352 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Canada was obtained from sportsmen, naturalists, and State game 

 officials, which will be of particular value in carrying out the pro- 

 visions of the migratoi'y-])ird treaty act. All the data were carded 

 and made available for use. Furthermore, a card catalogue of all 

 the birds collected under scientific collecting permits was made, 

 including the records from 1918 to 1920, inclusive, covering the 

 years during which Federal permits of this character have been 

 issued. 



The gratifying increase in numbers of ducks reported from many 

 parts of the country is ascribed largely to the protection accorded 

 under the Federal regulations prohibiting spring shooting, which 

 formerly seriously interfered with the mating and breeding of the 

 birds. Insistent demands have been received from certain Middle 

 Western sections, especially in Missouri, that a spring shooting season 

 be granted extending from February 10 to March 10, which would 

 include the height of the spring migration, the hunters asserting 

 that as the birds are not mated no harm would be done. In order 

 definitely to establish whether or not the birds are mated at that 

 season in Missouri, an assistant of the bureau was sent to the State 

 early in February with instructions to observe the birds, kill a certain 

 number, and make examinations of their reproductive organs. By 

 February 21 mallard ducks in numbers were constantly seen in pairs, 

 and enlargement of the breeding organs was clearly shown by exami- 

 nation of two females killed March 8 and of two males killed March 

 9. Still more decided increase in the size of these organs in both 

 sexes was shown by several specimens taken March 17. The evidence 

 was clear, therefore, that mating was in progress during February 

 and March. 



. A member of the staff was sent to McGregor, Iowa, in August to 

 represent the Biological Survey at the American School of Wild Life 

 Protection. During the session of the school considerable informa- 

 tion was disseminatetl in regard to the bird-protection w^ork of the 

 bureau, and close cooperation was established with this- school, which 

 is rapidly becoming an important factor in wild-life protection in 

 the Mississippi Valley. 



WILD LIFE IN NATIONAL PARKS AND NATIONAL FORESTS. 



In September an investigation of the conditions affecting game 

 at that season on the Wichita National Forest and Game Preserve 

 was made by an assistant of the bureau in cooperation with the 

 Forest Service, with special reference to determining the carrying 

 -capacity of the range and developing a program for disposing of 

 surplus animals, particularly buffalo and elk. A second visit was 

 made early in March to observe winter conditions on the area. 



At the suggestion of Gov. Robert D. Carey, of Wyoming, a joint 

 investigation was made in February and March by representatives 

 of the bureau, the State game department of Wyoming, and the 

 Forest Service of the problem of obtaining sufTicient winter forage 

 for elk. This work was centered chiefly in the upper Wind River 

 and Jackson Hole sections of Wyoming, and the joint recommenda- 

 tions made by the party will form the basis for further cooperation 

 of Federal and State agencies in efforts to check the rapid diminution 

 in the number of elk in this region. 



