90 - AnnvuAL REPORT. 
beyond the Arctic Circle to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic ce un 
the Black Hills, and northwesterly to Alaska. The most southern limit of then 
winter residence is about two hundred miles south of this city, so we see ther 
but a few weeks before they have passed away from us. old 
Since the midble of September considerable flocks of Lapland Longspurs have 
attracted our attention to the plowed fields, where they spend much of their time — 
until in December, when they, too, suddenly disappear in a more omnis 
migration. 
The Snow Buntings now arrest our observation by the sheen of their nanan 
plumage. They keep in close flocks from only a few to many hundreds, and fly 
compactly, wheeling and turning as if moved by a single impulse. These eyvolu- 
tions show to great advantage the characteristic whiteness of the predominant 
coloration. Although more noticeable for this reason, and the unity of their 
dashing flight, they are no more welcome for all reasons, at this sombre season 
or during the long and inhospitable reign of winter, than the Redpoll Linnets, a 
smaller but more nunerous species of seed-eaters, that spend the winter amongst 
us. They have been here since the middle of October, Go wherever we may, 
on the prairies or in the woodland or brushlands, we see them in small and in 
large flocks, sweeping about, apparently as aimless as dry leaves before the fitful 
gusts of autumn winds. These flocks, alternated with those of the Snow Bun- 
tings, before mentioned, may be seen at the present time, wherever we go, out- 
side the city. 
The Linnets, which are smaller and darker plumaged than the Buntings, will 
be further distinguishable by the crimson of the head and breast of the mature 
males, while the females and young of the year, of both sexes, are wanting in 
this coloration which gives the species its common name, Redpoll. They remain 
all the winter, but leave for the north several weeks before the Buntings and 
Longspurs, and may be recognized in their flight at any time, by their call note, 
that is frequently repeated. 
About the first ot November, two species of Grosbeaks, formerly called Bull 
finches, put in their appearance—the Evening Grosbeak and the Pine Grosbeak 
the latter named from its habits of feeding upon the buds of the pines and other 
coniferous trees, is about the size of the Robin, but more compactly built, and 
has a large, stout bill, well adapted to the purpose of opening the cones and buds 
of the pines and firs. Until the attention has been arrested by these beautiful 
finches sufficiently to recognize their plumage, which is said to be the gayest of 
any of the land birds that frequent the inhospitable regions of the North, one 
might see them without surmising their identity or their comparative rarity. 
The other species, the Evening Grosbeak, which ornithologists have excep- 
tionally honored with one of the most euphonious names found in the categories 
of science, Hesperiphona Vespertina, is still more remarkable for the huge size of ° 
the bill, which is the largest and stoutest of all the United States fringilline, or 
seed-eating birds. The strongly marked particolors of black, white, yellow and 
olive green, make its appearance so marked as never, to be mistaken. 
Its summer residence is found to be, the ‘‘Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, 
north to the Saskatchewan, and east along the northern tier of States to Lake 
Superior." While with us, it remains mostly within the bounds of the taller, 
deciduous timber, and feeds upon buds principally. Nicollet Island, in the heart 
of our city, is a favorite resort, during a part of February and March, and some- 
times as late as the middle of May, when they hie away to their more northern 
breeding places, or their equivalent by altitude on the inland mountains. Bear- 
