TRIPPE, NOTES ON BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 113 



VI. Notes on the Birds of Minnesota. 

 BY T. MARTIN TRIPPE. 



THE following notes on the Birds of Minnesota were taken during 

 the past year (1870) while the author was engaged in various railroad 

 surveys in that State. They do not profess to contain a complete list 

 of the avi-fauna of that region; indeed, probably not more than 

 three-fifths of the species are mentioned, and are merely the result 

 of such facts as came under my observation while at work in the field. 



The district embraced extends between Otter-tail Lake and Lake 

 Mille Lacs. The period of observation was between April and 

 December. 



Although four hundred miles further north, most of the migratory 

 species arrive in this region nearly as early as they de in the vicinity 

 of New York. The Robin, Bluebird, and others that migrate ou the 

 appearance of spring, appear, it is true, some weeks later; but the 

 great mass of birds, the Warblers, Flycatchers, Thrushes, etc., arrive 

 nearly or quite as early. The season, indeed, is quite as far advanced 

 here by the 10th of May, as it is in the neighborhood of New York. 



The nomenclature is from Audubon's Synopsis. 



1. Cathartes aura. Abundant; breeds. The Turkey Buzzard usu- 

 ally selects the hollow, prostrate trunk of a large tree for its nest. I 

 found young birds scarcely fledged as late as the 29th of July. There 

 are usually two young; occasionally but one. This bird is capable 

 of withstanding considerable cold. I saw it on the 24th of October, 

 and again on the 8th of December. 



2. Buteo borealis. Not common. 



3. B.-lfiyopus. Seen a few times in the fall. 



4. Haliaetus leucocephalus. Rather common, especially in winter. 



5. Pandion haliaetus. I saw but A single pair of these birds. They 

 had fixed their nest in the top of a tall, dead pine on the banks of the 

 Mississippi; and at that date, June 30th, the young were just hatched. 



6. Nauclerus furcatus. Rather common, especially in the immedi- 

 ate vicinity of the Mississippi. It arrives early in June, and remains 

 all summer. I saw this bird 30 miles north of Mille Lac, lat. 47. 



7. Falco peregrinus. Seen a few times in autumn. 



8. F. sparverius. Common ; breeds. Found hatching in May. 



9. Circus cyaneus. Common; breeds. 



10. Ulula Tengmalmii? This, or a very similar species, was not un- 

 usual in the spruce and hemlock woods. 



COMMUNICATIONS ESSEX INSTITUTE, VOL. VI. 15 Feb., 1871. 



