BIRDS OF NORTH DAKOTA 15 



86263. Spotted Sandpiper. Actitis macularia, 



A rare bird on the prairies. More common in and near Turtle Mountains 

 where it undoubtedly breeds. One pair unquestionably nested at Rock Lake 

 1895. 



87270. Black-bellied Plover. Charadrius squatarola. 



Tolerably common migrant, usually flying in very small flocks or singly. 

 Sometimes seen with the Golden Plover. First seen the last week in May. 



88272. American Golden Plover. Charadrius dominicus. 



Common migrant. Very erratic in its general movements. Arrives usual- 

 ly the second week in May. They are seen feeding around for two or three 

 weeks, frequenting burnt over ground and wheat fields. A number of flocks 

 seen moving south early in July, 1895. 



89273. Killdear. Aegialitis vocifera. 



Common resident in summer, breeding in some numbers. Their noisy 

 presence is made very apparent when one gets within half a mile of a nest. 

 First arrivals noted March 30. They herald their coming by loud and repeated 

 series of the cry peculiar to themselves and from which they derive their 

 name. 



90 274. Semi-palmated Plover. Aegialitis semipalmata. 



Rare. One seen by Dr. Bishop at Rock Lake, May, 1895. 



91277. Piping Plover. Aegialitis meloda. 



Noted at west end Devils Lake. 



92 277a, Belted Piping Plover. Aegialitis meloda circumcincta. 



Noted at west end Devils Lake near Graham's Island. 



93 283. Turnstone. Arenaria interpres. 



Tolerably common around Rock Lake in 1895. 



94_289. Quail. Colinus virginianus. 



Admitted on hearsay. Heard of a flock of a dozen near Grand Harbor 

 1894-1895 presumably shipped in and turned loose there. 



95_300b. Gray Buffed Grouse. Bonasa umbellus umbelloides. 



Common in Turtle Mountains. Have not taken any specimens myself, 

 but a collection of tails, spread and dried, seen in a settler's cabin, shows 

 both the light and dark forms of the Ruffed Grouse. 



96 305. Prairie Hen. Tympanuchns americana, 



Common summer resident, and if it continues to increase as it has in the 

 past five years it can soon be classed as an abundant bird of this section. 

 Earliest dates of arrival noted are March 26 and April 1. 



97308. Sharp-tailed Grouse. Pedioecetes phasianellus. 



Some of the winter birds of the Sharptailed Grouse are assigned to this 

 species. 



9^ 308b. Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. Pedioecetes phasianellus cempestris. 



The most abundant of the Grouse family and seen the year round, but 

 the winter birds are thought to be those raised farther north. There appears 

 to be a marked migration of this sub-species. As the prairies are settled and 

 broken up for grain fields, this species gives way to the prairie hen, which 

 was practically unknown here in the early 90's. 



99_316. Mourning Dove. Zenaidura macroura. 



Tolerably common summer resident. Nests both on the prairies and in 

 the Turtle Mountains. First week in May is when the spring migrants are 

 first seen. 



