CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 563 
out of the grass and alighted on a fence-post; I immediately secured 
it and was very surprised to discover that I had collected a fine male 
black-throated bunting ; no others were seen. (Aftkinson.). One 
individual taken on Sable island, N.S., September 12th, 1902. 
(J. Boutelver.) 
CCXXXVII. CALAMOSPIZA Bonaparte. 1838. 
605. Lark Bunting. White-winged Blackbird. 
Calamospiza melanocorys STEJN. 1885. 
The apparent absence of this species from the Red river region 
with its abundance on the Missouri is one of the strong marks of 
difference in the fauna of the two watersheds. It is an abundant 
and characteristic species of the sage-brush country of the upper 
Missouri and extends thence to the Rocky mountains through the 
Milk river region. The bird is rather a late breeder unless the eggs 
found July 9th and 21st were those of a second brood. The eggs 
are four-or five in number, like those of the blue bird and normally 
unmarked, though occasionally sparsely dotted. Two cow-bird’s 
eggs were found in one of the nests secured. The nest is sunk in the 
ground so that the brim is flush with the surface, and is built of grass 
and weed-stalks, lined with similar but finer material. (Cowes.) 
Rare at Aweme, Man. in spring. (Criddle.) A probable summer 
resident of southwestern Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.) Not noted at 
all in 1905 except one doubtful record of a female. Very common 
in 1906 on the prairies and hills north of Maple creek and about 
Crane lake, Sask. (A.C. Bent.) Occasionally seen east of Crane 
lake, but in its neighbourhood they were quite common and breeding 
late in June, 1894. They always placed their nests on the ground 
under sage bush (Artemisia cana); this they did in all parts of the 
prairie region where they were found. In 1895 they were found in 
some numbers at 12-Mile lake, near Wood mountain, Sask., in sage 
flats; fifty miles further west on Frenchman river, in sage flats, 
they were again numerous and breeding under sage brush; at East 
End post, Cypress hills, Sask., it was again noticed; also at Farwell 
creek, and lastly at Sucker creek, west end of Cypress hills where 
there was a flock of over thirty; they always nested in the sage 
brush and lived in colonies; one individual was shot at Banff, 
Rocky mountains in May, 1891; saw one at Thurston ranch, Chilli- 
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