Jan., 1904 I 
THE CONDOR 
21 
were common everywhere, and especially plentiful on the mesa behind Fort Cus- 
ter, where they were continually swooping down towards one, with a startling 
boom. One was shot. 
Tyrannus tyrannus (Linn.). Kingbird. Common along Bighorn River. 
Tyrannus verticalis Say. Arkansas Kingbird. Abundant, especially .so among 
tlie cottonwoods of the Bighorn River. 
Otocoris alpestris leucolaema (Coues). Pallid Horned Lark. Abundant. 
Pica hudsonica Sabine. Black-billed Magpie. Some were seen among the 
cottonwood trees beside the Bighorn, others about the slaughtering pens. The 
appearance of this bird gives one an impression of length and striking contrast of 
colors; and its habits suggest a mixture of cunning and audacit3^ 
Corvus corax sinuatus (Wagler). American Raven. Common. Some were 
extremely unsuspicious of man. 
Molothrus ater (Bodd.j. Cowbird. Abundant on the Bighorn River and in 
the post of Fort Custer. 
Sturnella neglecta (Aud.). Western Meadowlark. A common species of the 
region, abundant on the plain around Fort Custer. 
Icterus bullocki (Swain ). Bullock Oriole. Several families of them were seen 
in the cottonwood trees bordering the Bighorn River. 
Scolecophagus cyanocephalus (Wagler). Brewer Blackbird. Abundant. As 
usual, flocks of these birds followed the herds, and frequented the corrals and 
slaughter pens as well as the timbered river-bottom. 
Quiscalus quiscula aeneus (Ridg.). Bronzed Crackle. Flocks of these birds 
frequented the outskirts of Fort Custer, and the neighboring riverbanks. They 
seemed to have copied some of the actions of the Brewer blackbirds, such as loafing 
around corrals, fences and wood-ranks. 
Coccothraustes vespertinus montanus (Ridg.). Western Evening Grosbeak. A 
small flock was seen beside the Bighorn River, near Fort Custer. 
Astragalinus tristis pallidus (Mearns). Pale Goldfinch. A few were noted at 
Fort Custer. 
Calcarius ornatus (Towms.). Chestnut-collared Longspur. At Fort Custer it 
is quite common. 
Pooecetesgrammens confinis (Baird). Western Vesper Sparrow. A common species. 
Chondestes grammacus strigatus (Swain.). Western Lark Sparrow'. Very 
abundant. 
Progne subis (Linn.). Purple Martin. Numerous in the timbered river bottom. 
Petrochelidon lunifrons (Say). Cliff Swallow’. Abundant. 
Hirundo erythrogastra Bodd. Barn Swallow. Common. 
Tachycineta thalassina lepida (Mearns). Nortliern Violet-green Sw'allow. 
Abundant along the bluff bank of the Bighorn River. 
Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides (Swain. ). White-rumped Shrike. Common. 
Oroscoptes montanus (Towns.). Sage Thrasher. Common. 
Toxostoma rufum (Linn.). Brow'ii Thrasher. Several were seen on the Big- 
horn River. 
