BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 83 
species long ago known to breed here limitedly in the region 
referred to. That the Whistlers, however, are met with here 
occasionally during the early and late migrations, we are equally 
assured by their having been obtained at those times for taxi- 
dermists to mount. Mr. Howling kindly called my attention 
to them many years ago in his collections. 
Mr. Shroeder, a taxidermist long known in St. Paul, had 
one obtained on the Red river which I was permitted to ex- 
amine, but of the special history of which he could give me 
nothing. When passing over, in their early spring migrations, 
I have several times had my attention called to them by their 
peculiar notes, some time before I could see them at their 
great elevation. With my glass I could not only determine 
that they were Swans, but readily count them, which has been 
once thirty-one, and on another occasion only three, when they 
were not thirty yards above the forest trees amid which I 
discovered them. These times have usually been in March, 
and only once in the first days of April. They must breed as 
a rule far to the north of our national line. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Bill as long as the head, broad, high at the base; feathers on 
the forehead ending in a semicircular outline; nostrils far 
forward, the anterior extremity considerably more forward 
than half the commissure; color pure white; bill and legs 
black; the former with an orange or yellowish spot in front 
of the eyes. Immature birds with the head above tinged with 
reddish-brown. ‘Tail feathers twenty. 
Length, 55; wing, 22; tarsus, 4.25; bill, 4.20. 
Habitat, North America generally. 
OLOR BUCCINATOR (RicHarRpson). (181.) 
TRUMPETER SWAN. 
When the long embargo of a subarctic winter has terminated 
and the waning drifts of the remaining snows have been reduced 
to narrow borders of the forest and fences, despondent hearts 
from hopes deferred will wake to new consciousness of exist- 
ence, like another resurrection. The senses all feel the won- 
drous change, and catching the impulse of nature’s wide 
outreachings, accept their new responsibilities. The babbling 
of the brook once more set free, the cawing of the crow, the 
cheery chink, chink of the returning woodpeckers, appeal to 
every sentiment of gratitude in the reverent heart, and the 
cup of peaceful joy is filled to overflowing. 
