30 Bent, Summer Birds of Southwestern Saskatchewan. [jan 



the timber on Maple and Skull Creeks. One nest was found, in a natural 

 cavity in a box elder tree, containing 5 fresh eggs on June 1, 1905. 



108. Loxia curvirostra minor. American Crossbill. — Prof. Macoun 

 reported tliis species as seen in flocks in the Cypress Hills in June in 1894 

 and 1895. 



On May 31, 1905, I saw a flock of 6 crossbills flying over me among the 

 pines in the Cypress Hills which I suppose were this species, though none 

 were collected. 



109. Astragalinus tristis. American Goldfinch. — A pair were taken 

 on Maple Creek on June 30, 1906. 



110. Astragalinus tristis pallidus. Pale Goldfinch. — Goldfinches 

 were fairly common in the timber, especially along Maple Creek, and with 

 the exception of the pair referred to above, all proved to be much nearer 

 pallidus than tristis. Prof. Macoun, however, recorded tristis only. 



111. Spinus pinus. Pine Siskin. — I did not see this species at all 

 either season. Dr. Bishop says: " I collected one young of two birds along 

 the timber at Maple Creek on July 2. On July 26 I secured two young 

 birds from a small flock in the Cypress Hills, and heard others occasionally 

 there on other dates." 



112. Calcarius ornatus. Chestnut-collared Longspur. — Very com- 

 mon on the prairies. This and the following species were a constant source 

 of enjoyment and interest; we ne^'er ceased to admire their beautiful 

 plumage and their delightful little flight songs, during our long drives 

 across the grassy^ plains. The habits and the songs of the two species 

 were somewhat similar, but we soon learned to distinguish the males by 

 the color patterns in the tails, which were conspicuous at a long distance. 

 Though their ranges were by no means clearly separated, it seemed to me 

 that this species was more abundant on the more grassy prairies and 

 McCown's was commoner on the more barren plains. 



Nests were found with fresh eggs on June 2 and 10, 1905. 

 Almost all of the Longspurs, of both species, had disappeared from the 

 plains by August first. 



113. Rhynchophanes mccownii. McCown's Longspur. — Veiy com- 

 mon on the prairies in 1906, particularly on the barren hills north of Maple 

 Creek. 



We saw very few in 1905, but we spent very little time that season in the 

 localities where we found them so common in 1906. Two nests with eggs 

 were found on June 13, 1906. Their eggs were easily distinguished from 

 those of the Chestnut-collared Longspur but their nests were similar, 

 sunken into the ground in plain sight on the open prairie. They were not 

 easy to find, however. 



Their songs were similar to those of the foregoing species but somewhat 

 louder and richer. The male makes about three song flights per minute, 

 of about 8 or 10 seconds duration, feeding quietly on the ground during 

 the intervals of 10 or 12 seconds. He rises slowly and silently to a height 

 of 10 or 15 feet and then floats downward, on outstretched wings and 



