Vol. XXIV 

 1907 



1 Cameron, Birds of Custer & Davenport Counties,' Mont. 269 



They were observed to kill half grown turkeys belonging to J. C. Braley, 

 of Terry, in the summer of 1902. The season's menu for our own particular 

 owlets consisted, however, mainly of cotton-tail rabbits, two of which 

 have been seen in the nest at one time. I once saw a young jack rabbit 

 in the nest, (Plate XII, Fig. 2.) 



81. Nyctea nyctea. Snowy Owl. — Erratic winter visitor. In some 

 years abundant; in others not seen. During the winter of 1889-90 there 

 was a regular invasion of Snowy Owls, and J. D. Allen, taxidermist, 

 Mandan, N. D., had five hundred sent to him for preservation, which I 

 examined in May, 1890. During the same winter Captain Thorne has 

 records of eighteen in his locality (Fort Keogh) alone. On my trip to the 

 Missouri Brakes from Miles City, in April, 1890, these owls were commonly 

 seen all along the route traversed. I have frequently met with them since 

 in all parts of both counties but never again in such numbers. Snowy 

 Owls alight indifferently on a tree, on a fence, or on the ground, and, in 

 the latter situation, allow a very close approach by a horseman before 

 taking wing. Mr. W. S. Haley informed me that a pair of these owls 

 remained over two summers on Pine Creek, Custer County, and frequently 

 flew into the hollow of a dead cottonwood where they were supposed to 

 have a nest. It is unfortunate that he did not further investigate. 



82. Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea. Burrowing Owl. — Common resi- 

 dent. In summer these owls have a habit of making short flights along 

 the wire fences in front of horses, perching on the wires until approached 

 quite close. 



83. Claucidium gnoma. Pygmy Owl. — Rare. A specimen of this 

 owl was obtained in the timber on Tongue River at Miles City by a work- 

 man in Moran's saddle shop, where I saw it mounted on January 4, 1895. 

 It was afterwards presented by Mr. Moran to Mr. J. E. Rickards, governor 

 of the State of Montana. 



84. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. Black-billed Cuckoo. — Rare sum- 

 mer visitor, arriving about the end of May. About two pairs nested 

 regularly upon my ranch in Custer County, and the groves resounded with 

 their cries. Mr. J. H. Price, who has a thorough knowledge of Custer 

 County, tells me he never heard them elsewhere. I have heard cuckoos, 

 however, on Ten Mile Creek, ten miles distant, where exactly similar con- 

 ditions prevail. (See introduction.) In June, 1900, a pair of cuckoos 

 chose the center of a choke cherry for their nest, which was entirely con- 

 cealed from view by festoons of flowering clematis enveloping the bush. 

 On June 13, when I first discovered this beautiful nest it contained six 

 blue eggs, but unfortunately five young Marsh Hawks were hatched out at 

 the same date on the creek below. On June 19, five nestling cuckoos were 

 hatched but had fallen a prey to the Marsh Hawks by the end of the month. 



85. Ceryle alcyon. Belted Kingfisher. — Not common. Summer 

 visitor to Tongue River, Powder River, and the Yellowstone. Mr. Dan 

 Bowman informed me (in lit.) June 4, 1905, that a pair were nesting on 



