Introductory Note. 



This paper is presented as the first of a series which it is proposed to isbtie 

 from the Zoological Division of the Geological and Natural History Survey of 

 Alinnesota, under the caption "Occasional Papers." Articles appearing in this 

 connection will be of a preliminary character, or matter of immediate or passing 

 interest, more complete or monographic reports being issued as heretofore in the 

 already established "Zoological Series." 



The present article has been prepared largely from data accumulated bv the 

 writer during many years, these files, with much additional reference matter, now 

 forming the basis of the ornithological records of the Survey. Many observers 

 throughout the state have for a long time freely contrilnited lists and notes, and 

 where information from such sources has been used credit has been given in the 

 text. In a few places in this paper passages have been incorporated verbatim or 

 in slightly altered form, from an article on "The Winter Birds of Alinnesota," 

 published in 1881 in the Ninth Annual Bulletin of the Minnesota Geological and 

 Natural History Survey. 



The colored plate of the Evening Grosbeak was made by the Minneapolis 

 Bureau of Engraving from a water-color by a Japanese artist, Kako Morita, who 

 worked under the direction of the writer, from Minnesota skins in the Survey 

 collection. The plate is a faithful reproduction of the drawing and any devia- 

 tions from nature that it presents are imperfections in the original rather than 

 failure in the work of the lithographer. 



The excellent photograph of the Canada Spruce Grouse was taken in 1914 

 from a wild bird in the Burnt Lake district in northeastern Minnesota by Mr. 

 John Walters. The photograph is now the property of Mr. A. C. LeDuc of 

 Duluth, who has kindly permitted its use in this connection. The curious "dis- 

 ])lay" picture of the Ruffed Grouse was taken by Mr. F. N. Alanross of Forest- 

 ville, Connecticut, from a young male bird in captivity. It appeared in Herbert 

 K. Job's "Propagation of Wild Birds," 1915, published by Doubleday, Page and 

 Company, with whose consent and the courteous permission of Mr. Manross it is 

 here presented. Of the remaining half-tone illustrations the caption beneath 

 each is sufficiently explanatory of its character and source. With a single excep- 

 tion — that depicting the Longspur tragedy — they are here reproduced for the 

 first time. 



One of the considerations in presenting this paper on our winter birds is the 

 hope that it will bring to the Natural History Survey much additional information 

 in regard to the bird-life of the state. All notes and records will be most wel- 

 come and will be so preserved and filed that they will find their way into future 

 publications, credited to the persons reporting them. Address the author, care 

 of the Zoological Museum. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Alimi. 



