no PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 14 



"210. Leucosticte tephrocotis littoralis Baird 



HiiPBUKX K()«Y FjNCii 



An iiTcgular winter visitor or migrant, occurring througlioiit tlic state, but 

 chiefly in the eastern half in winter, and in migrations only, in the western half. 

 This form occurs in company with the last mentioned, always in smaller niun- 

 bers. Careful observations of flocks will usually disclose both forms, Hilnralis 

 and tephrocotis, this being one of the few cases of subspecies that can be distin- 

 guished certainly in the field. In Custer County this form occurs in the ])ro- 

 portion of one to twenty of tephrocotis (Thorne, 1895, p. 215, and Cameron, 1907, 

 p. 403). Farther west it seems to be more numerous, the proportion lieing one 

 to six or eight in Fergus County (Silloway, 1903a, p. 50). In the western half 

 of the state littoralis has not been recorded in winter, but it probably occurs 

 with the other. I do not remember ever having examined a wintei- flock closely 

 enough to distinguish both forms. The Hepburn Rosy Finch appears early in 

 spring, however, for it has been found in Silver Bow County, March 12, 1910, 

 and in Gallatin County, March 19, 1911. In the spring of 1911 littoralis re- 

 mained with flocks of tephrocotis in the vicinity of Anaconda till May 8, but in 

 a. flock of tephrocotis and atrata seen May 27, 1911, none of littoralis was faiind. 



211. Leucosticte atrata Ridgway 



Black R(,).sy Finch 

 Rare in summer or migrations in southwestern Montana. Probably lireeds 

 in high mountain ranges of that part of the state. There are but three records 

 for the state, and one of these is probably an error. On ilay 27, 1911. a large 

 flock of Rosy Pinches, about five thousand, was seen at Anaconda. About 10 

 per cent of the flock were of this species, the remainder being tephrocotis. An 

 adult male in advanced breeding condition was secured (Saunders, 1912a, p. 

 28). An adult female, in worn breeding plumage, was taken on Rock Creek, 

 above Lake Como, Ravalli County, August 2, 1911 (Bailey, MS). The third 

 record is from Terry, November 1, 1903 (Cooke, 1913b, p. 365). The last record 

 I question, because this species is not mentioned in Cameron's "Birds of Custer 

 and Dawson counties", and because another similar error has evidently been 

 made in the case of Empidonax difficilis. The occurrence of Leucosticte atrata 

 in that part of the state would be decidedly unusual. I am informed by Mr. H. 

 C. Oberholser that in transposing records. Prof. Cooke at one time designated 

 species by check-list number and not by name, and an error might have arisen 

 in that way. 



212. Acanthis homemanni exilipes (Cones) 



IIOARY Redpoll 

 A ver.y rare winter visitor in extreme eastern Montana. Two specimens 

 liave been taken at Miles City, on February 26, 1900, and March 12, 1900, re- 

 spectively, by C. F. Hedges (Bishop, 1901, p. 195). One seen in Dawson Coun- 

 ty, March 9, 1905 (Cameron, 1907, p. 403). 



