` 
284 SWAINSON’S BUZZARD. 
probably occurs to both old and young. I took no specimens in 
the:melanistic state of plumage in which the bird has been de 
scribed as another supposed species—B. insignatus; and only saw 
one in which the entire under parts looked as dark, when the bird — 
was sailing over me, as the pectoral band of the adults is. This 
dark plumage appears to be an individual peculiarity, not & 
normal stage of regular occurrence. 4 
Swainson’s buzzard may be seen anywhere in the region mene , 
tioned—even far out on the prairie, miles away from timber, cir- a 
cling over head, or perched on the bare ground. In alighting, it 
generally takes adyantage of some little knoll commanding & 
view around, though it often has no more prominent place than 
the cart-load of dirt from a badgers hole, from which to cast 
about for some imprudent gopher* espied too far from home, e 
still more ignoble game. But the bird prefers timber, and, espè- 
cially as its nesting is confined to trees, it is most frequently 0b- 
served in the vicinity of the few wooded streams that diversify 
the boundless prairie. In northern Dakota such streams cut their : 
tortuous way pretty deeply into the ground, and the sharp edges 
of the banks, rising steep on one side and on the other stretching 
away on a continuous level, are favorite resting spots, where 
sometimes a line of several birds may be observed strung along & : 
distance of a few yards. The Souris or Mouse River, & stream of 
this description, is a favorite resort, where I found the birds mo 
numerous than anywhere else. Much of the river bottom Is well 
wooded with elm, oak and other large trees ; and the number of 
nests found in this timber—sometimes several in sight of Ee 
` other— would be considered surprising by one not recollecting 
that conveniences for breeding are in this country practically 
limited to such narrow tracts. 
The nests are built at varying heights, from the int 
` heavy shrubbery where a man may reach them from the gro” 
to the tops of the tallest trees. They are generally, howevely 
placed thirty or forty feet high, in some stout crotch or.on & 
zontal fork. They are bulky and ragged looking structures; gi 
the size of sticks used for the base and outside; the interior 
composed of smaller twigs more compactly arranged. Thee 
ricacies ¢ 
+“ Gopher”: Frontier vernacular name for all the ground-squirrels (Si ched at 
i Pura AE ES t kind here. The pouor] 
are known as “ pocket-gophers,” 
