^'"I's^s^^] Cameron, Birds of Custer 8c Dawson Counties, Mont. 55 



common. A regular spring migrant in both counties but seldom seen in 

 the fall. I have not seen more than two at one time, excepting on May 31, 

 1906, when I counted six together. 



190. Merula migratoria propinqua. Western Robin. — Common 

 summer resident. Arrives about the second week in April. Several 

 pairs nested annually on my ranch near Terry, and one or two pairs in the 

 pine hills at my Dawson County ranch. In 1907, a pair of Robins nested 

 in a shed at Mr. J. H. Price's ranch near Knowlton. The young were 

 hatched on June 22, and were flying about on July 28. In May, when 

 about ranches, the Robin chooses some elevated position, such as the brace 

 of high gate posts, or the cable of a haycarrier, and pours forth its song 

 for half an hour at a time. Although the latter only consists of two notes 

 frequently repeated (chirrup, chirrup, chirrup, etc.), it is nevertheless a 

 persistent and extremely pleasing effort. In the fall Robins, old and 

 young, flock together in the pines. A species of red currant (called spice- 

 berry here) ripens about the end of August and proves a great attraction 

 to them. These plants grew around my water-troughs (Dawson County); 

 on August 27, 1904, I watched upwards of seventy Robins which were 

 drinking and feeding on the berries. Six birds could be seen perched on a 

 single bush. The Robins constantly uttered a loud clucking similar to the 

 Old World Blackbird {Turdus merula) but I never heard them sing. They 

 remain in the pines until about October 22, when all leave for the south. 



191. Sialia arctica. Mountain Bluebird. — Bluebirds are among the 

 earhest spring arrivals here, and may be seen as early as March 20. 

 They are not common in either county except on the spring and fall 

 migrations, when they pass in flocks containing from twenty to thirty 

 birds. A few pairs remain to nest in the pine hills, choosing any convenient 

 cavity in a dead tree. 



During June, 1903, a pair of Bluebirds took possession of a deserted 

 Cliff Swaflow's nest near the summit of a perpendicular sand rock at my 

 ranch in Dawson County. 



Addenda. 



192. Nyctala acadica. Saw-whet Owl. — Rare. To the best of my 

 knowledge this owl has not before been recorded from Montana. On July 

 12, 1907, Mr. M. M. Archdale was driving a cattle herd on his ranch near 

 Knowlton when he caught sight of this owl, wliich had been disturbed by 

 the animals, at the edge of a thicket. Feeling certain that here was a new 

 bird for this locality he most kindly sent his brother post-haste for me while 

 keeping watch on the owl himself until I arrived. It proved to be a bird 

 of the year, and was probably bred in the neighborhood. Other members 

 of the family, from their nocturnal habit, might easily have escaped notice. 

 I watched the owl for a long time. It evidently had a great dislike to the 

 dayhght, flitting about, when disturbed, in the depths of the plum and 



