BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 99 



I have noticed a single individual at different times during 

 the summer, a mile distant from my nearest approach, spearing 

 frogs, snakes, &c., and as many times resolved to resort to a 

 mud boat that could be poled over the bogs and mire, believing 

 that due search might be repaid with a nest and eggs. When 

 moving to any considerable distance, they mount up to great 

 elevations, but ordinarily in their haunts, they fly barely above 

 the top of the reeds, brush, &c. Fish, frogs, slugs, worms, 

 tadpoles, snails, snakes enter into their bill of fare. Individ- 

 uals of this species linger into November once in a while, if the 

 fall is rather prolonged. 



In 1883 they entered the State on March 25th, and in 1864, 

 February 27th, when we had an unusually early spring. 



"A few birds of this species shot near Fergus Falls.'' 

 (Washburn) . 



Dr. Hvoslef says that he met them in March, 1886, at Lanes - 

 boro; but makes no reference to their remaining through the 

 summer. 



Mr. Treganowan reported them constantly seen in the 

 summer months in Pembina county, but nowhere numerous. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill deep, compressed; lower mandible as deep along the 

 gonys as the upper opposite to it; gonys convex ascending; 

 commissure straight to near the tip, thence a little decurved 

 and crenated; color pure white; primary and spurious quills 

 with their shafts black; space in front of the eyes and extend- 

 ing backward between them to a point on the occiput, and 

 below them involving the whole cheek to a point behind the 

 ears, blackish; this space having the feathers reduced to stiff 

 hairy black shafts, but concealing the warty and granulated 

 skin; feathers on middle of nape above plumbeous-dusky. 



Length, 52; wing, 24; tarsus, 12; commissure 6. 



Habitat, interior of North America. 



GRUS MEXICANA (Muller) (206.) 



SANDHILL CRANE. 



The rapid settlement and extensive cultivation of the lands 

 of the State has somewhat modified the habits of this species 

 of the Cranes. Twenty-five years ago, they bred extensively 

 in several of the southwestern counties, where now they are 

 seldom seen except in migration. 



They still breed in the northern and western sections, where 

 the uninhabited prairies are large and flat, affording all the 



