1921 BIRDS OF MONTANA 33 



most foniiiion. Yoiino; Imve been noteti, luit there is no record that the nest has 

 ever l)een found. 



Records: Upper Jlissouri and Milk rivers (Coues, IST-ta, p. 585). Mis- 

 souri River (Grinnell, 1876, ji. 6551. Dawson County (Cameron. 1907, ]>. 248). 

 Fort Keogh (Thorne, 1895, p. 212). Flathead Lake (Sillowa.y, 19Ula, p. 88). 

 Fergus County in migration (Silloway, 19(i:ia. ]i. 12). (lallatin Co\int,y (Saun- 

 ders, lOlla, ]). ;i2). A female and young liinl were si'en on tiie Upper Two Medi- 

 cine Lake, Glaeiei' National Park, xVugust 5, 11)14. 



The only dates that indicate the time <if migration are the folldwing: Yel- 

 lowstone River, May 7, 1905 (Cameron, 19(.)7. p. 248), and Ciii'vaiiis, Scpteiriher 

 2, 1!»11. one shot (Bailey, MS). 



25. Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus 



Mai,l.\ki> 



Abimdant throughout the state. Tiie most abundant ;ind widely distributed 

 duck in Jlontana. Breeds commonly in most parts of the state liut reported as 

 becoming rare as a breeder in Custer and Dawson counties (Cameron, 1!)()7, [>. 

 24S). Abundant in nngration everywhere. Winters conunonl,\" in mountain 

 valleys throughout the western half of the state, the easternmost point wln-re it 

 is reported to winter being Fergus Count.v (Silloway, 190;^a, p. 12). 



Migration dates in the western half of the state ;ire difficult to ulitain with 

 accuracy because so many birds winter, but the height nf the migi-ations i,-; 

 evidently in April and October. For the eastern half the only date obtaiiiabl'' 

 is the average arrival at Terry, which is March 26 (Cooke, 19(K)a, p. 2)!). 



Mallards begin nesting in April, and the young may' be found commonly in 

 June. At Great Falls the latest date for fresh eggs is given as May 24 ( Williams, 

 1888a, p. 17), but there is a much, later date from Malta, .luuc 28. 190:! (Wil- 

 lett, 1907, p. 105). 



26. Chanlelasmus streperus (Liimaeus) 



Gadw.vll 



Probably occui's throughout the state as a migrant but not as yet reporteil 

 from the southwestern portion. Breeds in the uorthei-n half of the state, east 

 of the continental divide, and is reported as occurring in suuimcr in the IJittei'- 

 root Valley (Bailey, MS). Breeds in the Milk River region ( Cou(^s, 18741), ]>. 

 650), and in Teton County, where downy young may be seen in June and Jul.v 

 (Saunders, 1914a, p. 128). This species has also been found with downy youiii; 

 in Glacier National Park (F. M. Bailey, 1918, p. 53). 



Reported as a migrant only in Custer and Dawson counties (Cameron, 1907, 

 p. 248), and Fergus County (Silloway, 190;Ja, p. 12) and at Fort Keogh (Thorne. 

 1895, p. 212). Reported in September "on the road to Ft. Ellis'" (JlcChesney, 

 1879, p. 2394). In the Bitterroot Valley it is fairly common in spring and sum- 

 mer and abundant in fall (Bailey, MS). A fairly coinmon migrant in ^^■]h)\\- 

 stone and Stillwater counties (Thomas, ;\1S). 



Migration dates: Terry, about April 1 (Cooke, 1906a, |). 27). Dawson 

 County, April 7, 1890 (Cameron, 1907, p. 248). Corvallis, April 5. 1913 ( Bailey, 

 ilS.), and Choteau April 17, 1912 (Saiuidcrs, 1914a. p. 128). 



