BIOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE AT FLATHEAD LAKE. 119 
corax sinuatus Wagl., were all seen around the lake, though in no great 
numbers. The raven was often noted, and repeated efforts were made 
to secure specimens, but without success. The only method of approach 
was by the canvas boat, and by this means the ornithologist was always 
visible. To enter the timber and get among the rocks was to get out of 
sight of the prey, and progress was almost impossible. The American 
crow and Clarke’s nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana Wils., were also seen 
around the lake, the former sparingly, the latter common at elevation of 
7,500 feet and above. 
The fringillidae, while not numerous in species, were abundant around 
camp at all times. Most abundant among the seed eating birds was the 
pine siskin, Spinus pinus Wils., which was everywhere about camp, usu+ 
ally high overhead in the tallest trees. The western chipping sparrow 
was almost as abundant, Spizella socialis arizonae Coues. High up on 
the mountain, at an altitude of 7,500 feet or more, Sbhufeldt’s junco, Junco. 
hiemalis shufeldti Coale, was taken, the range extending from this alti- 
tude down to the lake, 3,300 feet. Among the bushes along the mount- 
ain sides the call of the spurred towhee Pipilo maculatus megalonyx 
Baird, was heard, and several were added to the collection. The Black- 
headed grosbeak, Habia melanocephala Swains., the lazuli bunting, Pas- 
serina amoena Say, and the Louisiana tanager Piranga ludoviciana Wils., 
were frequently seen and specimens were added to the list. 
On the eastern side of the lake a colony of cliff swallows, Petrochel- 
idon lunifrons Say, had made their habitations in the rocks. The song 
of the red eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceous Linn., was frequently heard and 
the bird wags not uncommon. In common with the warbling vireo Vireo 
gilvus Vieill. was heard, and now and then a specimen was added to the 
collection. Audubon’s warbler, Dendroica auduboni Towns., was com- 
mon in the woods, the most abundant of birds, perhaps, while not in- 
frequently Macgillivray’s warbler, Geothlypis macgillivrayi Aud., was. 
noted. 
In the rapids above the lake, and in the waters adjacent, might be seen 
the American dipper, Cinclus mexicanus Swain. The delightful carol of 
the winter wren, Troglodytes hiemalis Vieill., was often heard at the up- 
per end of the lake, but so secretive was the bird that it was but seldom 
a sight of it was obtained, and then but a passing glimpse as the bird 
flitted to a new location, to again begin its song. The Rocky mountain 
creeper, Certhia familiaris montana Ridgw., was noted almost daily. 
Also the slender-billed mnuthatch, Sitta carolinensis aculeata Cass., 
and the long-tailed chickadee, Parus atricapillus septentrionalis Harris, 
were seen. 
A single young Townsend’s solitaire, Myadestes townsendii Aud., 
was captured, and the adult was seen. These were the only specimens 
of this species seen on the trip. It seems to be very rare to the region. 
The thrushes include the Olive-backed thrush, Turdus ustulatus swain- 
sonii Cab., which was common, the western robin, Merula migratoria 
propinqua Ridgw., also common, and the mountain blubird, taken at alti- 
tude of 7,500 feet, but seen at the lake. 
The bird life of the lake as here given proves very interesting. Tha 
camp of ten days produced forty-seven species, all of this being the re- 
