42 Saunders, Birds of Gallatin Co., Mont. [j^ k 



of October and in winter is probably the most abundant of all species. 

 In spring I noted it in small numbers up to May 20, 1909. 



*128. Astragalinus tristis. Goldfinch. — Common summer resi- 

 dent in willow thickets in the valleys. It occasionally winters in small 

 flocks. A bird secured at Three Forks in February, 1910, was identified 

 as A. t. tristis by Dr. Bishop although A. t. pallidus should occur and 

 perhaps will be found to be the common breeding form in this region. 



129. Spinus pinus. Pine Siskin. — Abundant summer resident. 

 This species arrives in May and breeds in cottonwood groves in the valleys 

 and lower mountain canons and in the mountain forests as high as 8,000 

 feet. I found a nest of this species in middle Creek Canon placed in a 

 willow three feet from the ground. This nest was partially completed on 

 June 21, and contained three eggs by June 26. Mr. Thomas found several 

 nests in cottonwood trees and young firs in Bozeman. One of these con- 

 tained four fully fledged young on Aug. 20, 1909. This species leaves 

 in the middle of September. 



130. Passer domesticus. English Sparrow'. — This bird is now 

 quite common in all towns and settlements along the railroads. It ar- 

 rived some time in the last ten years but I have been unable to get exact 

 data. 



131. Plectrophenax nivalis. Snow Bunting. — Mentioned as oc- 

 curring in winter at Salesville, by Mr. A. M. Pyfer. 



132. Calcarius lapponicus. Lapland Longspur. — I noticed large 

 flocks of this species on March 30 and April 1 and 17, 1909. It probably 

 occurs regularly in migrations and perhaps in winter. 



133. Pooecetes gramineus confinis. Western Vesper Sparrow. — 

 Common summer resident. This species arrives late in April and leaves 

 the last of September. It is a very common bird in the cultivated parts of 

 the Gallatin Valley and even commoner in the sagebrush land of the 

 East Flathead Valley. I found young of this species out of the nest and 

 barely able to fly on July 22, and probably a second brood nest, containing 

 fresh eggs on July 27. 



*134. Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus. Western Savannah 

 Sparrow. — Common summer resident in the valleys, arriving about the 

 middle of May. 



135. Ammodramus savannarum bimaculatus. Western Grass- 

 hopper Sparrow. — Summer resident in the valleys. Quite rare in the 

 Gallatin Valley but fairly common about Three Forks. 



*136. Chondestesgrammacusstrigatus. Western Lark Sparrow. 

 — Richmond and Knowlton obtained specimens of this bird . I have 

 observed it but once, on July 7, 1909, in a thicket of tall sage-brush and 

 greasewood near Lombard. 



137. Zonotrichia leucophrys. White-crowned Sparrow. — Com- 

 mon summer resident. This species breeds in willow thickets, both in the 

 valleys about Bozeman and in the mountain canons up to 8,000 feet. 

 It arrives early in May, in company with the next form, and leaves about 



