BIRDS OF FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA 65 



and streams. Its nest is placed in a tuft of grass, generally about eight 



inches i'rom the ground; it is made of coarse weed-stems, lined with finer 



grasses. The eggs are rosy-white, dotted and blotched with dark-brown. 



633a. LONG-TAILED CHAT. Icteria virens longicauda. 



A common summer resident of this region, frequenting the bushy 

 tracts in the vicinity of the streams and irrigating ditches. It does not ap- 

 pear until late in May, but is generally established in song by the end 

 of the month. The first that I noted of this songster was at John Glancy's 

 grove on Big Spring Creek, where a few pairs nest in the shrubbery. Later 

 I observed it at other localities in the neighborhood, but its distribution is 

 governed by such conditions as it desires. It is a most loquacious musical 

 performer, its productions being a series of schoolboy-like whistles and 

 grotesque imitations. This chat may claim a place among our bird-beau- 

 ties a yellow bird, rather smaller than the catbird, whistling from the 

 shrubbery and smaller trees, though loath to allow the observer a fair 

 view of it, as somehow it has a trick of always keeping behind a bit of 

 foliage when one desires to watch it. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts olive-gray; lower parts rich 

 yellow, belly whitish; length 7-8 inches. 



687. AMERICAN REDSTART. Setophaga ruticilla. 



A common summer resident, frequenting the groves and thickets 

 of the larger streams. Flitting among the leaves in quest of insects, the 

 redstart reveals a wealth* of color as it spreads its black wings, showing 

 their flame-yellow lining, and spreads its fan-like tail marked with bands 

 of orange color. Its song is a short ditty very similar to that of the yel- 

 low warbler. In some fork formed by a small twig with a larger upright 

 branch, from six to twenty feet from the ground, the nest of the redstart 

 may be found, a tiny cup-shaped structure scarcely larger than that of the 

 humming-bird's. It is made of strippings of bark, fibers of weed-stems, 

 and gossamer, lined with fine grasses. The eggs are white or grayish- 

 white, marked irregularly with reddish-brown. 



During the chilling storm of May 17, 1903, a male redstart fell ex- 

 hausted in the snow near my home. It was brought in the house and carerl 

 for, but was found dead the next morning. On May 23, while the same storm 

 was continuing, another redstart was seen flying along Main street, fre- 

 quently falling; but rising and resuming' its course after a short rest. 

 Hundreds of the weaker birds doubtless perished in this storm. 

 697. AMERICAN PIPIT. Anthus pensilvanicus. 



A regular migrant, appearing in flocks about the last week of Sep- 

 tember, and thereafter noticeable until bad winter weather. It is probable 

 that specimens may be seen during the milder parts of the winter, though 

 I have no record of such occurrence. They are seen most frequently in 

 meadows near marshes or boggy places. On Oct. 15, 1902, I took a specimen 

 along the irrigating ditch north of Lewistown, where several pipits were 

 associating with migrating sparrows. In the spring they are oftenest seen 

 In small flocks on the elevated prairies, in company with longspurs, horned 

 larks, and snow buntings. The usual call of the pipit is suggestive of its 



