^'^'lOif^T Saunders, An Ecological Bird Study. 209 



deers evidently nested in similar places, but I did not succeed in 

 finding the nests. There was no doubt but that the nests were 

 there, for each pair of birds was to be found regularly in a certain 

 spot, protesting at my presence. The Kingfisher's nest was plainly 

 visible in the steep clay bank of the creek. The Kingfishers them- 

 selves, evidently did not live entirely within the area in question, 

 but fished the stream up and down for a considerable distance 

 both above and below the area. 



In other parts of Montana I had always classed the Kingbird as 

 a member of the cottonwood grove association. Here however, 

 these birds depart from their ordinary habit, and build their nests 

 in bushes bordering the streams. I found all four nests, and not 

 one was at an elevation of more than four feet. All were on the 

 bank of the stream, and two were built so that they overhung the 

 water, one of them only about three feet above the surface, and 

 almost on a level with the bank. This nest was beside a pool 

 in which the boys of Choteau go swimming. Several of the boys 

 informed me that a nest had been in that particular spot for several 

 years. This information was supplied at different times by diff- 

 erent individuals, so I have no doubt that it is correct. 



The cattail slough association consisted of two small sloughs, 

 with water in them about eighteen inches deep, and grown thickly 

 with cattails, I found but two species in this association. They 



are as follows. 



No. Acreage 



Species of pairs. per pair. 



Thick-billed Red-wing 5 0.4 



Bittern 1 2.0 



Total 6 0.67 



I found all five nests of the Red-wings, one in one slough, and four 

 in the other. The actual number of adult birds was less than ten, 

 for the Red-wings showed evident signs of polygamy. The single 

 nest in the first slough was guarded by a pair of birds, but the other 

 four nests, though I saw all four females, evidently had but two 

 males. 



Whether the Bittern nested or not I could not be quite certain. 

 I saw but one bird, which pumped every evening from one or the 



