The Audubon Societies 389 



flown away. Since then I never see a Robin but I think of the dear little family that 

 lived in our old tree near my window. 



[All contests of this kind which encourage original observation and individual 

 effort are excellent, and incidentally, they bring out rather clearly the difference in 

 pupils Vv'ith reference to accuracy, ability to grasp details, and general interest in nature. 

 The paper entitled 'The Chimney Swallows' would be more accurate if Swallows were 

 not confused i.v'ith the Chimney Swift. The latter, it should be noticed, is not a Swallow, 

 although resembling the former somewhat in appearance and habits. Nestling Swifts 

 are not really "fastened into the nest" but may seem to be if frightened, and although 

 it is not true that "only the mother can feed a baby Swallow," it is certain that nestling 

 Swifts are far more difficult to feed than nestling Robins or Tanagers, for example. 

 The observation that the little Swift's feathers look like pins is good. For statistics as 

 to the actual number of trips per day or per hour made by parent birds when feeding 

 their nestlings, see Useful Birds and Their Protection by E. H. Forbush. — A. H. \V.] 



THE WINTER BIRD-LIFE OF MINNESOTA 



Acknowledgment is due to the Minnesota Game and Fish Department for 

 an especially valuable copy of its official bulletin, entitled 'Fins, Feathers 

 and Fur.' In the December issue for 191 5, there appeared a contribution from 

 the Minnesota Natural History Survey, Zoological Section, University of 

 Minnesota, which describes the winter bird-life of the state with reference to 

 the most important phases of bird existence and subsistence. Such a compre- 

 hensive and authoritative resume of winter conditions would be of much use 

 in every state, particularly in the northern ones where winter conditions mean 

 a complete reversal of those of summer. That the Game and Fish Depart- 

 ment of a large and important state like Minnesota, lying as the latter does 

 directly in the main interior migration path of our birds, has shown sufficient 

 interest to publish this article on winter birds, is most encouraging evidence 

 of the direct benefits of cooperation among the university, state, and people 

 at large. We have so largely studied birds during the spring and summer 

 months in most states, that there remains a wide field for observation from the 

 fall to the spring migration. Attention might be called here to a fall migration 

 record covering ten years (1906-1915) made at Ann Arbor, Michigan. 



[See The Wilson Bulletin Vol. XXVIII, No. 3, which would make a good basis of 

 comparison for winter records. — A. H. W.] 



A METHOD OF MOUNTING BIRDS FOR CLASS USE 



I suppose that almost everyone who has had occasion to give talks on birds 

 has wished to illustrate his lectures with specimens, and has experienced more 

 or less difficulty in doing so. Mounted birds are bulky, require special cases 

 for transportation, and are expensive if one has to have many, and while skins 

 are convenient enough, they will not stand much promiscuous handling. 

 The idea for the method I am about to describe is not original with me; it is 

 modeled after, I may as well say copied from, a mount for insects, known as 



