66 Norman A. Woou 



It was seen only on May 5 and 6 near the Biological Station at Devils 

 Lake, where one specimen was taken. 



239. Melospisa gcorgiana (Latham). Swamp Sparrow. 



Cour.s, 1878, p. 596; secured specimens from September 16 to October 5, 1873, 

 on Mouse I^ivcr. Judd, 1917, p. 24; tolerably common migrant on the prairies, prob- 

 ably breeds in the Turtle Mountains, as a male in full song was taken about the 

 middle of July. 



There is a mounted specimen in the Agricultural College Museum taken 

 at Grafton, September 30, 1912, by Henry Williams, and one taken Sep- 

 tember 14, 1914, at Grafton by Mr. Williams. In the Williams Collection 

 at Grafton is a bird taken there April 25, 1913. A few individuals were 

 seen in the marshes about Devils Lake and an immature male was taken 

 August 19, 1920, at the Narrows. 



240. Passerella iliaca iliaca (Merrem). Fox Sparrow. 



JuDD, 1917, p. f24; rather rare migrant; earliest dates seen, April 20 and 29; 

 seldom noted in the fall. Schmidt, 1920. p. 321 ; a migrant. 



This species was not seen in Hfe, but there is a mounted one in the Wil- 

 liams Collection taken at Grafton, June 28, 1904, by Mr. Williams. 



The above species of sparrows are all very beneficial in their food habits, 

 destroying immense quantities of weed seeds and many injurious insects. 



241. Pipilo erythropthalmus erythropthalmus (Linnaeus). Towhee. 

 CouES, 1878, p. 598; not uncommon about Pembina, where it was breeding in 



June. Abbott, 1880, p. 984; says he met the chewink but once, in July, 1879. Judd, 

 1917, p. 24; rare, may be found breeding in the Turtle Mountains. FrEEMan, 1919, 

 p. 14; probably a rare summer resident, May 16. Schmidt, 1920, p. 321; summer 

 resident. 



I saw this species in willow bushes near Bluebill Lake, Turtle Mountains, 

 on August I, 1920. 



242. Pipilo maculatiis arcticus (Swainson). Arctic Towhee. 



Baird, 1858, p. 515; a male was taken at Fort Union in 1843 by J. J. Audubon. 

 Allen, 1875, p. 59; a common inhabitant of the wooded bottomlands everywhere. 

 CouES, 1878, p. 599; along the parallel of 49° this form becomes established at 

 least as far east as the Mouse River, where a specimen was secured September 16, 

 1873. Hoffman, 1882, p. 399; frequently found in wooded bottomland near the 

 agency. Judd, 1917, p. 25; a rare straggler, one specimen taken. Schmidt, 1920, p. 

 321 ; summer resident west of central North Dakota. 



This species was not seen until I reached Medora on June 14, 192 1. It 

 was common there and I am sure it nested, as it did also at Peaceful X'alley 

 Ranch, five miles north of Medora. It was also common about Williston, 

 July 8 to 12, 1921. 



243. CardinaUs cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus). Cardinal. 

 McChEsney, 1878, p. 78; only of casual occurrence in this region. On May 25, 



1877, a pair was seen to the east of the Post, and a male was seen several times in 

 this region. [This Post or Fort was in Roberts County near the northeast corner 

 of South Dakota, and this species no doubt occurs there rarely along the Red River 

 Valley.] Schmidt, 1920, p. 321; casual summer resident. 



