50 
Ornithology . 
tion. Now, in the voluptuous Spring, they are seen every¬ 
where flashing in the sunlight through our forests and our 
shrubbery the winged flora of the glorious season. And so long 
ago only, the voluble and mellifluous song of the Brown Thrush 
and the Robin, and Bluebird, and the gushing, fussy little 
House Wren were scarcely heard, and in only a few favored 
localities. Now those delicious notes are borne upon the fra¬ 
grance of Spring into every open casement, and they herald the 
teeming Summer from every tree top. The grand chorus of 
feathered songsters has become an annual repast for our willing 
and waiting ears which makes the long dreary winter bearable 
with its delicious anticipations. But, hold ! we are dealing with 
sober science, and not with song. So without further delay we 
will descend to our work and hand in our list of the hitherto 
observed forms of— 
BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 
ORDER FIRST. 
RAPTORES. 
Fam. Vulturidae. 
Gen. Cathartes, III. 
sp. C. aura, Linn. Turkey Vulture. 
Formerly more common. In summer found along the Mississippi and St. 
Croix rivers, where it still breeds, but is becoming more rare. Arrives late 
in April. 
Fam. Falconidae. 
Gen. Falco, Linn. 
sp. F. anatum, Bonapart. Duck Hawk. 
Rare. Arrives early in April. Well identified. 
sp. F. sacer, Foster. 
One specimen obtained near this city in a previously undescribed plumage, 
and believed to be the first hitherto seen in the United States. At the re¬ 
quest of Mr. Robert Ridgway, Assistant Curator of the National Museum 
at Washton, it has been loaned to the Smithsonian Itstitute for further iden¬ 
tification. 
sp. F. columbarlns, Linn. Pigeon Hawk. 
Not abundant. Appears late in April, and disappears latter part of August 
or first part of September. 
