1G4 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 14 



norlh (Sauiidcrs, IDUa, p. 14:)), the Belt Mountains (Williams, 1882a, p. 62), 

 KergiLs County (Silloway, ll)():5a, p. 68), and the Big Horn ^Mountains (Alerrili, 

 1881, p, 2()4). Ot'furs in migration in the valleys and in the prairie region, in 

 Cottonwood groves, willow thiekets and similar places. It is rare eastward on 

 tile prairies, however. 



The migrations take place mainly in April and early ^lay, and in Septem- 

 lier. Five years at Columbia Falls give an average of April 14, with the earliest 

 date Api'il 11, 1893 (Cooke, 1915c, p. 122). Other dates are: Gallatin County, 

 -May 7, 1909; Norton Gulch, Silver Bow County, March 31, 1910, a single maic 

 secured, but the species not common till April 12; Anaconda, April 20, 1911. 

 Fall dates are as follows: Columbia Palls, two years' average October 10, latest 

 October 12, 1896 (Cooke, 1915c, p. 125) ; Pipestone Creek, Jefferson County, 

 September 26. 1909; Gold tireek, Powell County, September 20, 1910. Records 

 of migration in the valle.ys and on the prairies are as follows : Fort Keogh, Sep- 

 tember, 1889, one (Thorne, 1895, p. 218). Fort Keogh, September 22, 1900, one 

 male (Hedges, coll. Univ. Montana) ; Great Falls, May 9, 18S7 ( Williams, 1888a, 

 p. 15) ; Choteau, May 25, 1912; Bitterroot Valley, April 20, 1911. May 12, 1911, 

 and May 27, 1913. 



A nest with eight eggs was found in the Big Horn JMountains. June 18. 

 1880 (Merrill, 1881, p. 204), and a nest with eight young a^ Flathead Lake. Ju!;-- 

 6, 1903 (Silloway, 1903b, p. 300). 



320. Myadestes townsendi (Audubon) 



TOWNSEND SOMT.MKE 



A regular summei- i-esident of the mountains in the western half of the 

 state, occurring more rarely in stunmer in the badlands of the eastern half. A 

 rather rare winter visitor to the mountain valle.ys in the western half, and to the 

 badlands of the eastern iialf. Breeds chiefl.v in the Canadian and Hudsonian 

 zones, but also oceasionall.y in the Transition. Found in the vicinity of rocks, 

 either about rock cliffs and slides in the mountains, about morainal rocks below 

 ^daciers, or on the sides of canyons, on prairie buttes and in the badlands. Not 

 reported by all observers, as the bird is rather rare in most localities and liabh 

 to be overlooked. This is particularly true in winter, or in late summer, when 

 it is not ill song, and is (juii^t and ineons|iii-iioiis. 



Summer records are as follows: Flathead Lake, two seen, one taken I Sillo- 

 way, 1901a, p. 73). Six in July and one in August, 1892, at Lame Deer, Custer 

 County (Thorne, 1895, p. 218). Gallatin Count.y, in the mountains (Saunders. 

 1911a, p. 48). Southwestern Montana, common in the mountains (Saunders, 

 1912a, p. 32). Helena. July 11, 1911 (Saunders, 1912f, p. 219). .Mountains of 

 Teton and northern Lewis and Clark counties (Saunders, 1914a. p. 143). Rare 

 breeder in the mountains of Ravalli County (Bailey, j\IS). 



Records in migration, w-ith dates, where given, are as follows: Fergus Coun- 

 ly, seen once in fall (Silloway, 1903a, p. 69). Arrivals in spring: Middle Creek, 

 Gallatin County, Jlay 1, 1909; Norton Gulch, Silver Bow County, March 15, 

 1910. Departure in fall: Traill Creek. Octol)er ID, 190S; Pipestone Creek, Oe- 



