BIRDS OF MONTANA 



256. Passerina amoena (Say) 



Lazuli Buntino 

 A eoiiiiiion siunincr i-i-sident tliroiighout the western half of ^Montana, be- 

 coming rather rare eastward, hut evidently found throughout the state. iJreeds 

 in the Transition zone, in low thick bushes, such as wild rose, ciu-i-ant, goosel)eiT\ 

 and similar shrubs. All observers in mountainous i>arts of the state repoi't this 

 species as common, not in the higher mountains, hut in tlie I'oothills. It is omit- 

 ted from many lists in the prairie region but is recoi'ded froni the Yellowstone 

 and iMus.selshell (Allen, 1874, p. 59), from Fort Keogh (Thoriie. lsi)5, p. -JlTi. 

 from Miles Cit.y (Hedges, <'oll. I'niv. .Montana), and from Custer ami Dawson 

 counties (Cameron, 1908, ]>. -IMi. hi the latter ease, however, tiie obsi'rvatmns 



Fig. 31. Nkst and egus of BL.\.eK-ui;-\i)i:ii 

 Grosbeak, with o>'e egg of the Cow- 

 RTRii. Ciioteau; July 7, 1912. 



on habits and nesting, and the migration tlates. indicate that some other species 

 was mistaken for the Lazuli Hunting, perhaps Sinlia sialis, the general <-<)lo'-- 

 ing of which is similar. 



The migrations oc-ui' in .May and August. Dates are as follows: .Mihs City. 

 May 11, 1902 (Hedges, eoll. Ciuv. ilontana) ; IJozeman, May 29, 19119: (lei-man 

 Gulch, Silver Bow County, ^lay 23, 1910; Rocky Canyon, Gallatin ('oiuit.v, ;\lay 

 29, 1911; Bitterroot Valley, May 20, 1910, June 5, 1911, Jlay 20, 1912, and May 

 ■Si, 1913 (Bailey, MS). Fall dates are from Traill Creek, Park County, August 

 23, 1908, and Gold (Week. Powell County, August 28, 1910. 



This species has been found nesting at Flathead Lake, but the date not given 

 (Silloway, 1901a, p. 24). In the Bitterroot Valley a nest contained two eggs ami 

 one of the Cowliii-d on June 15. 1910. another Cowbii-d's egg beini;' added two 



