.May, 1914 
BIRDS OF NORTHERN MONTANA 
129 
Chen rossi. Koss Goose. One observed on the Teton River, near Choteau, 
May 8, 1912. This bird seemed exhausted, and I was able to approach it and 
examine it closely before it flew. 
Branta canadensis canadensis. Canada Goose. Common migrant in 
March and November, but not in such large numbers as the Snow Geese. For- 
merly bred commonly along the rivers, and is reported to still l)reed in small 
numbers along the Marias River. Migration dates : November 24 to 28, 1912. 
Olor columbianus. Whistling Swan. Common migrant on the larger 
alkaline lakes. I examined the remains of a dead bird found on the shores of 
Priest Butte Lake, and from the position of the nostril identified it as this spe- 
cies. Migration dates are October 31, 1911, April 23, 1912, and November 9 to 
28, 1912. 
Botaurus lentiginosus. Bittern. Summer resident in sloughs where 
rushes grow thickly, throughout the prairie portion of tlie region, kligration 
date : May 13, 1912. 
Ardea herodias herodias. Great Blue Heron. Summer resident o,n the 
Fig. 41. Priest Butte, Teto.v Couxty, Montana. 
larger rivers. C^ommon on the lower Sun River, but I have not seen it on the 
other rivers of this region. 
Grus mexicana. Sandhill Crane. A pair observed near Choteau, April 
28, 1912. 
Porzana Carolina. Sora. Summer resident in sloughs and marshes of the 
jirairies. A nest found near Choteau, June 13, 1912 (see Condor, xv, 1913, p. 
128). Migration date: May 14, 1912. 
Fulica americana. Coot. Common summer resident and migrant. Nests 
are common in thick rushes about the borders of ponds and sloughs. In migra- 
tion the birds occur in large flocks on the alkaline ponds and lakes. Migra- 
tion dates : September 28, 1911, May 26, 1912, and November 9, 1912. 
Lobipes lobatus. Northern Phalarope. Flocks observed in fall migration 
at Priest Butte Lakes, August 13 to September 4, 1911. 
Steganopus tricolor. Wilson Phalarope. Common summer resident in 
marshy places on the edges of alkaline ponds. Downy young observed in 
