1921 BIRDS OF MONTANA 113 



1900, p. 31). Tlie oceuiTeniii:' of the Pine Siskin in sununt'i' in tlie eastci-n piirt 

 of the state indicates that it lireeds there, probably mainly in the jiine hills. In 

 western jMontana it breeds both in evergreen forests and in eottonwood groves. 

 In some localities it is found in the valleys, where not far distant from the moun- 

 tains, such as the Gallatin Valle.y (Saunders, 1911a, p. 42), but it is alumdaut 

 only in the mountains. 



The migrations are somewhat ii'regular. Spring dates are as follows: Colum- 

 bia Falls, Ai)ril 10, 1894 (Cooke, 191()b, p. 14(1) ; Gallatin County, May 2ti, 190!): 

 Divide Creek, Silver Bow County, April 2:!, 1910; Bozeman, May 27, 1911: 

 Missoula, April 15 (Kittredge, ;MS,). Fall dates are: Bozenuin, September \'-i. 

 1908 ; Pipestone Basin, Jefferson County, September 24, 1909 ; Elk Park, Silver 

 Bow County, September 8, 1910; Lubeo, Teton County, September 27, 1911, and 

 Sun River, Lewis and Clai'k County, September 12, 1912. There is one wuiter 

 reeoi'tl of this species in the slati', at Bitterroot N'alley, Febi-uary 24, 1912 

 i Bailey, .MS). 



This species undoubtedl.y nests commonly, but there are few records of the 

 finding of nests. One which 1 found on Middle Creek, Gallatin County, was 

 half built on June 21, 1909, and the last of four eggs was laid June 2(i. This 

 nest was situated in a eottonwood only a few feet from the ground, at the bottom 

 of a mountain canyon. Another nest, containing .young, was shown me by Mr. 

 Thomas in Bozeman. It was built in a .voung planted Douglas fir, about five 

 feet from the ground, and the lour young left the nest on the evening of August 

 19, 1909, Young wei-e noted on the wing at Belton, August 21, 1915 (DuBois, 

 MS). 



219, Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis (Linnaeus) 



Snow Bunting 



A conuudu hut erratic and somewhat iri-egular winter visit"!'. Found in 

 valleys and on prairies, mainly at low elevations, throughout the .state, Init 

 records are most common from the prairies east of the divide. Through the 

 prairie region of the state, all observers who have made observations in wintei' 

 note its occurrence. In the mountain valleys it has been recorded in Gallatin 

 Valley (Pyfer, 1898, p. 15). at Missoula, November 28. and at Trego, February 

 19 (Kittredge, MS). 



Jligrations are as follows: Northern Montana, average of si.x .years arrival, 

 October 81, earliest, Octolier 26, 1895; average of six years departure, March 

 17, latest April 2, 1890 (Cooke, 1913, p. 17) ; Custer and Dawson counties, earli- 

 est, November 18, and latest, March lb (Cameron, 1907, p. 405) : Fort Keogh, 

 arrives November 14, and leaves ilarch 17 ( Thorne, 1895, p. 216). 



220. Calcarius lapponicus alascensis Ridgway 



Al,ASK.\ LoNGSPTJR 



An erratic winter visitor, chiefl.y in the eastern half of the state, on the 

 prairies, but occurring in the mountain valle.ys in migrations. Jlost of the rec- 

 ords are given as lapponicus. but the only specimens that have been carefull.v 



