Vol. XVIII 

 igoi 



"I Bent, Nesting Habits of A?iatidcE in N. Dakota. \ 20 



broken surface of the prairie, uninterrupted b}^ fences or hills, 

 and not be confined to the section-line roads of the more thickly 

 settled portions of the State. The prairie grass was short and 

 offered very little resistance to tlie light buckboard, in which we 

 travelled, drawn by a pair of unshod bronchos. In the hollows, 

 where the ground was wet or marshy, the grass grew longer and 

 thicker so that such places had to be avoided. 



The bird life of the prairie is not so rich in species nor are 

 the individuals so closely crowded together as in the timbered 

 regions or the sloughs, but certain characteristic species were 

 quite evenly distributed everywhere. The Western Meadowlark 

 and the Chestnut-collared Longspur were probably the commonest 

 species, the rich song of the former and the delightful, warbling 

 flight song of the latter being constantly heard on all sides. 

 The Lark Bunting was common locally and was certainly one of 

 the most conspicuous species met with ; the striking black and 

 white plumage of the male and his rich and varied flight song 

 made this one of the most interesting species. Franklin's Gulls 

 were often seen flying over the prairie in scattered flocks to and 

 from their feeding grounds. Bartramian Sandpipers were scat- 

 tered about in pairs, nesting in the short prairie grass. Occa- 

 sionally a pair of Prairie Hens were flushed, and once a flock of 

 seven was seen, but this species was not nearly so common as we 

 expected to find it. The Marsh Hawk and the Short-eared Owl 

 were the characteristic Raptores of the open prairies, though 

 other species were common near the timber belts. Burrowing 

 Owls were seen only occasionally. Western Nighthawks were 

 common everywhere. Bobolinks, McCown's Longspurs, Western 

 Vesper Sparrows, Western Savanna Sparrows and Baird's Spar- 

 rows were scattered about over the prairies, the first two being 

 fairly abundant locally. 



The timbered regions are confined to the shores of the larger 

 lakes, to a narrow strip along the Sheyenne River, and to the 

 ' tree claims,' small patches of trees set out by the early settlers 

 near the farms. 



The principal timber trees are swamp oaks, elms, cottonwoods, 

 and box elders. The oaks and elms form the heaviest timber 

 and serve as nesting sites for Ferruginous Rough-legs, Swain- 



