1021 BIRDS OF MONTANA 59 



lOJ. Pedioecetes phasianellus campestris llid^way 



Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse 



A permanent rosiilenl, of the prairies and jilnins in the eastfi'ii iialf ol' the 

 state, iiitei'ti^radiiiu' westward with lohiiiihiitinis. In tile less tliiikl\' seltled i-r- 

 irions this liird is still ahinulaiit, hiit in iiKist places it is rapidly' diM'i'easiiii;' in 

 numbers, though, cx-eii in rei;i(ins that have licen lonp settled it remains in small 

 nnml)ers in the crrain fields. 



There is not a irreat deal pulilished about the nesting- of this species, and 

 the only definite dates ai-e thosi- ol' Silloway for thi' vicinity of I.ewistown. Thesis 

 are .May 19 and 24, l!»()(l, and dune 4, I'JOl (ll)():-!a, p. 2;')), an<l .May L'S, ]!)()!, 

 two nests (l!H»2a, pp. :V1-:':.',) . 



104. Centrocercus urophasianus (Bonaparte) 



SA(iE 1 1 EN 



A p<'rmanent resident of sac-c-lirush ])lains of the eastern part of the state, 

 extending' westward into the mountain valleys wherever thei-e are large areas 

 of sage-brush. There are no recent records west of the continental divide, but 

 the bird is reported as formerly common at Silver Bow (Saunders, ir)r2a, p. 25). 

 It was onee abundant nearly throughout the state, but is beeoming I'are everv- 

 where. In the uoi-thwcstcru part of the prairie region tliei'c is a large area 

 where sage-ln-ush is unknown and where this species is absent. 



There have been but few dates published for the nesting of this species. 

 Willett records about fifty nests found between May and July, IDdo, in Choteau 

 and Valle.y counties (probabl.y wluit is now Phillips County). These nests usu- 

 ally contained ten to thirteen eggs, with tin- extremes ranging from eight to fif- 

 teen (1906a, p. 75). 



105. Zenaidura macroura marginella ( Woodhouse) 



Western Mourning Dove 



An abnudant sununei' resident throughout the state, becoming soinewhat less 

 common northwai'(l. Hc|iortcd as not couunon at Flathead Ijake (Silloway, 

 lilllla, p. 45), and in Teton County (Saunders, l!)14a, p. l:^>li. In all otliei' 

 localities reported as abundant. 



There are but few nesting dates givi-n. These arc -Tunc IS, 1,S(;2 (Cooper, 

 iSliOb, p. 295) ; June 21, 19(10, a do/.eii nests in the Bittcrroot Valley; June 25, 

 1911, three nests, one with young; and first young out of nest seen JuiU' 2S, 

 1913 (Bailey, ilS). I have found a nest with eggs in Teton Count.y as late as 

 Jul.v 9. 1912. This bird is very abundant in sage-brush where it nests com moldy 

 on the ground, and in cultivated land, where it nests both on the ground and in 

 bushes, frequently those overhanging a stream. 



Migration dates in spring: Bo/.eman, May 9, 1!)09; Stuart, Silver P>ow 

 County, April 29, 1911 (Saund<>rs. 1912a. |). 25) ; Choteau, May 19, 1912 (Saun- 

 ders, 1914a. II. PHl : (Ireat Falls, .May :^. 1SS7 (Williams, ISSSa, p. 17 i : I'.itler- 

 root Valley, April ^O, 1910, April 29. 1911, .May 4, 1912, and May 4, 191:! ( I'.iiilcN , 



