'JOO Richmond and Knowlton on Montana Bints. " t * 



feet. In the northern and western portions where the elevation 

 was lowest, the land is largely under cultivation. On rising 

 into the foothills thickets of quaking aspen (Populus tremu- 

 loides) are abundant, extending also into the open valleys as 

 high as Sooo feet. In the southern and eastern more mountain- 

 ous portion the prevailing forest tree is the black pine {Pinus 

 murrayana), which reaches its greatest development on the 

 dryer plateaus between 7000 and 8000 feet, although it is found 

 from the lower altitudes (5500 feet) up to 9500 feet. The 

 Douglas or red fir ( Pseudotsuga douglassii) is found up to 

 9000 feet, generally scattered over the dryer grassy ridges and 

 slopes where it forms loose groves. Pinus Jiexilis is also 

 common on dry gravelly ridges from 6000 feet to about 8000 

 feet. Next to the black pine the balsam {Abies subalftina) is 

 most abundant and widest in distribution, being found through- 

 out in cool, moist situations, at low elevations on the northern 

 slopes, and especially common on wet subalpine slopes above 

 Sooo feet. Little less abundant and occupying approximately 

 the same situations is the spruce {Picea engelmanni). 



The observations recorded are far from exhaustive, for they 

 were made in the midst of other engrossing duties which 

 demanded first attention. They record simply what we were 

 able to note in the time at our disposal. We had hoped that our 

 observations might be supplemented by additional and more 

 detailed work, but as there appears no prospect of this, we 

 present the notes in the hope that they may be of assistance to 

 future students of the bird life of this region. 



Of the list of 1 1 1 species, specimens were obtained of 93 of 

 them, represented by nearly 700 specimens. 



In addition to these we saw several large Owls {Bubo?), not 

 satisfactorily identified ; some Hawks, and smaller birds, names 

 not determined, and which are therefore not given a place in 

 the list. 



The following species mentioned by Mr. Geo. Bird Grinnell 1 

 were not met with by us : — 



1 War Department — Report of a Reconnaissance from Carroll, Montana Territory, 

 on the Upper Missouri, to the Yellowstone National Park, and return, made in the 

 Summer of 1875. By Wm. Ludlow. Washington, Government Printing Office, 1876. 

 Zoology by Geo. Bird Grinnell. Birds, pp. 72-92. 



