600 ON THE NESTING OF CERTAIN HAWKS, ETC. 
and louder than that of the common kingbird, which more neatly 
resembles the twittering of a martin. The difference is very 
noticeable when the two species are hovering together overhead, 
bewailing the spoliation of their homes. 
Our common kingbird may be added to the long list of the cow- 
bird’s victims, and to the shorter catalogue of those ingenious birds 
who get rid of the obnoxious egg by building a two-story nest 
I have such a one in my collection, with a cowbird’s egg safely 
shut up in the basement. 
Nothing that I am aware of has been entered upon the records 
respecting the nidification of the mountain plover (Zudromias moi- — 
tana). I find it breeding quite commonly in all the region immedi- 
ately north of the Milk river, and extending at least as far east S 
the mouth of this river. It nests on the open prairie, in June and 
July. There is nothing peculiar in the nidification; the nest 8 
merely a slight depression, lined with a few grass blades. The 
only set of eggs I have contains three; and as I have several 
times noticed the parent leading her brood of three young over 
the prairie, I conclude that this number, and not four, is the us 
complement, in this latitude at least. The eggs are as descr! u 
in my late work ; they are rather peculiar, and little liable to % 
confounded with those of any of the allied waders. When starth 
from the nest the bird makes off crouching low, running $ 
with frequent pauses, and uttering meanwhile a low chattering 
note, quite unlike the ordinary soft mellow cry- 
the bird nests anywhere on the dry prairie; but sba 
preference, it is for the stretches of low loose grassy ground 4 aaa 
the prairie dogs settle, as distinguished from the more ore me 
gravelly or stony prairie. The period of nesting must that 
tracted ; for I have taken nearly fresh eggs at the same timè ©" 
I saw broods running about, and but a few days be 
ered young, no longer under charge of the parent Y 
The numberless alkaline pools or small lakes wi 
tions of Dakota and Montana are cursed are the nn and 
resorts of two very elegant and interesting birds; the V1, 
if it have y 
were obtain 
Wilson’s phalarope. These two species are always 1Y iper, 
associated in my mind, so frequently have I found them "e t 
arts of thew” 
it at any 
not only in this region, but in Kansas and other p 
The avocet is one of the most conspicuous bird 
regions of our Territories. In flight we recognize 
iftly but 
As I have said, 
fore well feath- 
th which pot ‘ 
od ES TU yee eng srg ce 
die 
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ae 
4 
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