THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 21 



birds. On several short trips which have been taken some 

 work in collecting birds' stomach contents was done. 



The study of the food habits of birds is a problem almost 

 untouched in the Philippine Islands, and yet extensive work of 

 this kind would lead to very important results. The determina- 

 tion of whether birds are injurious or beneficial is of the greatest 

 importance to agriculture and forestry. Insectivorous birds 

 hold in check insects which destroy leaf and twig. The results 

 of the work which we have been able to do were issued on 

 September 28, 1914, as a press bulletin, which was distributed 

 for publication, entitled "Birds in their economic relation to man 

 through agriculture and forestry." The work will be continued. 

 This work is so important to the United States that it occupies 

 much of the time of the Bureau of Biological Survey and a con- 

 siderable portion of the time of the Department of Agriculture. 



Several cases of mounted specimens have been added to the 

 exhibit. A series of rats to be sent to the United States 

 National Museum for identification has been prepared; deer 

 heads, birds, and other animals have been mounted ; collections 

 of birds, sent to this Bureau for that purpose, have been 

 identified. 



One short paper has been published in the Philippine Journal 

 of Science, and as heretofore, Mr. McGregor has continued to 

 devote considerable time to the Bureau publications. 



In so far as possible information has been furnished to the 

 committee appointed on February 14, 1914, by His Excellency, 

 the Governor-General, with regard to the breeding and other 

 habits of Philippine birds and mammals in order that they might 

 provide protection to animal life in these Islands. This informa- 

 tion should be greatly extended. 



SECTION OF ENTOMOLOGY OF THE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY 



Persormel^On December 31, 1913, Mr. Willie Schultze, for 

 ten years assistant entomologist of the Bureau of Science, severed 

 his connection with the laboratory to accept a position in com- 

 mercial life. He was a faithful employee, and through his zeal 

 and energy our collections of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera were 

 built up and arranged. He has completed a catalogue of Philip- 

 pine Coleoptera which is ready for publication. 



For five years Mr. C. S. Banks has been teaching entomology 

 in the University of the Philippines. In July, 1914, the Honor- 

 able, the Secretary of the Interior decided to abolish the teaching 

 function of the section of entomology, and on August 1, 1914, 

 Mr. Banks was transferred to the University of the' Philippines, 



