1921 BIRDS OF MONTANA 95 



points not far from the mountains, in spring anti fall. Tims 1 liavr notrd it at 

 Bozeman, October S. IIIOS. and in the Prickly Pear Valley, near Hi'lena, .March 

 19. lilll. 



Only one finiliug of the nest is on record. Fonr eggs, advancet! in incuba- 

 tion, were secured at Flathead Lake, June 28, 1901 (Silloway, 19Ula, [). 57 j. 



187. Perisoreus canadensis capitalis Ridgway 



UoCKV MorXTAIN J.vv 



A common permanent resilient throughout the western half of the state, 

 occurring in the mountains and mainly in the Canadian zone. Its range is 

 almost exactly like that of the Black-headed Jay, it having been recorded from 

 all mountain ranges where observations have been made except the Big Horn 

 Mountains in the southeastern part of the state. The easternmost points where 

 it has been recorded are Rocky Mountains, along the northern border (('ones, 

 1874b, p. 608) ; the Belt iMountains (Williams, 1882a, p. 62) ; Fergus County 

 (Sillowaj-, 1903a, p. 42) ; and Park County, where I have noted it on Traill Creek 

 and in Tom iMinor Basin. Its range extends a little liigher into the mountains 

 than that of the Black-headed Ja.y, it being sometimes seen in the Hudsonian 

 zone, very likely bi-eeding there. At certain times of the year it is much more 

 abundant than the Black-headed Ja.y. 



The movements of the Rocky .Mountain Ja.v in the mountains, and its sudden 

 changes from rarity to extrenu' abundance, are not yet satisfactorily explained. 

 From late in February until early in August it is seldom seen, but from August 

 to February it is very common, appearing about camps in considerable numbers, 

 becoming exceedingly tame and sometimes troublesome. If one stops to eat a 

 lunch in the forest, at any time in late, summer or fall, the birds arrive silently, 

 apparently from nowhere, and wait their opportunit.y to feast on the remnants. 

 In 1910 I was in the mountains in camp from late February until October. After 

 Fei)ruary 26 and until August 5 I have but twelve records of this species, nearly 

 always but a single bird at a time. After August 5 and until October the species 

 was seen almost daily, and usually in large numbers. Not one bird was seen in 

 the month of jMarch, when the species is supposed to nest. However, at that 

 season it is almost impossible to get into the higher mountains, where the birds 

 very likelj' breed. The.v ai'e almost equall.y scarce in the month of July. 



So far as I know, no record of the nesting of this species in Montana is 

 luiown. It probably nests in the month of March or in eai-ly April. I secured a 

 icmalc in Gallatin County, February 26. 1909, which on dissection showed that 

 the breeding season wasaiiproaeiiing. hut I know of no other cvidimce from 

 Montana to show when the species breeds. 



188. Corvus corax sinuatus Wagler 



Raven 

 A permanent resident, occurring throughout the state, hut rare or local in 

 distribution. In the northwestern part it is fairly common in the mountains. In 

 most other localities it is reported rare. In Custer and Dawson counties it is 



