20 BULLETIN FERGUS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts greenish leaden, speckled 

 with dull white; front part of neck streaked with darker; length 7-9 inches. 

 258a. WESTERN WILLET. Symphemia semipalmata inornata. 



This species occurs regularly near Lewistown in the migrations. On 

 May 2, 1903, I took a fine specimen on a small pond just beyond the limits 

 ol Lewistown. Like some of the plovers and sandpipers, the willet has a 

 habit of lifting its wings above its back upon alighting, showing the white 

 bands which aid in identification of this species. Dr. Coues observed the 

 willet at various points from the Red River to the Rocky Mountains, and 

 states that it breeds in this region. Capt. Platte M. Thorne states that at 

 Ft. Keogh this species is rather rare in spring. Its occurrence at Moreland, 

 south-central Montana, August 19, is noted by Messrs. Richmond and 

 Knowlton. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts brownish gray, with numerous 

 spots of darker; lower parts chiefly white; sides and flanks yellowish 

 brown, varied with darker; long wing feathers black broadly marked with 

 white; bill black; tarsus and feet leaden; length 15-17 inches. 

 261. BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER. Bartramia longicauda. 



This fine sandpiper occurs regularly in the prairie districts of the 

 county, but is of somewhat local distribution. A few pairs spend the 

 summer on the benches near Lewistown, where the prolonged indrawn 

 whistle of the so-called plover serves to attract attention to its presence. 

 West of the Rocky Mountains I found the Bartramian sandpiper very lo- 

 cally distributed in the Flathead region, in colonies of only a few families. 

 Capt. Thorne reports its breeding commonly on the elevated prairies near 

 Ft. Keogh. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts light brown, varied with 

 blackish markings; lower parts dull white; length 11-13 inches. 

 263. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. Actitis macularia. 



A very common frequenter of the streamsides in summer, appearing 

 generally during the second week of May, and bginning to nest before the 

 end of the month. On June 4, 1901, I found a set of four eggs more than 

 one-half incubated, in a nest made in a recess on a sloping bank of a small 

 pond. It is a prolific breeder, rearing several broods in a season and thus 

 prolonging the nesting season nearly through July. Soon after its young 

 are a-wing this sandpiper concludes its northern sojourn, and it is seldom 

 seen after the middle of August. This species is easily identified by its 

 "teetering" movements when standing or walking; also by its loud, clear 

 call resembling the syllables "peet weet." 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts grayish-brown, tail tipped 

 white; lower parts chiefly white, marked with blackish spots; length 7-8 

 inches. 



264. LONG-BILLED CURLEW. Numenius longlrostris. 



This interesting species is found in abundance throughout this reg- 

 ion, inhabiting the dry prairies from the middle of April to the middle of 

 September. The first curlews of the season are generally noted by me 



