Xov., 1912 
NKSTINd 01<' Till': RdOKV MOUNTAIN XUTIIATCII 
215 
its nesting material. After a few moments calling it was joined by the other 
one of the pair, and both were soon busy carrying nesting material into the oak. 
I quietly withdrew, to return ten days later. There were no birds about so .1 
examined the cavity and was chagrined to find only the few bits of grass and 
fur 1 had seen them carry in. Some time later 1 discovered the real nest witii 
its family of large young in an oak some distance farther up the mountain side. 
It then dawned upon me that they had played this trick, and 1 had to smile to 
myself as 1 realized how nicely I had been hoodwinked. 
Fifr. ,S4. NKST M.\TERI.Ar and kggs of rockv mountain niith.atch; 
A LITTLE LESS THAN NATliRAL SIZE 
A HORSEBACK TRIB .\CROSS HO.XTANA 
By ARETAS A. SAUNDERS 
I N the summer of 1911 it came to my fortune to take a horseback trip nearly 
across the State of Montana, starting from Bozeman in Callatin County, 
and ending at Chouteau in Teton County. The trip led me through varied 
valley and mountain country lying on the eastern side of the continental divide. 
Just a week was occupied in making the trip, from July 10 to 16. At this sea- 
son of the year the weather in ^Montana is at its best, and except for one or two 
days wdien the heat became a little too great for comfort, this was true of the 
weather I experienced. The June rains were over, but the dry weather of late 
summer had not yet come to rob the grass of its fresh green. Manv varieties of 
flowers were in their fullest and freshe.st bloom, and most birds w(“re finishing 
their nesting and were still in full .song. 
