12 Roberts and Benner on the Ornitliolocjy of Minnesota. 



previously mentioned, and on either side of it arise the higli bluffs 

 which border the State of Minnesota and the Territory of Dakota. 

 The valley is about four miles long by about a mile wide, and its 

 appearance indicates that it at one time was an extension of the 

 lakes which it now separates, and formed with them a continuous 

 water communication from Hudson's Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. 



Some distance in the " Coteau des Prairies " rises the Minnesota 

 River, which runs down into this valley near Lake Traverse, and 

 then, flowing southward, empties into Big Stone Lake. It is here 

 merely a small stream, not over ten or fifteen feet wide ; yet along 

 its banks for about two miles has centred all the timber visible, ex- 

 cept perhaps a few stunted oaks in the gullies running down from 

 the bluffs on either side. Swamp-willows, black-oaks, and two or 

 three groups of large cotton-wood trees made up this wood, and into 

 it seemed to be gathered all the bird life for miles around. 



From the date of these observations — June 5 to 20 — it is to be 

 presumed that all the birds noted were breeding in the localities 

 mentioned, or had their nests in the near neighborhood. 



Although the birds around Minneapolis had been nesting some 

 ten days or more, they seemed to have but just begun here, and 

 most of the nests obtained contained fresh eggs. 



Among the notable Water Birds observed were Forster's Tern 

 {^Sterna forsteri) ?cc\^ Franklin's Rosy Gull {Larus franklini), which 

 were seen daily, and, although no eggs were found, were appar- 

 ently breeding. The occurrence of thi'ee birds heretofore unnoted 

 in this State is of especial interest. They are the Chestnut-col- 

 lared Bunting {Plectrophanes oniatus), the White-winged Blackbird 

 (Calamospiza bicolor), and the Arkansas Flycatcher {Tyramms verti- 

 calis). The first is the most common bird upon the dry prairie, and 

 it seems strange that it should have been so long overlooked. 



The varietal forms of the Grass Finch, Savanna Sparrow, and 

 Meadow Lark seem to be veiy distinct, when compared with simi- 

 lar ones from regions further west, and with types from the south- 

 eastern portions of the State. 



The vicinity of Herman abounds in small lakes surrounded 

 with high reeds, and here the Ducks were breeding commonly. 

 Their nests were not confined to the borders of the lakes, but were 

 situated upon the prairie or in a wheat-field some distance from the 

 water. 



The most prominent Wader was the Great Marbled Godwit 



