42 Cameron, Birds of Custer & Dawson Counties, Mont. [jeJif 



and the latest July 15. I have several times seen a Cowbird's egg among 

 those of the sparrow. 



At the water-troughs on my ranch in Dawson County there are excellent 

 opportunities for observing the habits of these sparrows, as several pairs 

 nest annually in the cedars wliich grow around them. The nests are 

 usually slight, unfinished structures of dried grasses, but may be more 

 -elaborate with horse and cowhair interwoven. As with other birds here, 

 the partially feathered nestlings suffer much from the sun's rays and the 

 parents shade them. In July, 1904, an Arkansas Kingbird and a Chip- 

 ping Sparrow sat on nests side by side in two opposite forks of the same 

 cedar branch. I have never observed Chipping Sparrows here after the 

 first week in November. Tliis form is referable to socinlis and not to var. 

 nnzonce, as the adult males have the crown continuous bright chestnut. 



145. Spizella pallida. Clay-colored Sparrow. — Common sometimes 

 ■on the spring migration; rare at other times. On May 16, 1905, hundreds 

 passed in company with Chipping Sparrows when our cat brought in a 

 good specimen. Measurements in inches were: Length 5; extent 7\; 

 wing 2f ; tail 2^. Captain Thorne gives it in his list as breeding. I 

 observed these sparrows at different dates during August and September, 

 1904, associating with Chipping Sparrows. 



146. Spizella breweri. Brewer's Sparrow. — Captain Thorne gives 

 this sparrow as "Common, breeds." I have not recognized it. 



147. Junco hyemalis. Slate-colored Junco. — Common spring and 

 fall migrant. Capt. Thorne states that some remain to breed but I have 

 never found a nest. At my ranch in Custer County, Juncos arrived in 

 large numbers early in April, and were exceedingly tame; they associated 

 with Desert Horned Larks and Chipping Sparrows about the buildings. 

 In April, 1893, the female of a pair which frequented the stable perched 

 on a horse's ear, and in April, 1896, I twice caught a Junco in the stable 

 with my hand. When the weather became warm they all departed to 

 reappear again about the first of October. Juncos do not care to stay long 

 in the pine hills, and I have only noticed small flocks of passing migrants 

 at my ranch in Dawson County. 



148. Melospiza fasciata. Song Sparrow. — Rare. I have no records. 

 Captain Thorne gives: "One female taken April 16, 1889." 



149. Melospiza lincolmi. Lincoln's Sparrow. — Rare. On May 10, 

 1897, two were seen in the shrubbery at my window (Custer County). On 

 August 27, 1904, two came to my water-troughs in Dawson County. 

 Captain Thorne saw it twice only in 1889. 



150. Pipilo maculatus arcticus. Arctic Towhee. — Common in both 

 ■counties. Nested on both my ranches. The average time of arrival is 

 during the second week in May, the 6th being the earliest date I have 

 recorded. The grass nests of Towhees are placed on the ground in clumps 

 of wild roses or sage brush and contain four or five eggs. These are laid 

 about the middle of June; nestlings are hatched at the end of the month, 

 and fledglings may be seen flying about in August. AU the birds leave at 



