InUndiictU' 



■ Our Liviiii^ Rt'MiKixt'S 



Investigation and research 



Study of life habits of wild animals 



Classification of wild animals 



Studies in geographic distribution of wild 



animals and plants 

 Life zone in\estigations of definite areas 

 Biological surveys of definite areas 

 Special big game investigations 

 Investigations for improvement of reindeer 



in Alaska 

 Investigations at reindeer experiment station 

 Investigations of problems of fur fanners 

 Studies in fur animal disease and parasites 

 Investigations of problems of rabbit raisers 

 Studies of rabbit diseases, etc. 

 Investigations in animal poisons 

 Studies in bird migration 

 Bird censuses (general) 

 Wild fowl censuses 

 Bird banding 

 Food habits studies by laboratory examma- 



tions of stomach contents of birds, mam- 

 mals, reptiles, and amphibians 

 Studies in game bird propagation 

 Specific studies in covert restocking 

 Surveys of food resources for waterfowl 

 Investigations and experiments in predatory 



animal control 

 Investigations and experiments in control of 



injurious rodents 

 Investigations and experiments in control of 



other animal pests 

 Investigations and experiments in control of 



bird pests 



Activities of the Bureau 



of Biological Survey 



(Cameron 1929) 



Encouragement of useful forms of wildlife 



Advice on game bird and animal propaga- 

 tion methods 



Devising of methods for attracting birds 

 about parks, homes, etc. 



Encouragement of conservation of wild fur 

 bearers 



Advice on small annual production (for pets 

 and laboratory use) 



Maintenance and protection of game pre- 

 serves and birds refuges 



Restocking of reservations 



Disposal of surplus animals on reservations 



Issuance of permits for fur farming on cer- 

 tain Alaskan islands 



Adininistration of Upper Mississippi Wild 

 Life and Fish Refuge Act 



Administration of act protecting wildlife on 

 reservations 



Repression of undesirable forms of 

 wildlife 



Killing of predatory animals 

 Leadership and demonstration in coopera- 

 tive effort against predatory animals 



Leadership and demonstration in coopera- 

 tive effort against injurious rodents 



Leadership and demonstration in coopera- 

 tive effort against other animal pests and 

 injurious birds 



Processing of poisons and food stuffs for use 

 against predatory and noxious animals 



Protection of wildlife 



Administration of Migratory Bird Treaty and 

 Lacey acts by warden service and in coop- 

 eration with state law enforcement agen- 

 cies 



Issuance of permits for game propagation 



Regulation of importation of wild birds and 

 animals 



Preparation of regulations under Alaska 

 game law 



Dissemination of information 



Preparation and editing of publications 

 Preparation of exhibits and photographs 

 Answering of inquiries 

 Addresses by officers (conventions, univer- 

 sities, etc.) 



Miscellaneous 



Regulation of grazing of domestic stock in 

 certain Alaskan islands 



from agriculture and hoiticulture to the new 

 subject of forestry. At the same time, the work 

 was moved from the Division of Entomology to 

 the new Division of Economic Ornithology and 

 Mammalogy. Dr. C. Hail Meiriam became the 

 first division chief in July 1886 (Cameron 

 1929). 



The new division continued to study wildlife 

 food habits, migration, and species distribution. 

 It placed considerable emphasis on educating 

 farmers about birds and aniinals affecting their 

 interests so that destruction of useful species 

 might be prevented. Dr. Merriam pursued the 

 development of an extensive biological survey, 

 advancing the argument that mapping of fauna] 

 and floral areas would benefit farmers by iden- 

 tifying the boundaries of areas tit for the growth 

 of ceilain crops and those hospitable for certain 

 breeds of livestock, in 1 890, the appropriation 

 language for the Department of Agriculture pro- 

 vided for the investigation of "the geographic 

 distribution of animals and plants." causing Dr. 

 Meniam to note that "the division is now in 

 effect a biological survey" (Cameron 1929:27). 



The major part of the division's 1891 activi- 

 ties involved an extensive biological survey and 



biogeographic mapping of the Death Valley 

 region of southern California and southern 

 Nevada. This was followed by additional bio- 

 logical surveys of various areas of the West. 

 Biological surveys also were conducted beyond 

 the continental borders of the United States into 

 Alaska, Canada, and Mexico. In 1896 the 

 Division of Ornithology and Mammalogy 

 became the Division of Biological Survey 

 (Cameron 1929). 



Food habit studies, which were continued 

 along with the survey work, emphasized trans- 

 mitting information to those who could benefit 

 from it. Popular bulletins were prepared on bird 

 migration, the economic impacts of specific 

 wildlife species on agriculture, and the intro- 

 duction of exotic species. In 1889. the division 

 initiated the more scientific Norrli American 

 Fauna series, which included that year a gener- 

 al paper discussing Dr. Merriam's concept of 

 the life zones of North America (Cameron 

 1929). 



The division was elevated to bureau status 

 on July 1, 1905. During the next 34 years, activ- 

 ities expanded to serve the growing U.S. con- 

 servation movement. Diverse investigations and 



