BIRDS OF FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA. 11 



LIST OF BIRDS. 



4. AMERICAN EARED GREBE. Colymbus nigricollis californicus. 



This grebe is not uncommon as a migrant at Lewistown, though it 

 may breed in suitable localities in the county. My first record of its oc- 

 currence is under date of August 23, 1901, when a solitary young bird of 

 the year was taken on a small pond near my home. A female, taken May 

 2, 1903, is now in the high school collection. 



It is likely that the range of this species in Montana is co-extensive 

 with the state. Dr. Elliott Coues reports taking specimens at the head- 

 waters of the Milk River on August 30. Dr. J. A. Allen took a specimen 

 on the Yellowstone in September. On June 20, 1901, I noted this grebe oa 

 Sin-yale-a-min Lake, in the Mission Mountains, when young were taken 

 which had evidently been reared on the lake. 



Distinguishing features: Width of bill at base greater than depth; 

 chest, as well as neck and head, black; a tuft of yellowish-red feathers at 

 side of head back of the eyes; length 12-14 inches. 



6. PIED-BILLED GREBE. Podilymbus podiceps. 



A regular summer resident. Near my home, in the edge of Lewis- 

 town, is a small pond formed by the overflow from an irrigation ditch. 

 This pond is a favored resort of small waterfowl in the fall and spring, 

 and consequently it is an attractive place for thoughtless marksmen. One 

 day in the fall of 1901 I counted a dozen dead grebes lying along the 

 shore of the pond, where they had fallen before the ruthless slaughter of 

 gunners, who had not taken the trouble to pick up their victims. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts brownish, lower parts silvery 

 white; length 12-15 inches; length of bill along its upper ridge not double 

 the depth of the bill. 



51. HERRING GULL. Larus argentatus. 



The herring gull is. of common occurrence along the Missouri River 

 in this section of Montana. Dr. Coues mentions a specimen shot by Mr. 

 J. H. Beatty near Ft. Benton, Mont., and in his "Birds of the Northwest," 

 he says that he found this species on the Upper Missouri. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts pearl-gray, eyelids in life yel- 

 low, feet pale flesh color, bill bright yellow. Length 22-26 inches. 

 54. RING-BILLED GULL. Larus delawarensis. 



On Dec. 31,1898, a dead gull was brought to me for identification. It 

 was first seen eating from the poisoned carcass of a sheep baited for 

 coyotes. After flying some distance when disturbed, the gull fell to the 

 ground and soon died. It proved to be a ring-billed gull, young of the year, 

 still in the dark grayish plumage. 



Late in the fall of 1902, a fine specimen of this gull was taken om 

 Big Spring Creek a few miles below Lewistown. It was mounted, and now 

 is in the window of a Lewistown merchant. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts light pearl-gray, eye-lids in 



