BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 83 



species long ago known to breed here limitedly in the region 

 referred to. That the Whistlers, however, are met with here 

 occasionally during the early and late migrations, we are equally 

 assured by their having been obtained at those times for taxi- 

 dermists to mount. Mr. Howling kindly called my attention 

 to them many years ago in his collections. 



Mr. Shroeder, a taxidermist long known in St. Paul, had 

 one obtained on the Red river which I was permitted to ex- 

 amine, but of the special history of which he could give me 

 nothing. When passing over, in their early spring migrations, 

 I have several times had my attention called to them by their 

 peculiar notes, some time before I could see them at their 

 great elevation. With my glass I could not only determine 

 that they were Swans, but readily count them, which has been 

 once thirty- one, and on another occasion only three, when they 

 were not thirty yards above the forest trees amid which I 

 discovered them. These times have usually been in March, 

 and only once in the first days of April. They must breed as 

 a rule far to the north of our national line. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill as long as the head, broad, high at the base; feathers on 

 the forehead ending in a semicircular outline; nostrils far 

 forward, the anterior extremity considerably more forward 

 than half the commissure; color pure white; bill and legs 

 black; the former with an orange or yellowish spot in front 

 of the eyes. Immature birds with the head above tinged with 

 red dish- brow^n. Tail feathers twenty. 



Length, 55; wing, 22; tarsus, 4.25; bill, 4.20. 



Habitat, North America generally. 



OLOR BUCCINATOR (Richardson). (181.) 

 TRUMPETER SWAN. 



When the long embargo of a subarctic winter has terminated 

 and the waning drifts of the remaining snows have been reduced 

 to narrow borders of the forest and fences, despondent hearts 

 from hopes deferred will wake to new consciousness of exist- 

 ence, like another resurrection. The senses all feel the won- 

 drous change, and catching the impulse of nature's wide 

 outreachings, accept their new responsibilities. The babbling 

 of the brook once more set free, the cawing of the crow, the 

 cheery chink, chink of the returning woodpeckers, appeal to 

 every sentiment of gratitude in the reverent heart, and the 

 cup of i^eaceful joy is filled to overflowing. 



