COUES ON BIRDS OF DAKOTA AND MONTANA. 



605 



SCOLBCOPHAGUS CYANOCEPHALUS, ( Wagl) Cab. 

 Blue-headed Geackle. 



This is the characteristic Blackbird of the whole region in summer. 

 Hundreds spend this season at Fort Pembina. It is no less abundant 

 at Fort Buford, and in fact extends over the whole area. This is prob- 

 ably near its northern limit. Its general range includes the whole of 

 the United States, from a little west of the Mississippi to the Pacific. 

 It breeds indifferently throughout this area, but retires in winter from 

 the northern portions of its habitat. In summer, it is the only repre- 

 sentative of its genus in Dakota and Montana, but in the fall, after the 

 migration, it is associated with 8. ferrugiiieus. A nest containing three 

 eggs was taken on the Quaking Ash Eiver, Montana, June 26, 1874. 



A full account of the habits of the species will be found in the " Birds 

 of the Northwest '', pp. 199-202. 



List of specimens. 



NoTB — The above list includes some epeciraens (from Mouse River) of S. ferruffineus, not now extri- 

 cable without reference to the epecimens themselves, the numbers having been confused; but the 

 summer birds are all cyanoeephcdv^. 



SCOLBCOPHAGUS FERRUGINEUS, {am.) Siv. 



EUSTY Grackle. 



The Rusty Grackle enters Dakota from the north in September, and 

 then mixes indiscriminately with the preceding species ; but the two 

 will not be found together during the breeding-season. At our camp 



