eee AS Use UC RIO ON BU Lela be ltiN 13 
more than 300, in 57 counties, have been shot, captured or seen since the 
flight began. 
Another visitor that has been reported is due to the same food problem 
that sends us the owl. It is the northern shrike, a cousin of our summer 
resident, the migrant shrike, and has also been seen in unusual numbers. 
During the fall months two very unusual visitors were reported. One, 
the marbled godwit, is represented in “Birds of the Chicago Region” by 
one lone report, yet was identified in Evanston, and again in Jackson Park, 
Chicago. The second, which does not appear in “Birds of the Chicago 
Region” at all, was the western grebe, identified by competent observers 
as being seen in Lake Michigan. Both of these, from the absence of 
previous reports, must be considered “accidental.” . 
Another that can hardly be called less uncommon is the king eider. 
Two young males remained in Belmont harbor for several days, where 
they were studied at close range and as positively identified as they could 
be without having been collected. Others on the list this year that are 
infrequently seen along the lake were the glaucus gull, Iceland gull, and 
parasitic jaeger. These may all be more common than we suspect out in 
the open water of Lake Michigan, but, if so, they stay well out and are 
seldom reported. 
Yet another family has sent down two of its species from Canada to 
make the past season remarkable. One, the evening grosbeak, is erratic 
in its visits, and its presence in any year cannot be forecast; nor can any 
locality expect to see it again because it has once appeared. It has been 
reported from Morton Arboretum, at Lisle. The other member of the 
family, the pine grosbeak, is seen somewhat more often, but is still listed 
as “unusual.” Both Waukegan and the Arboretum have been its host. 
And then there is that intriguing feathered acrobat, the red cross- 
bill, whose apparent handicap proves to be a perfect adaptation for the 
snipping out from the cones of the pine seeds that are its food. It has 
again been reported from.the pine groves at Morton Arboretum, along 
with the pine siskins. The crossbill is another of those irregular ones that 
may be found in a place for a few winters and not be seen again for 
several more. It is an interesting member of the group of unusual birds 
which have honored us with their presence this winter. 
as fl fH 
To Complete Your File 
THE ILLINOIS AUDOBON SOCIETY was organized in 1897 and soon there- 
after began the publication of the Audubon Bulletin, usually in annual 
numbers. In 1939 this was changed to a quarterly period, and this issue 
is Number 57 in the series. 
Published in that time have been articles by many persons of both state 
and national reputation which should be of value to all who are interested 
in the wildlife of our country. Most of this material is still as true to 
present conditions as it was when written, and represents the observations 
