^°i'908^^1 Cameron, Birds of Custer & Dawson Counties, Mont. 39 



THE BIRDS OF CUSTER AND DAWSON COUNTIES, 

 MONTANA.^ 



BY E. S. CAMERON, F. Z. S. L., M. B. O. U. 



134. Pooecetes gramineus confinis. Western Vesper Sparrow. — 

 Tolerably common; arriving about the end of April. A few remain to 

 breed. On June 17, 1896, I found a nest (a deep cup in the ground amidst 

 the sage brush), containing three eggs of this sparrow and three of the 

 ■Cowbird. 



135. Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus. Western Savanna Spar- 

 row. — Captain Thome gives this bird as common and breeding. I have 

 only come across it two or three times at the migration periods. 



136. Coturniculus bairdii. Baird's Sparrow. — An irregular fall mi- 

 grant. I have obserA^ed tliis sparrow on the prairie in large numbers 

 ■during September, but have no notes of its occurrence at any other time. 

 A flock frequented the garden at my ranch, Custer County, in September, 

 1893. They were preyed upon by a Sharp-shinned Hawk, and by the cat, 

 which on the tlurteenth brought me two good specimens. Measurements 

 in inches were: length 5h; wing scarcely 3; tail 2 J; extent 9|. Feet and 

 legs flesh color, fading to pale brown. Bill flesh color, with culmen dark 

 brown. Iris, black. A large flock arrived at another ranch where I lived 

 near Terry, on September 6, 1902, and remained for four days, thus afford- 

 ing an ample opportunity for watcliing them. These birds are very fond 

 of perching on buildings and fences. Unless specimens are shot for identi- 

 fication it is often difficult to diagnose the countless flocks of migrant 

 sparrows which flit through the sage brush. Nevertheless I believe that 

 this species without yellow at the bend of the wing is much commoner 

 than the previous bird. Baird's Sparrows came to drink at my water- 

 troughs in Dawson County during September, 1905. 



137. Coturniculus savannarum perpallidus. Western Grasshopper 

 Sparrow. — Rare. I have seen this Sparrow once only, on September 16, 

 1904, when one came to my water-troughs in Dawson County, in company 

 with Clay-colored Sparrows and Chipping Sparrows. 



138. Chondestes grammacus strigatus. Western Lark Sparrow. — 

 Very abundant summer resident in both counties. 



Lark Sparrows arrive early in May, and are the most pugnacious little 

 birds I have ever seen. The cocks fight on the ground or in the air indif- 

 ferently, and are then so oblivious to their surroundings that five or six 

 fighting on the wing have nearly hit me in the face. When all other 

 birds are suffocated by the heat, and even the doves are unable to coo, 

 Lark Sparrows keep up their continuous harsh croaking and indulge in 



1 Concluded from Vol. XXIV, Oct., 1907, p. 406. 



