86 THE CONDOR Vol. XIII 26. Thts nest was saddled on the horizontal limb of a tamarack at a height of about twenty-five feet. It was observed frequently from the day it was found until the young flew late in July. Passerculus sandwic?ensis alaudinus. Western Savannah Sparrow. First noted near Somers on June 23. Later found to be fairly common in the vicinity of Polson. Specimens were secured at Polson Swamp, July 12, and at Polson, July 27. These birds were examined by L. B. Bishop, who states that they are evidently not typical of any race. The first is a bird in juvenal plumage, and is nearest to nevadensis. The second, an adult, is more like alaudinus. ermivor? rubricapilla gutturalis. Caiaveras Warbler. There is a specimen of this bird in the collection of the University of Montana, taken by Mr. Silloway at Yellow Bay, August 6, 1912. This is evidently the first record of the species in Montana. Fenthestes rulescerts rulescerts. Chestnut-backed Chickadee. I found this bird fairly common in the forests near Yellow Bay, in flocks in company with the Long-tailed Chickadee. It was seen frequently, and a specimen secured on June 30.. Changes in identification and other notes follow. Bonasa umbellus togata. Canada Ruffed Grouse. The bird occurring in this region has previously been recorded as B. u. umbelloides. If it is true that umbelloides always has a gray tail, then many of the birds of this region must belong to togata, for exami- nation of specimens in the University of Montana collection, as well as observations in the field, show many birds with reddish-brown tails and the heavily marked under parts of togata. In the L. B. Bishop collection are a number of specimens of this bird from Columbia Falls, a point about twenty-five miles north of Flathead Lake. Some of them are referable to one form and some to the other, yet none of them show enough differ- ence to warrant the assumption that there are two forms found in this region. I believe that the differences are entirely those of individual variation, but what to call the form in this region is a puzzle. Picoides americanus fasciatus. AlaSka Three-toed Woodpecker. An adult male, se- cured July 1, at Yellow Bay, was identified by L. B. Bishop as of this race. My observa- tions in the field also go to show that this is the regular breeding race in this region, in- stead of P. a. dorsalis, the birds showing much less white on the back than do those of southern Montana. Junco byemalls montanus. Montana Junco. A male bird, secured at Wild Horse Island, July 2, proved to belong to this race, and not to J.h. connectens, the race ori- ginally attributed to this region. Melospiza melodia merrilli. Merrill Song Sparrow. A specimen secured at Polson Swamp, July ?2, was identified as of this race rather than M. m. montana. Merrilli is probably the regular breeding bird of the region. Ammo(lramus savannarum bimaculatus. Western Grasshopper Sparrow. A nest of this bird, containing four eggs in an advanced state of incubation, was found at Pol- son, July 27. Since I know of no other definite record of the finding of a nest of this species in Montana, though the bird's occurrence in summer has been noted frequently, I wish to publish this record here.--ARETAS A. SAUNDERS, New Haven, Connecticut. Nesting of the Western Bluebird at Ventura, California.--On June 14, 1915, a pair of Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana occidentalis) were observed feeding their young in a crevice under the cornice of one of the office buildings in Ventura.--RALPH ARNOLD and J. R. PE?BERTON, LOS Angeles, California. The Belted Kingfisher Wintering in Fresno County.--Sufficient evidence has accum- ulated to warrant the statement that Ceryle alcyon winters sparingly in the Fresno dis- trict. January 11, 1913, a single individual was seen to fly from his perch on Skagg's Bridge, on the San Joaquin River. January 18, 1913, another was noted on a willow tree over a small creek at the edge of the hills north of Sanger. December 24, 1915, a Kingfisher flew across the road near a small canal at Firebaugh. January 26, 1.916, one was noted on a telephone wire near Oxalis, and I was informed that at least two had been present all through the winter. The above records would seem to indicate a slight extension of the range as given in Pacific Coast Avifauna no. 11, page 76.--JoH? G. TYLER, Fresno, California.
