The manner of flight of the different 

 species of ducks is usually characteris- 

 tic to the eye of the careful student. 

 Thus the hooded mergansers fly in a 

 compact flock of about a dozen. birds 

 with a directness and velocity that is 

 wonderful. Dr. Hatch says, in his 

 "Birds of Minnesota:" "Once in Janu- 

 ary, 1874, when the mercury had de- 

 scended to 40 below zero, while a north 

 wind was blowing terrifically, I saw a 

 flock of six of this species flying directly 

 into the teeth of the blizzard at their 

 ordinary velocity of not less than ninety 



miles an hour." This may sound rather 

 strong to some, but their flght is cer- 

 tainly very rapid, as any gunner will 

 testify. 



The "fish ducks," or mergansers, are 

 an interesting group of three American 

 species, of which the hooded is the 

 smallest. The long, slender, toothed 

 or serrated bill of this group provides a 

 field character which will serve to 

 identify them at a glance. It is to be 

 hoped that their habit of feeding 

 largely upon fish will prove a protection 

 from entire extermination. 



THE TRUMPETERS. 



The winds of March are trumpeters. 



They blow with might and main. 

 And herald to the waiting earth 



The Spring and all her train. 



They harbinger the April showers. 



With sunny smiles between. 

 That wake the blossoms in their beds, 



And make the meadows green. 



The South will send her spicy breath, 



The brook in music flow. 

 The orchard don a bloomy robe 



Of May's unmelting snow. 



Then June will stretch her golden days. 



Like harp-strings, bright and long. 

 And play a rich accompaniment 



To every wild bird's song. 



The fair midsummer time, apace, 



Shall bring us many a boon, 

 And ripened fruits, and yellow sheavcs 



Beneath the harvest-moon. 



The golden-rod, a Grecian torch, 



Will light the splendid scene, 

 When Autumn comes in all the pomp 



And glory of a queen. 



Her crimson sign shall flash and shine 



On every wooded hill, 

 And Plenty's horn unto the brim 



Her lavish bounty fill. — A?idrew Dow?n?ig. 



