BIRDS OF FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA 35 



nest of a former season, only ten feet from the ground, and had no lining 

 whatever. In this instance *here were two eggs partially incubated. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts grayish brown, varied with 

 fine lines of blackish; upper part of breast white; lower parts pale yel- 

 lowish, barred with darker colors; tail crossed by six or seven dark bands; 

 length 18-25 inches. Ear-tufts very prominent. Commonly known as 

 "hoot owl." 



376. SNOWY OWL. Nyctea nyctea. 



A very common winter visitant. This handsome owl can be seen 

 stationed on the ground on some small knoll out in the meadow or prairie, 

 often in the coldest weather, and if undisturbed, will frequent the same 

 locality day after day throughout the winter. It generally appears about 

 the first of November, and disappears early in March. 



Distinguishing features: Color generally pure white, often with 

 spots and bars of bluish brown; length 20-23 inches. Ear-tufts scarcely no- 

 ticeable. 



378. BURROWING OWL. Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea. 



Very common on the prairies, and of general distribution in the 

 county. In this locality the burrowing owl is not confined to the prairie 

 dog towns and burrows, but makes itself at home in old tunnels of gophers 

 and badger holes. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts brownish, spotted and barred 

 with dull yellowish; lower parts tinged with pale yellowish; length 9-11 

 inches. 



390. BELTED KINGFISHER. Ceryle alcyon. 



A regular summer resident along the streams, appearing a ; s early 

 as the first of March, and remaining as late as the end of October. It is 

 not unlikely an occasional winter resident along Big Spring Creek, as it 

 has been reported nearly every month of the year. The fact that this 

 stream is open continuously during the winter adds to the evidence favor- 

 ing the occasional winter residence of the kingfisher. In 1902, I noted the 

 kingfisher along the creek in the limits of Lewistown on Nov. 18. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts bluish leaden; lower parts 

 white, with a band of bluish across the breast; the female has band of 

 reddish brown across the breast; head with a conspicuous crest; length 

 11-15 inches. 



393e. ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAIRY WOODPECKER. Dryobates villosus 



monticola. 



A common resident of the timbered regions, manifesting in all 

 respects the habits of the hairy woodpecker, of which it is a sub-species. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts black, with stripe running 

 lengthwise on back; lower parts white; male with red spot on back of 

 head; length 9-10 inches. 

 394b. BATCHELDER'S WOODPECKER. Dryobates pubescens homorus. 



The mountain form of the downy woodpecker is of common occur- 

 rence in timbered regions, being generally noted along the wooded bottoms 

 of the water-courses and coulees. 



