1921 BIRDS OF MONTANA lo5 



Although I rode through the last mentioned region a nuniher dT times in 1908 

 and 1909, I saw nothing of the Sage Thrasher there. i-Jig Horn .Mountains and 

 on the road to Fort Ellis ( MeChesney, 1879. ]). 2:]84). Galhitin Valley, two 

 seeured in 1888 (Richmond and Knowlton. 1894. \). •'idT), < '(inunon at Port 

 Custer. 19(14 (Mearns. 19M4. p. 'ill. Sedan, Gallatin County, .iuue S. 190!) 

 ■Saunders, 1911a, p. 47 i . Sihvi- How, May 21, 1910 (Saunders, 191'-'a, p. :il). 

 Southwestern Broadwatci- County, about five miles north of Three Forks, Jul.y 

 11, 1911 (Saunders, 19lL*f, p. 217). Each of these last three records pertains to 

 a single male bird in song. The Silver Bow record is the only one west of the 

 divide. Seen j-arely north of Forsythe (Thomas, ilS ) . 



The nest has been rejiorted once from the state. It was found at Fort Cus- 

 tei-, Jul.v 2, 188."), when five eggs were collected by Bendire (Norris, 1888b, 

 p. 162). 



301. Dumetella carolinensis { Linnaeus) 



( '.\TBIRn 



A common summer I'esident throughout the state. Breetls in the Upjier 

 Sonoran and Transition zones, in thickets of wild rose, gooseberry, thorn and 

 other small shrubs. Ke]iorted by nearly all observers, and from all parts of thv- 

 state. 



The migrations take place in M;>y and Septemlier. Spring migration dates 

 are: Bozeman, .May 27. 1909, and May 28, 1911; Chotean, .May 2:!, 1912; Bitter- 

 root Valley, May 31, 1910, .May 29, 1911, May 2fi, 1912, and .May 24, 1913 (Bailey, 

 MS); Teton River, .Alay 28, 1915 ( DuBois, .MS). Fall: Bozenum. September 

 13, 1908: Salesville, Gallatin County, September 5, 1910. 



The nest has lieen found in Montana ipiite fi'e(|iii'iuly. Nesting takes place 

 m June and Jul.y. Nests were found l)etween Forts Cuion and Benton about 

 July 20, 1860 (Cooper, 1869b, p. 295). Eggs wciv f.mnd on Big Muddy Creek, 

 June 22, 1874 (Coues, 1874b, p. 551). Several nests have been found at Flat- 

 head Lake, the earliest July 2, 1900 (Silloway, 1901a, p. 13), and the latest July 

 22, 1902 (Silloway, 1903b, p, 296), both containing eggs. 



302. Toxostoma rufum (Linnaeus) 



Browx Tiir.\sukk 

 A common summer resident of extreme eastern .Montana, ranging westward 

 less commonly to the western limits of the prairie region. Not known in tiie 

 mountain valleys. All observers in the extreme eastern parts of the state report 

 this species as common. Its western limits ai-c imlicated l>y the following records : 

 Fergus County, rare, Init connnon at Deerfield (Silloway. 1903a, p 67) ; Great 

 Falls, two, May 9, 1887 (Williams, 18S8a, p. 16); Collins. Teton County, one, 

 June 6, 1915, and three, June 4, 1916 (DuBois, .MS). In the southern ].art of 

 the state it is common west to the Big Horn River (.Mearns. 1904. ji. 21 >, ami 

 I have received second hand information of its occurrence at Billings (though 

 Mr. Thomas does not record it from this region), and even at Dillon. l)iit thi- 

 source of this information was indefinite. 



