In size the Snowflake is little larger than an 

 English Sparrow. The plumage is much varie- 

 gated with white, black and rusty brown in the 

 fall and winter, but as spring advances becomes, 

 in the tnale, almost pure white, relieved only by 

 the jet black of the wings and tail. 



*14. LAPLAND LONGSPUR (Calcarius lap- 

 ponicus lapponicus). Very similar in habits and 

 manner of occurrence to the Snow Bunting. The 

 Longspurs, however, appear in much larger num- 

 bers and the great flights that pass to and fro 

 over the western part of the state are of almost 

 inconceivable proportions. Some idea may be 

 gathered from the details of a tragedy that hap- 

 pened to this species several years ago as the 

 northward spring flight was in progress across 

 Northwestern Iowa and Southwestern Minnesota. 

 Late in the evening of March 13, 1904, the mov- 

 ing Longspur hosts, when fati,gued and without 

 food, encountered a night of inky blackness and a 

 heavy fall of wet snow. Becoming confused and 

 wet, and weighted down with the soft snow, they 

 dashed to their death against the frozen ground, 

 ice-covered lakes, and various obstacles, in such 

 vast numbers that on the bare ice of two small 

 lakes at Worthington, Minn., there lay, by care- 

 ful estimate, the crushed bodies of over 7.S0,00O of 

 these unfortunate little wayfarers. When it is 

 added that inquiry developed the information that 

 this destruction extended over an area of approxi- 

 mately 1,500 square miles, it will be seen that the 

 total number of Longspurs killed that night runs 



into a figure almost beyond belief — certainly sev- 

 eral millions.t Reports subsequently received 

 from this same region stated that there was no 

 appreciable diminution in the Longspur legions in 

 subsequent years. 



Both this species and the Snowflake render 

 the farmer a great service in the destruction of 

 many tons of weed seeds as they derive a con- 

 siderable part of their sustenance from this 

 source during the time of continuous snow. 



The Longspur has an erratic, jerky flight. 

 When on the ground it is a close sitter and 

 springs up at ones feet with a characteristic sharp 

 metallic chirp. Toward spring a whole flock will 

 often indulge in a concerted melodious perform- 

 ance consisting of soft whistles and fragments of 

 a sweet song. 



The Lapland Longspur appears in Hennepin 

 county as early as September (Sept. 29, 1875; 

 Sept. 30, 1880) and the last usually leave in late 

 April, though, like the Snow Bunting, individuals 

 may occasionally linger into May (May 3, 1875; 

 a flock May 11, 1877). 



A little smaller than the Snowflake and much 

 darker in color. The male towards spring has 

 the head, throat, neck and breast black, but dur- 

 ing the fall and winter the black is largely con- 

 cealed by light edgings to the feathers. A rufous 

 patch on the back of the neck. The female is 

 similar to the winter male but lacks distinctive 



tFor full account and photographs see Tlie .\ulc, 1907 

 pages 369-377. 



■-A.iassi^gHiiamtmm,Ai^tMm 



DE.VD 'L.\1'L.\ND LONGSPURS ON ICE OF LAKE .\T WORTHINGTON, MINN., WHERE TIIKV 

 FELL DURING A STORM ON THE NIGHT OF MARCH 1.V14, 1904. 



Front The Aiil' 



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