Jan., 1912 SOME BIRDS OF SOUTHWESTERN MONTANA 23 were much less thorough and covered shorter periods of time, and for that reason I feel that the list of valley birds is far from complete. Although this is the most thickly settled portion of Montana, there has, to my knowledge, been nothing pre- viously published by other observers on the birds of this region. For a more ex- tended account of the nesting habits of some of the birds listed the reader is referred to THE CONDOR, XII, pp. 195-204. C01ymbus nigric011is calif0rnicus. Eared Grebe. Migrant. A flock numbering approximately 175 was seen on Rock Creek Lake, Powell County, on September 17, 1910. This flock was composed mostly of young birds, who kept together in a body in the middle of the lake, and appeared to be resting but not feeding. A wounded bird of this species was captured near Butte in late May, 1911, and kept alive for several days in a small tank in a caf? window in Anaconda. Mergus serrat0r. Red-breasted Merganser. Seen near Buxton, Silver Bow County, on May 6, 1910, and near Anaconda, Deer Lodge County, May 1, 1911. Anas platyrhynch0s. Mallard. A common migrant in the valleys. A few re- main to breed in suitable localities, and a few also winter wherever warm springs keep the water from freezing. The first spring migrants are usually seen early in April. Mareca americana. Baldpate. Seen near Buxton May 7, 1910, and near Ana- conda on several occasions from April 20 to May 27, 1911. 31etti0n car01inense. Green-winged Teal. An abundant migrant and probably also a summer resident. Late in August, 1910, both this and the next species be- came very abundant throughout the Deer Lodge valley. Residents of the region claimed that they were much more abundant than usual at that season, and believed that it was because of the forest fires that were raging at that time farther north and west in Montana, which had driven them from their breeding grounds earlier than usual. iI'he same was true of the Mallard to a lesser extent, and perhaps of other species of ducks. Migration dates for this species are April 23,1910, April 23, 1911, and October 30, 1910. It winters rarely, as one was observed near Anaconda Janu- ary 8, 1911. I?hierquedula disc0rs. Blue-winged Teal. Common migrant and probably also summer resident. Migration dates are April 23, 1911, and September 26, 1910. I?hierquedula cyan0ptera. Cinnamon Teal. I saw a pair of these birds on the Silver Bow marshes, May 21, 19.11. Spatula clypeata. Shoveller. Common migrant. Observed September 25, 1910, and from April 30 to May 14, 1911. Clangula clangula americana. Golden-eye. A common winter resident in the canyon of the Jefferson River below Whitehall. Erismatura jamaicensis. Ruddy Duck. An adult female of this species was captured alive near Anaconda in October, 1910, and was kept.alive in a small tank in a caf? window for some time, in company with a Green-winged Teal and a Coot. Branta canadensis (subspecies?). Canada Goose. A regular migrant. Seeu in flight overhead, but seldom alighting in this region and rarely secured by hunters. 010r c01umbianus. Whistling Swan. A regular migrant. In my list of the Birds of Gallatin County, Montana (Ju,? xxvIiI, pp. 26-49), I recorded this species as the common migrant swan, though with considerable hesitation because there were no definite data to show that this species had ever occurred in Montana. Recently, however, I have strengthened my belief that this is the common migrant species in the state, by examining two specimens. One of these consists of the head and wing of a young bird that was shot by Mr. Rheesis Fransham in the
