OF THE UPPER MISSOURI. 295 

Of the two months spent in ascending the Missouri to 
Fort Benton by steamboat, I will not write very fully, al- 
though the tediousness of the trip was enlivened by many 
interesting scenes, and by observations and collections of 
numerous specimens of small mammals, birds and eggs. 
These I packed and directed to the Smithsonian Institution, 
but they were never received there; the eggs were all col- 
leeted west of Fort Union. I will briefly enumerate the 
species for the benefit of future collectors and students of 
the summer range of our birds. The valley of the Missouri, 
along that portion, is usually bordered by low trees and 
shrubbery in the bottom land, while the uplands are quite 
bare, or only a few stunted trees occur where springs issue 
from the bluffs. ; 
June 17th, I found the nest and eggs of Empidonax pusil- 
lus (probably), on a low tree in a dense dark thicket, built 
in a sharp crotch ; 18th, the nest of the Western Red-tailed 
Hawk (Buteo montanus), with two eggs partly hatched, on 
a small oak at a distance from the river; also, two eggs of 
the Dove (Zenaidura Carolinensis) , and one, said to be that 
_ of an eagle(?), were brought in by the men. The Wild 
a Pigeon (Ectopistes migratoria) also breeds here. I found 
the nest and four eges of the Lark Finch ( Chondestes gram- 
i maca), situated as usual on the ground, and one of some 
uncertain sparrow. The next day I obtained that of the 
Shrike (Collyrio excubitoroides), with six eggs; and one of 
the Shore Lark ( Eremophila cornuta). 
A leak having opened in the boiler we were delayed | 
near this place the third day also, and I found it a perfect 
 hursery of birds, the shrubbery on the north bank being —— 
full of them and their nests. I obtained there also eight - 
_hests of the Redstart ( Setophaga ruticilla), with eggs; that 
the Chat (leteria viridis), with four eggs ; of the Black- - 
headed Grosbeak (Guiraca melanocephala) ; of some small 
Thrush (Turdus Swainsonii?); of the Cat Bird (Mimus — 
linensis), and two of the Chippy (Spizella socialis). 1 — 

















