244 Cameron, Birds of Custer & Davenport Counties, Mont. [j^w 



ered with cream-colored bell-shaped blossoms, flourish in profusion 

 on gravelly or sandy hills. Among less pretentious flowers are 

 several kinds of lily, yellow daisies, blue hairbells, and quantities 

 of purple vetch. During May, 1892, I travelled on horseback 

 up the Tongue River from its mouth at Miles City to the Big Horn 

 Mountains, a distance of 205 miles, returning by the same route 

 in August, and obtaining thus abundant opportunity to observe 

 the distinctive vegetation and bird-life of the prairie. On the 

 return trip ranch thermometers registered the high temperature 

 of 114° in the shade. 



By far the greatest number of birds, both as regards species and 

 individuals, are to be seen along the banks of the large rivers, 

 but ornithological exploration in the badlands derives a peculiar 

 charm from their extraordinary geological features and their intense 

 solitude. Miles may be traversed with never a sign of man nor a 

 sound more civilized than the Falcon's angry scream. The typical 

 breeding birds of the badlands are the Golden Eagle (Aquila chry- 

 saetos), Prairie Falcon (Falco me.ricanus), Duck Hawk (Falco 

 peregrinus anatum), Say's Phcebe (Sayornis saya), American 

 Magpie (Pica pica hadsonica), Cliff Swallow (Pctrochelidon luni- 

 frons), and Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus). As previously 

 stated, the most important tract of badlands is that known as the 

 Missouri Brakes in Dawson County which borders the Missouri 

 River between the mouths of the Big Dry and Mussellshell, extends 

 to 65 miles long by 10 wide, or thereabouts, and is almost entirely 

 composed of gumbo clay. Notwithstanding its generally arid 

 character, large groves of fir, lodge-pole pine, and red cedar, are 

 to be found under the main divide, which I have twice visited 

 during extended hunting trips in the locality. The first time was 

 during March and April, 1890, when it constituted a regular 

 sportsman's paradise, being full of mule deer, mountain sheep, 

 and grizzly bears. On account of the time of year, however, only 

 the latter were hunted. On April 7 the migration of wild-fowl was 

 at its height, and I have never since seen the Anatida? so numerous 

 as when camped near the Big Dry River at that date. A second 

 expedition was made early in October, 1895, in company with Mr. 

 J. H. Price, and on this occasion a list was made of the birds ob- 

 served in the Missouri Brakes at that time. The characteristic 



