1897, p. 21 ; on June 9 Harris and Bell shot some 

 bay-winged buntings near the mouth of the Little Missouri. Ridgway, 1901, p. 184; 

 breeding in middle North Dakota. Judd, 1917, p. 23; intermingling with the true 

 vesper, if not confounded at times with it. 



This was a common species at Devils Lake on my arrival, May 3, 192 1, 

 and later at all the localities worked. It is a very beneficial species in its 

 food habits. 



219. Passcrciiiits sandimchensis alaudinus Bonaparte. Western Savannah 



Sparrow. 



CouES, 1878, p. 588; breeds in profusion throughout the region. Specimens were 

 taken at Pembina, June 2 to 14; Turtle Mountains, July 20 to August 8; and Mouse 

 River, September 27, 1873. Judd, 1917, p. 23; common summer resident, nesting in 

 all suitable localities. 



At Devils Lake this was a common breeder, especially fond of the vicinity 

 of water. It was not seen at Medora or Williston, but was at Bottineau on 

 July II, 1921. 



220. Ammodramns hairdi (Audubon). Baird's Sparrow. 



Baird, 1858, p. 441 ; records the type, taken at Fort Union, Williams County, 

 July 26, 1843, by J. J. Audubon. AtLEisr, 1875, p. 57; rather frequent in the moist 

 hollows from the Missouri westward to the Little Missouri. A single nest, the first 

 one known, was found July i, near Heart River. It was of dry grass, placed on 

 the ground, and contained four eggs. CouEs, 1878, p. 585; not met with along the 

 Red River, but from the Pembina Mountains to the prairie beyond, in some par- 

 ticular spots it outnumbered all the other birds together. First taken July 14, 1873, 

 twenty miles west of Pembina Mountains and from there to the Mouse River, Octo- 

 ber I, 1783. Coues, 1897, p. 116; Audubon says on July 26, 1843, Bell shot a male 



