Reports of Affiliated Organizations 103 



and State Parks. Minnetonka Refuge recently has been increased to 85,000 

 acres, which makes about 100,000 acres in game refuges now cared for and 

 patrolled under the auspices of the Minneapolis Branch. Public sentiment 

 in favor of wild-life conservation has been very noticeable during the past 

 two years, especially in regard to the protection and care of the song and 

 insectivorous birds and in game-breeding. The literature and books put out by 

 the National As ociation of Audubon Societies has probably done more in 

 helping to create this sentiment than anything else. Several hundred copies of 

 the Bulletin on The Breeding of Upland Game Birds and Aquatic Fowl,' 

 written by Mr. Job, were distributed throughout the state. Without these 

 Bulletins it is not likely that game-breeding in Minnesota would have 

 received the attention that it has. Many of the notices put out by the 

 National Association of Audubon Societies during the past year, against 

 the slaughter of birds, were received and posted by wardens employed by our 

 League. 



The war has stopped the taking up of any new work during the past few 

 months, but the regular work of the League will be carried on as usual so far 

 as is known now. — Frank D. Blair, Secretary. 



Natural History Society of British Columbia (Victoria, B. C, Canada). — 



This year, for the first time, a Bird Section of the Society was formed, with 

 Dr. Hasell as President and Henry F. PuUen as Vice-President. Several 

 interesting round-table talks were given, illustrated by museum skins. The 

 most interesting of these were by Frank Kermode, Director of the British 

 Columbia Museum, Dr. Hasell, and Arthur S. Barton. 



Note was made from time to time throughout the year of the scarcity of 

 birds in this section of the country. This was supposed to have been caused by 

 the severe winters of 1915-16 and 1916-17. From all over Vancouver Island 

 similar reports arrived. All bird-life has been scarce, but especially the insect- 

 eating migrants, such as the Warblers, Song Sparrows, Wrens, and Humming- 

 birds. 



Last winter there was an invasion of Western Horned Owls, caused, it is 

 said, by unusual scarcity of rabbits in the northern interior. These birds 

 attacked almost everything, but their favorite prey was the Chinese Pheas- 

 ants which formerly were very numerous here. They were reported to have 

 killed cats, puppies, and many species of birds. Hundreds of the Owls were 

 shot, but some remained in the vicinity until spring.— H. F. Pullen, Vice- 

 President. 



Newburyport (Mass.) Bird Club. — ^As the result of a lecture delivered 

 in this city by Mr. Baynes, the Newburyport Bird Club came into existence, 

 and was formally organized in November, 1916, as a branch of the Conserva- 

 tion Department of the Women's Club. It has since become an independent 



