102 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 14 



ill the University of Montana collection and believe that they all belong to this 

 race, or at least to a race with a much longer, more slender bill than either fortis 

 or neutralis. 1 iiad no specimens of neutralis at the time to compare them with, 

 but there was more difference between them and fortis than between specimens 

 of fortis and neutralis that I have since examined. 



While the Silver Bow record is the only one that can at the present time be 

 definitely ascribed to caiiriiiKs, I am considering that all records west of the 

 divide belong to it. Assuming this, its migrations and nesting dates are earlier 

 than those of fortis. At llissoula the earliest and latest dates are February 28 

 and November 28, respectively (Kittredge, MS). A nest containing newly 

 liatched young and eggs was found at Silver Bow, May 21, 1911. 







Fig. 2o. Nest .\nii i.i.(,s of mi- Wkmekn Mk.\iici\vi..\kk. Cue 

 TEAV; June 10, 1912. 



197. 



Sturnella neglecta Audulion 

 Western M e.suowl.vrk 



An abundant sunnner i-esident on the prairies and in mountain valleys 

 throughout Montana. Occurs in winter in the western half of the state, occur- 

 ring in large numbers at this season west of the divide. The Meadowlark is one 

 of the commonest birds in the state, and one of the best-known ones. It breeds 

 commonly in open grass lands, particularly in irrigated hay fields and in the 

 more moist meadows in the sti'eam vallevs. It is also common in the grass lands 



