Minnesora State HorvicuLTurAL Sociery. &9 
the rocky history of the world, tell us that those remains of birds are found only 
so far back as the Cretaceous period., And’this is far enough, if we accept the 
‘“eons’’ of modern speculation which have passed since then. Their earliest fos- 
siliferous remains, so far as is yet settled among scientists. were obtained in the 
chalk formations of Europe, without some very recent discoveries should be found 
to antedate them; which is not very probable. These, as had been anticipated, 
were the lowest in rank of the class, as they were web-footed swimmers. Others 
alittle higher in development, were obtained in the caves of Brazil, while those still 
higher were found in the upper Cretaceous, and extending into the lower Tertiary 
period. Looking still upward, they discovered that the Gallinz (to which the do- 
mestic fowls belong) that were rare in the Tertiary, were abundant in the Diluvium. 
The Perchers, that embrace the sparrows, thrushes, &c., and the rapacious birds, 
such as owls, hawks and eagles, were obtained in both the Tertiary and Dilu- 
vium. Feathers and eggs have been rescued from the Tertiary of Europe. But 
we must bear in mind that not a single species of these paleozoic forms exists at 
the present time. Those of which we are now to speak have taken their places 
completely. 
So far as known, the history of the birds of Minnesota begins with the notes 
of a few persons connected with the U. S. army stationed at the several forts. 
Ornithologists, like Audubon, and Nuttall, and Wilson, have visited this section, 
but they left us no records of their local observations. Mr. Trippe, a modern 
naturalist, made a small list of birds seen along the line of the preliminary survey 
of the N. P. R. R. which found its way into tne records of an eastern society the 
name of which I do not now recall. Trappers and sportsmen early noticed the 
game birds, from whom items of surpassing interest have occasionally come 
down, if true, yet it is patent that sportsmen sometimes are afflicted with a sort 
of visual illusion by which they see things too much magnified for the uses of 
science. 
Of all the earliest observers whom it has been my privilege to meet, the late 
Rev. Dr. Gear, of this city, was the most intelligent and reliable. Many years 
ago he was a chaplain at one of the forts. He never lost any opportunity to 
notice the habits or numbers of the song birds specially. 
’ No systematic ornithological work was done until about 1860. Since then a 
large number of species and varieties have been carefully identified and recorded. 
We will now notice some of the more characteristic habits of the principal 
birds of the State, including those that visit us at the different seasons of the 
year, and those which are permanent residents. 
It is now autumn. ‘The frosts have laid their blighting fingers upon the foliage, 
and it has turned to sober gray or solemn brown. The approaching winter 
already looks sternly down upon the chilled earth from the ides of November. 
Fitful gusts of nurthwest winds whirl the rejected leaves in wild disorder along 
the borders of the woods, behind the fences and outbuildings. The Snow Birds 
have arrived in force from their more northerly summer homes. They occupy 
every thicket and secluded nook where seeds of the spontaneous vegetation may 
be found. They are easily recognized by their dark leaden color which is abruptly 
changed to white on the under parts and outer feathers of the tail, the latter of 
which is so characteristic while the tail is spread in the act of flying, that a child 
could not mistake their identity. The name, snowbird, was doubtless given 
them on account of their autumnal migration about the time of the first snows. 
This is the most numerous as well as the most extensively disseminated of all 
the feathered species that visit us in winter, their migrations extending from 
