398 Cameron, Birds of Custer & Dawson Counties, Mont. [oct k 



Common on migration in both counties, arriving about the end of April, 

 but more scarce in the breeding season as there are few suitable nesting 

 sites. Large flocks visited my ranch (Custer Co.) in 1893, which were very- 

 destructive to the squaw corn, and destroyed all the corn (in the milk) 

 belonging to a neighbor (Mr. H. Tusler) who was forced to cut it for fodder. 

 These flocks seemed almost entirely composed of females and young birds, 

 and seven which I examined were all immature examples. There was a 

 email proportion of Brewer's Blackbirds and Bronzed Crackles among them. 

 The Red-winged Blackbirds were never so numerous at any subsequent 

 period while I lived on this ranch, owing to the fact that in the same year 

 (1893), a pair of Marsh Hawks established themselves below the house and 

 returned each succeeding spring. Both parents hunted incessantly to 

 supply their young with food; together, or separately, they would beat 

 the hillsides flying up and down the creek on which the two ranches were 

 situated. This kept the blackbirds constantly on the move. 



Like Brewer's Blackbird the Red-winged chooses all kinds of positions 

 for its nest, and will sometimes place the latter as near the ground as the 

 coarse slough grass will permit. A pool by the Yellowstone, about two 

 miles east of Terry, used to be frequented by a colony of these blackbirds 

 whose nests, interwoven with four or five growing flags and suspended two 

 feet above the water were a pleasure to behold. On June 11, 1894, both 

 fresh eggs and young birds were found; four eggs being the greatest num- 

 ber laid in one nest. Another nest observed on my ranch (Custer Co.),. 

 at the same time, and placed a few inches from the ground in a wild currant 

 bush, was most inferior to the above charming style of bird architecture. 

 On this ranch several pairs of Red-winged Blackbirds bred every year in a 

 wet meadow, but reared very few young on account of the Marsh Hawks. 

 On June 8, 1900, there were six nests; five in slough grass, which was here 

 preferred to bulrushes, and one in a wild rose bush. The deep nests were 

 made chiefly of the coarse marsh grass, which is called 'slough grass' here, 

 and contained either four or five eggs. Unlike Brewer's Blackbird, the 

 male of this species becomes most aggressive when the young are full 

 fledged, and will strike an intruder on the head, constantly uttering a 

 loud clucking. The newly fledged youm;- hide in the slough grass and 

 whistle softly. The Red-winged Blackbird has a short, charming song of 

 five notes, in liquid quality of tone more nearly resembling a flute than that 

 of any bird I know. 



113. Sturnella magna neglecta. Western Meadowlark. — Abundant 

 summer resident. Ubiquitous in both counties. 



From records kept over a period of eighteen years the average date of 

 spring arrival is shown to be March 30, and of the fall departure October 

 20. The earliest appearance was March 20, 1907. The Meadowlark is 

 always eagerly awaited here as the herald of spring, and, in the first week 

 of April, pours forth its loud song from every conceivable situation. This 

 has several different passages, but the usual song, which delights ranch- 

 men, consists of a repetition of seven notes — the first long and the other 



