BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 99 
I have noticed a single individual at different times during 
the summer, a mile distant from my nearest approach, spearing 
frogs, snakes, &c., and as many times resolved to resort to a 
mud boat that could be poled over the bogs and mire, believing 
that due search might be repaid with a nest and eggs. When 
moving to any considerable distance, they mount up to great 
elevations, but ordinarily in their haunts, they fly barely above 
the top of the reeds, brush, &c. Fish, frogs, slugs, worms, 
tadpoles, snails, snakes enter into their bill of fare. Individ- 
uals of this species linger into November once in a while, if the 
fall is rather prolonged. 
In 1888 they entered the State on March 25th, and in 1864, 
February 27th, when we had an unusually early spring. 
“A few birds of this species shot near Fergus Falls.” 
(Washburn). 
Dr. Hvoslef says that he met*them in March, 1886, at Lanes- 
boro; but makes no reference to their remaining through the 
summer. 
Mr. Treganowan reported them constantly seen in the 
summer months in Pembina county, but nowhere numerous. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Bill deep, compressed; lower mandible as deep along the 
gonys as the upper opposite to it; gonys convex ascending; 
commissure straight to near the tip, thence a little decurved 
and crenated; color pure white; primary and spurious quills 
with their shafts black; space in front of the eyes and extend- 
ing backward between them to a point on the occiput, and 
below them involving the whole cheek toa point behind the 
ears, blackish; this space having the feathers reduced to stiff 
hairy black shafts, but concealing the warty and granulated 
skin; feathers on middle of nape above plumbeous-dusky. 
Length, 52; wing, 24; tarsus, 12; commissure 6. 
Habitat, interior of North America. 
GRUS MEXICANA (MUvLLER) (206.) 
SANDHILL CRANE, 
The rapid settlement and extensive cultivation of the lands 
of the State has somewhat modified the habits of this species 
of the Cranes. Twenty-five years ago, they bred extensively 
in several of the southwestern counties, where now they are 
seldom seen except in migration. 
- They still breed in the northern and western sections, where 
the uninhabited prairies are large and flat, affording all the 
