1C BULLETIN FERGUS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 



Distinguishing features: Brownish yellow, varied with brown and 

 black mottlings; lower parts buffy, with brown stripings; length 24-35 

 inches. 



194. GREAT BLUE HERON. Ardea herodias. 



The only specimens of this heron that I have observed at Lewistowu 

 were in flight, winging their way far overhead. 



Dr. Elliott Coues reported that he had observed this species far 

 up on the Missouri River in October. Chas. W. Richmond and F. H. 

 Knowlton report it as rather common in south-central Montana. Platte 

 M. Thorne notes it as common at Ft. Keogh, on the Yellowstone, in the 

 spring and fall, and he thinks that some remain to breed. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts bluish gray, lower parts var- 

 ied with dusky and white; length 40-50 inches. 



206. SANDHILL CRANE. Grus mexicana. 



Formerly a common migrant, now only occasional. Mr. J. M. Croft, 

 an accurate observer of the birds in former years, tells me that he fre- 

 quently took specimens of the sandhill crane on Wolf Creek, in this 

 county. 



Distinguishing features: Slaty gray color, length 40-50 inches. 



214. SORA. Porzana Carolina. 



The sora occurs regularly, and breeds in suitable places in the coun- 

 ty. Mr. J. L. Stuart found this rail nesting on his former ranch near the 

 North Moccasins. 



Specimens of the sora were taken in the breeding season in Mon- 

 tana by Dr. Elliott Coues, and at Ft. Keogh by Capt. Platte M. Thorne. In 

 the spring of 1902, the writer found the sora breeding in the swamp mead- 

 ows at Swan Lake, where eggs were brought in by men who were cutting 

 hay. 



The^se^t appears here on the fall migration about the middle of 

 September. 



Distinguishing features: Front part of head and throat, black; top 

 of head brown, striped with black; other upper parts brown, with black 

 stripings; length 8-10 inches. 



221. AMERICAN COOT. Fulica americana. 



Occurs locally, in suitable places, and nests where circumstances 

 are favorable in the county. Mr. J. A. Allen did not find the coot common 

 along the Musselshell, but Dr. Coues found it extremely abundant along the 

 northern portions of the state. In "Birds of Dakota and Montana," Dr. 

 Coues says that almost all the pools and reedy sloughs of the prairie 

 throughout the region from the Red River to the Rocky Mountains and 

 Upper Missouri country generally are tenanted by one or more pairs of 

 these very common-place birds. Capt. Thorne reports the American coot 

 as common and breeding at Ft. Keogh. On April 28, 1903, I took a male 

 specimen of this species on a pond near Lewistown, for the high school 

 collection. 



