80 THE BIOLOGY OF HARDING COUNTY 



Clarke's Nutcracker (Niicifraga columbiana). A frequeni sum- 

 mer resident in the forested Short Pine Hills no nests found. 



Pinion Jay (Cyanocephalus cyanocephahis) . In 1910 we saw 

 Pinion Jays only in the North Cave Hills; residents i* form 

 me that they spread to the Slim Buttes that fall. I found 

 them in the Short Pine Hills in 1911. 



Bobolink (Dolichonyz oryziz'orns) . Rare summer residents along 

 the Moreau River. 



Cowbird (Molothrus atcr ater). Grinnell found this species 

 numerous. We found it very rare in 1910 but frequeni in 

 1911 and 1912. 



Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus .vanthocephalus). An 

 occasional migrant only, because of absence of reedy marshes. 



Thick-billed Red-wing (Agelaius phoeniceus fortis). A common 

 migrant. A few pairs nested in a tiny marsh in the North 

 Cave Hills. 



Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). Abundant nester on 

 the plains and on the mesas of the buttes. We estimated that 

 there were about ten pairs to each section of land. 

 From the standpoint of the agriculturist the meadowlark has 

 few rivals ; in fact we know of not a single bad habit. Seventy- 

 five per cent of its food for the entire year is made up of 

 insects. Grass seeds and weed seeds make up the rest. It 

 rarely eats grain of any kind and probably never takes 

 sprouting grain or grain from head or shock. It lives on 

 grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, cut worms, caterpillars and 

 a variety of other insects especially those to be found in 

 meadows. Professor Beal of the Biological Survey calculates 

 that by killing grasshoppers and other insects meadowlarks 

 save for man's use, at the lowest estimate, twenty-five dollars 

 worth of hay per township per year, on the average the whole 

 country over. 



Bullock's Oriole (Icterus Bullocki). One pair was found nesting 

 in a grove in the Little Missouri Valley July 20. 



Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) . Abundant breeder. 

 Fifty or so fly around together after the breeding season. 

 Ecologically they replace the Cowbird, the Redwing, the 

 Crackle, and the Yellowhead. That is to say, they inhabit 

 groves, etc., much as do the Crackles ; they follow the plow, 



