BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 175 



sticks, and some coarse stalks of weeds, or reeds. In each 

 instance seen or yet heard from, only two eggs were found. 

 Their color was in general a dirty, yellowish white, with dif- 

 ferent shades of brown spattered, or splotched somewhat, 

 nearly all over, but more so about the larger end. Their food 

 does not differ locally from that reported of them everywhere. 

 Mr. Washburn "found it very common for the species, 

 throughout the Red river valley." He made some consecu- 

 tive observations of their habits at Ada. Dr. Hvoslef thinks 

 that they come over our southern boundaries sometimes as 

 early as Feb. 1st, but if they do, I persume they go back again 

 promptly as a general thing. Next to this date he notes them 

 in this journal on Feb. 23d, and 28th, each, 1883, but not again 

 until March 27th of that year. No one familiar with their 

 form in flight need be mistaken in their identity. In dignity 

 of motion on the wing, they have few peers and no superiors. 

 And the sustained ease of their prolonged flight is equally 

 wonderful. Weariness is never once suggested. The separa- 

 tion and upward inflection of the extremeties of the primaries 

 when floating around their wide circles on the wing, carries an 

 idea of tension which soon dissipates upon prolonged observa- 

 tion. They remain in their favorite districts until driven 

 away by the frost which cuts off their supply of food. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Entire plumage brownish-black, darkest on the back and 

 tail above with a purplish lustre, many feathers having a pale 

 border; bill yellowish; head and neck bright red; plumage 

 commencing on. the neck with a circular ruff of projecting 

 feathers; head and upper part of neck naked, or with a few 

 scattering hair-like feathers, and with the skin wrinkled; 

 nostrils large, oval, communicating with each other; tail rather 

 long and rounded. 



Length, 30; wing, 23; tail, 12. 



Habitat, temperate North America. 



