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 Nov., 1912 NESTING OF TIlE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NUTHATCII 215 its nesting material. After a few moments calling it was joined by the other one of the pair, and both vere soon buiy carrying nesting material into the oak. I quietly withdrexv, to return ten days later. There were no birds about so I examined the cavity and was chagrined to find only the few bits of grass and fur I had seen them carry in. Some time later I discovered the real nest vitii its family of large young in an oak some distance farther up the mountain side. It then dawned upon me that they had played this trick, and I had to smile to myself as I realized how nicely I had been hoodwinked. Fig. 84. NEST MATERIAL AND EGGS OF ROCKV MOUNTAIN NUTHATCH; A LITTLE LESS THAN NATURAL SIZE A HORSEBACK TRIP ACROSS MONTANA By ARETAS A. SAUNDERS N the summer of 1911 it came to my fortune to take a horseback trip nearly across the State of Montana, starting from Bozeman in Gallatin County, and ending at Chouteau in Teton County. The trip led me through varied valley and mountain country lying on the eastern side of the continental divide. Just a week was occupied in making the trip, from July 10 to 16. At this sea- son of the year the weather in Montana is at its best, and except for one or two days when the heat became a little too great for comfort, this was true of the weather I experienced. The June rains were over, but the dry weather of late summer had not yet come to rob the grass of its fresh green. Many varieties of flowers were in their fullest and freshest bloom, mid most birds were finishing' their nesting and were still in full song.