CLOSING YEARS 89 



After this it was not as a naturalist studying southern 

 bird-life and making collections that Mr. Boardman 

 visited Florida. He had now spent twelve winters in 

 that State and knew its birds, its animals, its flowers 

 and its people. He enjoyed its winter climate. He had 

 made many friends at all the places where he had col- 

 lected, but there was now little for him to learn of its 

 flora or its fauna. Still, as he grew older and with the 

 approach of the cold weather of our northern winter he 

 liked to get away from the rigorous climate of the north 

 into that of birds and flowers. So he went south, not 

 with the same object as in former years, but as a gentle- 

 man of leisure to visit scenes that had been those of 

 pleasure to him in earlier years and to meet friends of 

 long standing. 



In 1889 Mr. and Mrs. Boardman left for Florida on 

 January 15 and spent the winter at Jacksonville, Punta 

 Gorda, St. James City, Winter Park, Lake Charm, 

 Palatka and St. Augustine. Leaving Florida the first 

 of April they went directly west, arriving at Minneapolis 

 April 13. Writing to Prof. Ridgway from that place on 

 June 3, Mr. Boardman says : 



A few weeks ago I saw a very queer swan here and I think a 

 trumpeter. It was shot up at Dakota. The feet were not the 

 least webbed and there had never been the least sign of toes. It 

 was mouQted here by an old taxidermist who would be glad to 

 sell it cheap. It looks queer with its long crane-like toes without 

 webs. If you would care for it, write me and I will get it for you. 

 I like the spring in this country ; I see so many birds and they are 

 so different from those we see in Maine. The woods about the 

 city are full of scarlet tanagers, orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks, 

 redheaded woodpeckers, etc. After I arrived here there were a 

 good many Evening grosbeaks and Bohemian chatterers but all 



