68 Norman A. Wood 



ton County, June 4, 1843. Thwaites, 1905, p. 386; at Fort Union, in June, 1833, 

 Maximilian records seeing the beautiful bluefinch (lazuli bunting) first described 

 by Say. Schmidt, 1920, p. 321 ; a summer resident of western North Dakota. 



This species was found only near Medora, where on June 14 I saw a 

 pair. At Olsen's Peaceful Valley Ranch there were a few others, June 17 

 to 20, 1921. It may be extending its range eastward, as it is a common 

 summer resident in western Montana. 



248. Spi^a americana (Gmelin). Dickcissel. 



RiDGWAY, 1901, p. 173; from the Upper Missouri River. (Maximilian, Jour, fiir 

 Orn., VI, 1858, p. 341.) JuDD, 1917, p. 25; rare, small flocks seen in 1891, is only 

 record I have, three full-plumaged males being taken at that time in the southeastern 

 part of Towner County on Big Coulee. Reid, 1921, No. i, p. 8; not known here as 

 a resident until 1921, when it appeared in considerable numbers near Bism;arck, moving 

 in and settling in territory new to the species. 



Mr. Reid writes me that he saw several birds on Burnt Creek on June 

 26 and 27, 1921, the first year he had seen it. 



This species was found to be a common summer resident in Ransom 

 Coimty, June 25 to 30, 192 1. At Williston, July 7, I took one specimen, 

 and at Bottineau, July 11 to 15, 1921, found it not rare, although Alfred 

 Eastgate told me he had never before seen it in the county. 



249. Calamospiza mclanocorys Stejneger. Lark Bunting. 



Allen, 1875. p. 58: observed it first about fifty miles west of Fort Rice, from 

 there to Montana abundant in certain localities, preferring wet prairies near streams. 

 CouES, 1878, p. 597 ; the apparent absence of this species from the Red River region, 

 with its abundance on the Missouri, is one of the strong marks of difference in the 

 fauna of the two watersheds. CouES, 1897, p. 105; July 21, Audubon says he saw 

 many black-breasted lark buntings and found) a nest with five eggs near Fort Union. 



I did not note this species in eastern North Dakota, but at Mandan. 

 June 24, saw the first ones. It was not noted about Medora, on the Little 

 Missouri, but was a common summer resident about Williston, July 5 to 10, 

 1921. It was also common at White's Ranch, fifteen miles southwest of 

 Bottineau, where I saw large flocks of adults and young on August 9, 1920. 

 These were feeding about the ranch buildings like English sparrows. 



250. Piranga erythromelas Vieillot. Scarlet Tanager. 



JUDD, 1917, p. 25 ; rare, seen only in the Turtle Mountains. FreEman, 1919. p. 

 15; summer resident; May 16. 



I did not see this species in hfe, but there is one specimen in the "Wil- 

 liams Collection, taken at Grafton, July 30, 1904, and another, taken there 

 May 24, 1914, by Henry Williams, is now in the Museum of Zoology Col- 

 lection. A mounted specimen is in the Agricultural College Museum, taken 

 at Grafton, May 26, 1914, by Mr. Williams. This species must be consid- 

 ered as a rare one in eastern North Dakota. 



251. Progne siibis subis (IJntixns). Purple Martin. 



Baird. i8s8. p. 315; a male was taken at Fort Union. Julv. 1856, by Dr. Havdep. 

 CouES, 1878. p. .t72; one specimen taken July 23, 1873. breeding on the Turtle .Moun- 



