BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 363 



of the bureau, like that of bird migration, has suffered from war 

 conditions; but special efforts are being made to enlist the services 

 of new observers and to interest okl observers in resuming their co- 

 operation, thus adding to the value of this important work. A third 

 report on bird counts in the United States, detailing the results 

 obtained since the last publication on the subject, is in course of 

 preparation, and it is believed that its appearance will stimulate the 

 interest of observers and result in a large increase in the number of 

 reports received. 



BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS OF STATES. 



Fichl work has continued in Florida, Montana, North Dakota, 

 AVashington, and Wisconsin in furtherance of the biological surveys 

 which have been in progress in those States during past years. 



During January and February a party investigated conditions 

 along the Gulf coast of Florida from Choctawhatchee Bay south to 

 the Chassahowitzka River, particular attention being paid to the 

 resorts of wintering ducks and other waterfowl. 



In Montana, the valley of the Missouri and the bordering plains 

 and mountains, from the mouth of the Milk River westward, were 

 investigated during the early summer. In the latter part of the 

 summer explorations covered the Little Rockies, Moccasin Moun- 

 tains. Big Belt Mountains, Little Belt Mountains, and the Castle 

 Mountains. 



In North Dakota an investigation was made during September and 

 October with special reference to the hibernation and food-storing 

 habits of various small mammals. This resulted in the accumulation 

 of considerable data regarding the food habits of several species of 

 economic importance. 



In Washington explorations were conducted from early in July to 

 late in September, 1911J, mainly in the region of ^Mouiit Rainier Na- 

 tional Park, work on this partu-ular area being undertaken with the 

 cooperation of the National Bark Service, the State College of 

 AVashington, and the Washington State Normal School. During this 

 investigation as thorough a study as possible of the zonal and faunal 

 conditions of the region was made. A detailed report on Mount 

 Rainier National Park, including a tovxjgraphic description of the 

 region, results of studies of the life /.ones, and extensively annotated 

 li.sts of the birds and niannuals, is well advanced in prei)uration and 

 is exj^ected to be pul)lished by the National Park Service. During 

 the remainder of the fiscal year an assistant of the Survey was con- 

 tinuously engaged in investigating faimal conditions in various 

 parts of the State. 



In Wisconsin investigations were conducted from July 1 to Se})- 

 temV)er 20, mainly in the northwestern part of the State, special 

 attention being given to the Apostle Islands, in Lake Superior, the 

 fauna of Avhich was practically unknown. This resulted in the dis- 

 covery of many interesting facts concerning the detailed distribution 

 of the species on the various islands. As during previous years, the 

 work in AVisconsin was conducted in cooperation with the AVisconsin 

 (ieological and Natural History Survey. After the completion of 

 this work, early in September, a special investigation of the distriliu- 

 tion and habits of beavers in the northern part of the State was 



