This winter was a very severe one in· many parts of the United States. Freezing temperatures were recorded in Southern California and other parts of the South while extremely severe blizzards, cold, and an unusual amount of snow occurred in the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, Kansas and Nebraska. One blizzard followed another and highways were blocked for days creating hardship for live-stock, some of which starved. For several days a fleet of airplanes operated an air-lift carrying hay and food which helped save the lives of thousands of cattle. Bird life in the states mentioned above must have suffered to a considerable degree.

To the contrary, Minnesota enjoyed mild weather during December and the first part of January with very little snow and some rain. Cold weather and snow occurred during late January and the first part of February. Temperatures were below zero much of the time but the weather was about normal to date of this writing, February 21.

The weather was so mild during the late fall and early winter that some of the migrants remained throughout the season and there were late dates for many others. An Oven-bird lived in the yard at the home of Dr. D..K Minnich, Minneapolis, foQr about two weeks prior to December 21, the llitest date it was seen. A Fox Sparrow came all winter to a feeder at North St:J.r Lodge, on the North Shore about 80 mlles beyond Duluth. It was seen February 19 by Dr. W. J. Breckenridge.

One was reported at Duluth February 8 by Dr. Olga Lakela. She sent two records of Flickers seen at Duluth also. Two Mourning Doves were re-' ported south of Northfield January 8 by Mrs. Ruth Self, and Mourning Doves and a Eastern Bluebird were seen south of Afton February 4 by Albert. Brown. The Golden Eagle recorded for the Christmas census at Cedar Creek Bog was still there February 6, according to word received from Mrs. Cora A. Corniea. Several observers reported about 30 Tundra Swans on Medicine Lake November 29. This is one of the few fall records for Tundra Swans in this area. Several American Robins and a few Meadowlarks remained through the winter and, as usual, a large flock of Red-winged Blackbirds accompanied by a few Brewers Blackbirds and Rusty Blackbirds lived in the Minnesota River bottomlands near Minneapolis. Pine Grosbeaks in abundance wintered in northern Minnesota. They were reported at Duluth (Dr. Lakela),

Woman Lake (Lyman Newlin), Eveleth (D. Beard), and along the North Shore to Pigeon R. by the Minnesota Bird Club. Red-breasted Nuthatches were also more common than usual in northern Minnesota.

Herring Gulls which commonly spend winters on Lake Superior were there in numbers this season. An Ivory Gull in sub-adult plumage was reported in Lake Superior by Dr. Lakela and, although this is a sight record, it is the first for the state. Another gull, as yet unidentified, which is one of two very similar species, was observed November 23, 1948, by Dr. W. J. Breckenridge and February 19, 1948, by the Minnesota Bird Club. This bird was possibly the Western Gull. There was no possibility of collecting it but pictures were taken by Dr. Breckenridge and an identification may be made from them.

Ornithologists in general agree that in order to make an authentic first record of any bird, the specimen should be collected to make the record certain.

The Northern Cardinal has extended its range much farther north this winter. It was reported at Duluth, Two Harbors, and one has been coming, to date, to a feeder in Grand Marais. Red Crossbills and White-winged Crossbills were recorded in several localities and as "common" in Duluth.

A census of the duck population was taken in and near the Twin Cities for the Regional Fish and Wildlife Service by Dr. W. J. Breckenridge. He was assisted by Mrs. Mary Lupient, A. C. Rosenwinkel, and Warren Nord. The count was made January 13, 1949. There were 391 Golden-eyes in open places in the Mississippi River above the Ford Plant, 273 Golden-eyes near the Sewage Disposal Plant, St. Paul, and 13 Mallards and two American Black Ducks at Shakopee. Due to an unforseen circumstance the count at Shakopee had to be made before the ducks returned from feeding so the count there may not be accurate. On February 20 Golden- eyes in numbers were seen along the North Shore as far as Grand Marais. Old-squaws arrived in the harbor at Duluth during the latter part of November and about 750 were observed near Grand Marais February 20. A few Common Mergansers and Red-breasted Mergansers remained through the winter on the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities and were reported along the North Shore also. A summary of the Christmas census for the State appears elsewhere in this issue. It may be of interest to readers to compare it with the Christmas census taken by the Tunder Bay Naturalists Club at Port Arthur and Fort William. Fifteen observers traveled 145 miles by car and 17 miles on foot. The following species were listed: Common Goldeneye 1, Ruffed Grouse 1, Herring Gull 421, Rock Pigeon 1_50, Downy Woodpecker 1, Canada Jay 1, Blue Jay 1, Raven 8, American Crow 1, Blackcapped Chickadee 48, Boreal Chickadee 1, Red breasted Nuthatch 13, Bohemian Waxwing 53, Cedar Waxwing 20, Starling 195, English Sparrow 1010, Evening Grosbeak 17 Purple Finch 16, Pine Grosbeak 538, Common Redpoll 228, Hoary Redpoll 1, Pine Siskin 39, Snow Bunting 5.