28 Bent, Summer Birds of Southwestern Saskatchewan. [ja'n 



Creek and on the alkaline plains. No nests were found but fully fledged 

 young, in juvenal plumage, were taken as early as June 13, 1906. 



The birds of this region are intermediate between this form and Otocoris 

 alpestris enthymia Oberholser. We collected quite a series of Horned 

 Larks most of which, particularly those collected on the prairies in the 

 eastern portion of the region we visited, were nearer enthymia, while 

 those collected on the alkaline, sage-brush plains of western Saskatchewan, 

 and in Alberta were more typical of leucolcema. 



This new form described by Mr. Oberholser in 1902 and first noted by 

 Dr. Bishop in North Dakota in 1895, seems to be well marked and worthy 

 of recognition, as the bird of the northern prairie region. But as it has 

 not yet been formally accepted I must list our birds as leucolcema (Coues). 



97. Pica pica hudsonia. American Magpie. — Magpies were recorded 

 at various points in this region by Prof. Macoun, and we were told by 

 various residents that we should find them in the timber belts, but we 

 failed to see any of them either season. Our only evidence of their occur- 

 rence is contained in the following quotation from Dr. Bishop: — "I found 

 the deserted nest of a Magpie about 8 feet up in a clump of willows in the 

 Big Stick timber on July 19. Dwight climbed high enough to see that it 

 was domed." 



98. Corvus brachyrhynchos hesperis. California Crow. — A few 

 p^irs of Crows were noted, mostly near Crane Lake. Nests containing 

 young were found on June 13 and 17, 1905, and on June 23, 25 and 27, 

 1906. Dr. Bishop says, "an adult male taken at Walsh, Alberta, July 12, 

 is smaller, with smaller bill, than southern California examples of hesperis." 



99. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Bobolink. — Prof. Macoun found it at 

 the east end of the Cypress Hills in 1894. I saw one at Crane Lake on 

 June 13, 1905, but did not secure it. No others were seen. 



100. Molothrus ater. Cowbird. — Very abundant on the prairies, 

 about the ranches and in the timber. Eggs were found in the nests of 

 Western Vesper Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow and Western Savanna 

 Sparrow. In one nest of the latter, found on June 23, 1906, were 4 eggs 

 of the Cowbird and none of those of the rightful owner. 



101. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Yellow-headed Blackbird. 

 — Very abundant in all of the sloughs and on the meadows and prairies 

 surrounding them. Probably the most abundant bird of the whole region, 

 certainly the most numerous in the localities it inhabits, where it fairly 

 swarms. Hundreds of their nests were found in the bulrushes and flags, 

 where the constant din of their voices was the dominant sound, and their 

 striking colors made them always conspicuous. Nests containing eggs 

 were found all through June and some of the young were able to fly as 

 early as June 13, 1905. 



102. Agelaius phoeniceus fortis. Thick-billed Redwing. — Very com- 

 mon around the sloughs and along the creeks, nesting in the flags and 

 long grasses on the edges of the sloughs and in the shallower portions. 

 Nests with eggs were found as early as June 5, 1905. 



