^ 1914 ] Saunders, An Ecological Bird Study. 203 



In giving the numbers of these species by pairs, I am assuming 

 that every male bird found singing regularly on the area had a 

 mate. This of course might not be the case. It was difficult to 

 observe these birds except when they were singing, and I did not 

 see females of any of the three species, regularly. I found only one 

 nest in this habitat, that of a Western Meadowlark. These birds 

 were not the only ones found in this association, however. Other 

 species, nesting in other associations often obtained food in this 

 one. These other species were Marsh Hawk, Short-eared Owl, 

 Brewer's Blackbird, Thick-billed Red-wing, Cowbird, and Long- 

 billed Curlew. All except the last are treated under other habitats, 

 but the Curlews nested entirely outside the area studied. 



The next association in size is that of the ciniquefoil brush. 

 This habitat is a peculiar one that I have not seen elsewhere in 

 Montana. It occurs on flat areas, with a moist soil, but less rich 

 than that of the grass meadow association, and usually very 

 rocky, and liable to be somewhat alkaline. The principle vegeta- 

 tion is the Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiophora fruticosa) which grows 

 in scattered clumps and patches, much in the same way that Sage- 

 brush grows on the plains in other parts of Montana. Between 

 the cinquefoil bushes is a growth of various species of grasses and 

 weeds, and a few other shrubs, such as willows, wild rose, Wolf- 

 berry (Symphoricarpus occidentalis), Buffalo-berry {Shepherdia 

 argentea), and SUver-berry {Eloeagnus argenteus). Both species 

 and individuals of birds are more numerous in this association than 

 in the grass meadow, probably partly because the shrubs form better 

 concealment for nesting sites. The numbers of species and individ- 

 uals found in this association on the area studied are as follows : 



Total 38 1 .8 



