Art. IV.— IVotes on the Bircl^ of Fort l^isseton, Dakota 



Territory. 



By Chas. E. McCbesney, AcUsig Assistant Siirg^eou U. S. A. 



LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



« Fort Sisseton, Dakota Territory, 



December 25, 1878. 

 Sir : I have tlie lionor to transmit herewitli my notes on tlie Birds of tlic vicinity of 

 Fort Sisseton, Dakota Territory. I beg to tender you the use of tliese notes in any 

 connection in wMcli you may see i)roper to use tliem. 



As you are aware, I have sj)ent considerable time during the past three years in a 

 zoological examination of this region, and, as the locality has never been reported 

 upon in the interest of ornithological science, I submit these notes as an attempt to 

 fill the gap. 



In many respects, the region differs from any other part of the Northwest. The 

 "Coteau des Prairies" consists of an extensive plateau, rising, somewhat abruptly, 

 nearly four hundred feet above the level of the siu-roundiug country, having a length 

 of over one hundred miles, and a variable width of from twenty to fifty miles. Upon 

 this elevated plateau are many lakes, which are the annual resort of thousands of 

 waders and wild fowl, and the region differs greatly in its fauna from that of the lower 

 country. 



Descriptions of the game birds occurring in Dakota and Montana are incorj)OTated 

 in these pages. This has been done in accordance with the wish of many officers 

 of the Army stationed in these Territories, and their ptiblication would be of great 

 benefit to a class of intelligent gentlemen from whose observations at the various posts 

 on the frontier we may reasonably hope for much addition to our knowledge of the 

 habits and occurrence of birds in different localities. These descriiJtions have been 

 taken, with modification, from your ''Key to North American Birds," by yoiu" per- 

 mission, for which, as well as for valuable assistance rendered me in identifying speci- 

 mens sent you at various times, I am under great obligations. 

 I am. Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



CHAS. E. McCHESNEY, 



Acting Assistant Surgeon U. S. A. 

 Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. A., 



Secretary U. S. Geological Survey, 



Washington, D, C. 



TUEDID^. 



TURDUS MIGRATORIUS, L. — BoMu. 



TMs bird appears about April 24, in small numbers, but the locality- 

 does not seem to be well suited to its summer residence, probably on 

 account of scarcity of timber, for the bird migrates in a few days, to 



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