July, 1916 
161 
BIRDS SEEN IN THE VALLEY OF THE SOUTH FORK OF THE FLAT- 
HEAD RIVER, MONTANA 
By NORMAN de W. BETTS 
WITH ONE PHOTO BY THE AUTHOR 
D URING the summer of 1915 I made a pack trip of seventy-five miles 
up the South Fork of the Flathead River. Inasmuch as I do not find 
very many published references to the birds of that particular region, 
the following brief notes on the bird-life encountered may prove of interest 
and worthy of record. My companion, Dr. J. H. Walton, and myself left 
Fig. 43. The South Fork of the Flathead River, Montana 
Columbia Falls August 15 and returned September 9. The camp sites referred 
to in the notes are located as follows with regard to Columbia Falls : River- 
side, 20 miles; Coalbank, 40 miles; Cabin Parks, 55 miles; Spotted Bear, 65 
miles ; and the Gorge, 75 miles. Conditions were not ideal for an intensive 
study of bird-life. Owing to the time of year birds were very quiet; while 
on the trail there was little opportunity to run down those not in clear view ; 
and no collecting was done for the elucidation of subspecific identities. While 
quite familiar with the bird-life of the mountains of Colorado, this section was 
new to me, and I have not, therefore, given subspecific names where there 
appeared reason to doubt the form belonging in the region. 
The valley of the South Fork is one of the large unoccupied forested 
