Coll. No. 2897 Fort Buford, several sets of eggs were procured, and at the same time young birds were already on wing. Dak. June 5, 1873 Elliott Cones 10.65 14.50 Skin. ...do. June 21, 1873 ...do ..do. June 30, 1873 Turtle Mountain, July 20, 1873 Aug. 2, 1873 ....do .do ...do ..do. ..do. do. ..do. ..do. Three eggs. Five eggs. Nature of specimen, and remarks. ICTERUS SPURIUS, (Linn.) Bp. Orchard ORIOLE. One specimen, carly in June, at Pembina, the only locality where observed. Abundant at Pembina, the only locality where it was found. Like the Bobolinks of this region, the Orioles acquire an extremely brilliant plumage, in which the usual orange is often heightened into an intense flame-color. The same intensity of coloration has been noted by Mr. Allen in the cases of the Kansas Orioles. Several nests with eggs were taken during the latter part of the month of June. SCOLECOPHAGUS CYANOCEPHALUS, (Wagl.) Cab. BLUE-HEADED GRACKLE. This is the characteristic Blackbird of the whole region in summer. Hundreds spend this season at Fort Pembina. It is no less abundant at Fort Buford, and in fact extends over the whole area. This is probably near its northern limit. Its general range includes the whole of the United States, from a little west of the Mississippi to the Pacific. It breeds indifferently throughout this area, but retires in winter from the northern portions of its habitat. In summer, it is the only representative of its genus in Dakota and Montana, but in the fall, after the migration, it is associated with S. ferrugineus. A nest containing three eggs was taken on the Quaking Ash River, Montana, June 26, 1874. A full account of the habits of the species will be found in the "Birds of the Northwest ", pp. 199–202. NOTE -The above list includes some specimens (from Mouse River) of 8. ferrugineus, not now extricable without reference to the specimens themselves, the numbers having been confused; but the summer birds are all cyanocephalus. SCOLECOPHAGUS FERRUGINEUS, (Gm.) Sw. RUSTY GRACKLE. The Rusty Grackle enters Dakota from the north in September, and then mixes indiscriminately with the preceding species; but the two will not be found together during the breeding season. At our camp on the Mouse River, both species became very abundant after the second week in September, and so continued to be at the time of our departure, early in October. They associated together so intimately that a discharge into a flock of Blackbirds often brought down individuals of both species. Their habits are exactly the same, but the two species may be distinguished with little difficulty. The foregoing tabular "List of specimens" includes, among those taken in September and October, several specimens of this species. The entry made in my register at the time did not discriminate between them, so that the numbers cannot be separated without handling the specimens, which are not conveniently accessible at time of writing. QUISCALUS PURPUREUS ENEUS, Ridg. BRONZED PURPLE GRACKLE. Abundant at Pembina, where it was breeding in June in the hollows of trees. Occurred sparingly along the Mouse River in the fall, and during the last season traced westward to the Rocky Mountains. The specimens show the bronzy general coloration defined against the steelblue head and neck, supposed to afford ground for the recognition of variety æneus. According to my observation, Crows are not very common in the region under consideration, though I saw a good many along the Mouse River. The species occurs, however, along the whole of the Missouri River. A nest containing five eggs, with the female parent, was secured on the Quaking Ash River, June 26, 1874. Coll. No. PICA MELANOLEUCA HUDSONICA, (Sab.) Coues. AMERICAN MAGPIE. No Magpies were seen in the Red River region, where, if occurring at all, I doubt their presence as far east as the river itself. During the second season, however, they were very frequently noticed at various points on the Upper Missouri and Milk Rivers, and thence to the Rocky Mountains. On the 1st of July, newly fledged birds were taken near the mouth of Milk River, and at the Sweetgrass Hills, during the first week in August, imperfectly plumaged individuals, a little over a foot long, were noticed. Not seen west of Pembina, where it was very abundant. List of specimens. Sex. Nature of specimen, and remarks. PERISOREUS CANADENSIS CAPITALIS, Bd. ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAY. Only seen in the Rocky Mountains at latitude 49°, where, however, it was common and doubtless bred. The specimens secured in this locality show the restricted dark areas of the head, upon which the variety capi talis is based. There is no doubt, however, that the true P. canadensis occurs in suitable localities in other parts of the region surveyed, since it has been ascertained by Mr. T. M. Trippe to breed in the tamarack swamps of Minnesota. Locality. Date. Collector. Rocky Mountains, Aug. 25, 1874 Elliott Coues 12.00 17.00 5.80 ....do Skin. 5.90...do. 11.85 17.00 5. 85...do. Nature of specimen, and remarks. TYRANNUS CAROLINENSIS, (Gm.) Temm. KINGBIRD. Extremely numerous at Pembina, where many nests were taken after the middle of June, and traced westward as far as the Survey progressed that year. One of the nests (No. 3062) was placed on a rail fence, in the crotch formed by a post. In the Missouri region, it was equally abundant from Fort Buford to near the headwaters of the Milk River. Many nests containing two to four eggs were taken the latter part of June and early in July. One of these was particularly interesting, showing that the Summer Warbler is not the only species that gets rid of the obnoxious eggs of the Cowbird by building a second story to the nest, and thus leaving the alien egg to addle in the basement below. A nest taken near Frenchman's River, containing two eggs, seemed to be a curiously built affair, and on examining it closely I found the wrong egg embedded in its substance below the others (No. 4185). The Kingbird is not so much attached to woodland as has been supposed. I saw great numbers whilst travelling by rail, on the prairies of Minnesota and Dakota, where it seemed to be as much at home as anywhere. All things considered, it may be rated as one of the most abundant and generally diffused species of the whole region under consideration. |