BIRDS OF FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA 41 



and about ten feet from a traveled road. It was made of dried grass, with 

 a few downy pistils in the bottom, and was banked around with small 

 clods and fragments of cow chips. A fifth, May 14, 1901, was about 

 twenty-five feet from a road, in a depression beside moss among cow 

 chips. This nest contained four eggs far advanced in incubation. Two 

 males were singing their nuptial songs within a hundred yards of this 

 nest. 



On April 20, 1902, I found a nest of the desert horned lark containing 

 four eggs, the fourth egg having been deposited that morning, for on the 

 preceding afternoon the nest contained only three eggs. This nest was 

 made in a depression in a wagon track of an old road. The eggs were 

 tiiken, but as the nest was wet from a rain and snow that had fallen dur- 

 ing the preceding night, it was left in situ. Happening to stroll past the 

 place on April 25, I found that a fresh track had been made by a wagon 

 that morning, and both wheels of one side of the wagon had passed 

 squarely over the nest, crushing it into its depression. Thus it appears 

 that nests of this species are liable to accident besides the danger of 

 eager collectors. The eggs are dull grayish olive, thickly speckled with 

 dark brown. 



The pallid horned lark, Ctocoris alpestris articola, is said to be a 

 winter visitor or resident in this region. Not having given sufficient at- 

 tention to the variations of the horned larks hereabout, I am not able to list 

 this species from personal observation, as I do not recall having seen 

 any horned larks in this locality in December and January. To the gen- 

 eral observer it is in all respects similar to the desert horned lark. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts sandy gray, back streaked 

 with darker colors; a horn-like tuft extending backward from side of head, 

 black; head marked with black and yellowish white; sides sandy gray, other 

 lower parts white or pale yellow; length 7-8 inches. 



475. AMERICAN MAGPIE. Pica pica hudsonia. 



Abundant, inhabiting the thickets along the water-courses, and be- 

 ing of general distribution throughout the county. 



The favorite nesting sites are haw and willow trees of the thickets. 

 Pine trees are often used, in which the nest is constructed at the outer 

 ends of strong branches, upon a strong foundation of coarse sticks. In the 

 haws and willows the nest is made in a stout crotch formed by several 

 upright branches, though frequently the size of the structure causes the 

 affair to extend much beyond the main supporting branches. Quite often 

 the nest is based upon a drooping branch, and built into other convenient 

 supports. Within the foundation of sticks is a bowl of clay or earthy ma- 

 terial, from six to ten inches in its varying axes across the top, and from 

 six to eight inches in depth. Within this bowl is the inner nest, generally 

 made of coarse dried root fibers, and sometimes lined with a scant amount 

 of horsehair. Above the body of the nest is a canopy or roof of sticks 

 similar to those in the base, and around the sides there is a lattice-like 

 shelter of more or less thickness, often so closely woven that the col- 

 lector's arm can be inserted only with difficulty. 



