185 



Mo., the first was seen December 22, and the species became common 

 four days later. A few were seen at Chicago, 111., December G. 



In the spring of 1885 the last were reported from Chicago, 111., March 

 14; Mount Carmel, Mo., March 24; Grinnell, Iowa, April 25, and Ar- 

 gusville, Dak., April 20. 



In the fall of 18S5 they returned to Elk River, Minn., October 9; Ar- 

 gusville, Dak., October 19, and Milwaukee, Wis., December 20. 



536. Calcarius lapponicus (Linn.). [187.] Lapland Longpsur. 



Like the last, a winter visitant from the far north. As has been al- 

 ready stated, the Mississippi Valley below the range of the Snow Bunt- 

 ing is occupied by the Longspur. In Kansas it is abundant. The limit 

 of its known southern range has been carried south until we now know 

 that it penetrates to Texas, where it has been found at Gainesville, 

 leaving there in 1884 about March 1. Its mode of occurrence at Caddo, 

 Iud. Ter., in the winter of 1883-'84 may be taken as a fair example of the 

 way it comes and goes at pleasure. None were seen until a sudden cold 

 snap in February covered everything with frozen rain. Horned Larks, 

 Smith's Longspurs, and Chestnut-collared Buntings became abundant, 

 and February 13 three Lapland Longspurs were seen. Starting out 

 the next day to secure some of their skins I suddenly found myself 

 surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of them. They fairly swarmed 

 for a week; but on the night of February 19, taking advantage of a 

 clear sky and a south wind, they disappeared, in company with all their 

 long clawed brethren, as suddenly as they had come. In Kansas they 

 were very numerous about the same time, and a month later Nebraska 

 became the scene of action for the evolutions of their mighty armies. 

 In northern Minnesota they disappeared during the winter to give 

 place to the Snow Buntings; and the first ones returned to Frazee City 

 March 9. The last left Manhattan, Kans., March 22, while as late as 

 April 19 thousands were seen at Chicago, but they left almost immedi- 

 ately afterward. 



In the spring of 1885 the last flocks of Lapland Longspurs left Man- 

 hattan, Kans., February 21. At Newton, Iowa, large flocks moved north 

 regularly every fine day from March 1 to March 12; and the last were 

 seen there April 22. A large flock in spring dress was seen in Lanes- 

 boro, Minn., May 2, and the last at Heron Lake, Minn., May 9. 



In the fall of 1885 a small flock was seen at Mount Carmel, Mo., No- 

 vember 2, and again November 20. The first was seen at Gainesville, 

 Texas, November 14. In northwestern Manitoba the Lapland Longspur 

 is "enormously abundant in May and September." (Seton, The Auk, 

 Vol. II, 1885, p. 23.) 



537. Calcarius pictus (Swains.). [188.] Small's Longspur. 



Smith's Longspur breeds in the far north and winters in the western 

 part of the Mississippi Valley. It is common in southern Kansas, and 

 its winter journeyiugs have been lately discovered to extend to Texas, 



