BIRDS OF FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA 55 



When flushed along a ditch, it flies ahead in the ditch, alighting on the 

 sides oi' the ditch where the overhanging grass affords it protection. It Is 

 one of the shyest of the sparrows, and seldom gives the observer an op- 

 portunity to study its movements in an open area. In his "Birds of Dakota 

 and Montana," Dr. Elliott Coues states that this sparrow breeds in profus 

 ion throughout the region explored. Besides finding it on the open prairie, 

 he found it in the brush along the streams and larger rivers. He says f 

 that the nest is placed on the ground, simply made of drluu grass, with 

 a lining of horsehair; the eggs are four or five in number, usually laid in 

 the first half of June. This sparrow can be noted in this region generally 

 till the end of September. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts grayish brown, streaked with 

 gray and black; yellow stripe over eye, and similar stripe in middle of 

 crown; lower parts whitish, streaked on breast and sides; length about 

 6 inches. 



546a. WESTERN GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. Coturniculus savannarum 



bimaculatus. 



A common summer resident. The males are generally heard singing 

 their wheezy trills near Lewistown about the 10th of May, increasing in 

 numbers and persistency of song until the latter part of the month. They 

 manifest more boldness in the execution of their songs than at other sea- 

 sons, as they will sit on fence-posts and sing regardless of passers-by, a 

 disregard of observation not shown by them except in the height of the 

 mating and nesting period. 



Dr. J. A. Allen reports that this sparrow was common at intervals 

 from the Missouri to the Musselshell, though much more numerous east 

 cf the Yellowstone than beyond it. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts grayish, streaked with dull 

 yellow, brown, and black; front of neck and breast dull yellow; chest and 

 sides streaked with brown; other lower parts dull white; front edge of wing 

 yellow; length about 6 inches. 

 552a. WESTERN LARK SPARROW. Chondestes grammacus strigatus. 



This lark sparrow has never chanced under my observation, but Dr. 

 J. A. Allen found it to be one of the most abundant and generally diffused 

 species, frequenting the edges of the wooded bottom-lands and the bushy 

 ravines, but also found occasionally quite far out on the prairies. Dr. CJ. 

 E. McChesney reported in his list of birds of the Big Horn region that this 

 sparrow was quite common among the pines in the mountains. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts brownish gray, back streaked; 

 lower parts dull white; tail tipped with white; length 6-7 inches. 



554a. GAM BEL'S SPARROW. Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii. 



A regular migrant, seen and heard chiefly in the fall, none having 

 been noted as a summer resident. This sparrow appears on its northward 

 movement about the 20th of September, frequenting the edges of the thick- 

 ets of the streamsides, and associating with migrant towhees and other 

 sparrows. It is partial to the choke-cherry, buffalo-berry, aua scarlet haw. 



