402 Cameron, Birds of Custer & Dawson Counties, Mont. [oct^ 



species perched in the choke cherries at the ranch veranda in Custer County, 

 where it sung loudly for some time. This song, which I thought was very 

 fine, attracted me to the bird. My wife also heard it in the dark room, 

 and afterwards told me it had reminded her of a Thrasher. Nevertheless, 

 Mr. Townsend 1 has described it as "a miserable failure." So much for 

 different opinions. 



On August 23, 1904, a male Evening Grosbeak came to my water troughs 

 in Dawson County and allowed a near approach. Captain Thome gives 

 it as rare. Dr. Edgar A. Mearns 2 mentions that "a small flock was seen 

 beside the Bighorn River, near Fort Custer" (which was formerly in Custer 

 County) at the end of July. 



119. Loxia curvirostra minor. American Crossbill. — Common in 

 the pine hills of both counties. Crossbills may be seen during every month 

 of the year and it is certain that they breed, although I have not found a 

 nest. 



It was not possible for me to give much attention to these birds until 

 the three years 1904, 1905, 1906, when Crossbills of all ages and plumages 

 were regular visitors to my water-troughs in Dawson County. During 

 the first two years above mentioned, the birds came daily, in small flocks 

 from the end of May until the middle of December, and when mixed with 

 about the same number of Goldfinches, presented a most attractive sight. 

 In cold weather, the Crossbills showed their intelligence by waiting for 

 me to break the ice, singing subdued songs meanwhile, but ceased coming- 

 altogether after snowfall. From six to twenty was the average number 

 of Crossbills seen daily at the water, but on June G, 1905, I counted forty- 

 eight in two flocks, which was the most ever observed here. As is well 

 known, these birds are very tame, and will sometimes allow an examination 

 within two or three yards. The most striking feature about these Cross- 

 bills is the variation in their plumage. Besides the vermilion and black 

 of the adult males (which colors are seemingly brightest in November), 

 and the grays or greens of females and young, I have seen the following 

 mixed plumages: Vermilion and brown; orange and brown; olive green, 

 with underparts and rump light green; also, a tricolor of brown, green and 

 yellow. The rarest combination of colors remarked by me is a uniform 

 bright green with yellow on the wings. In 1906, Crossbills were compara- 

 tively scarce, but young of the year began coming to the water on June 15. 



120. Leucosticte tephrocotis. Gray-crowned Leucosticte. — Abun- 

 dant winter visitor. 



The average date of arrival in the vicinity of Terry is October 25, and 

 the birds leave about March 15. This species occurs in immense flocks in 

 both counties, but appears to be very local and capricious. I have never 

 seen it south of the Northern Pacific Railroad. My first experience of this 



1 North American Birds, Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, Land Birds, Vol. I, p. 451, 

 1874. 



2 Condor Vol. VI, No. 1, p. 21. 



