654 ANNUAL. REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The biological survey of Colorndo is practically completed, and the 

 final report is almost ready for publication. The work in New 

 Mexico has been practically finished, and a map and report on its 

 life zones, with annotated lists of the mammals and birds, are being 

 prepared for publication. 



The biological surve}^ of Wyoming has been begun with special 

 reference to the life zones and crop areas and to the native mammals 

 and birds and their economic relations. The Wind River and Big- 

 horn valleys, which are covered by reclamation projects, will be 

 taken up first. The extent of the Upper Sonoran life zone in these 

 valleys — the zone of corn and apples — and the crops best adapted to 

 it have been the subjects of inquiry on the part of the Reclamation 

 Service and of prospective settlers. At the request of the Director 

 of the Reclamation Service a provisional report on the life zones and 

 crop adaptations in the Shoshone project has been furnished ; but in 

 order to secure more detailed information a careful field survej' has 

 been undertaken to determine accurately the boundaries of the crop 

 zones. Field work in the lower Mississippi Valley States has con- 

 tinued, and has resulted in the accumulation of a large amount of 

 information for a report on the faunal and crop areas, with lists of 

 the mammals and birds. 



In California only a small amount of work was done, but it resulted 

 in important corrections of the state zone map which is being pre- 



Eared. A biological survey of both Arizona and Utah is in progress, 

 ut considerable yet remains to be done in these areas before final 

 reports can be prepared. 



Special effort was made during the year to obtain data for correc- 

 tions in the general zone map of the United States, and a revised edi- 

 tion is now in progress. 



Satisfactory progress has been made in digesting and putting into 

 shape for easy reference the accumulated mass of information on 

 mammals and birds. A great amount of data on the migration and 

 distribution of North American birds has been indexed. This infor- 

 mation is constantly used in reports and as a guide in formulating 

 protective regulations for game and other useful birds. Similar 

 work is being done on North American mammals. The mapping 

 of the distribution of both mammals and birds is advancing rapidly, 

 and a large number of the North American species have already 

 been mapped. These maps are invaluable for reference in connection 

 with the study of the useful or harmful species and in planning field 

 work and methods of protection or control. 



A report on the wood rats has been prepared for publication. 

 These mammals are of considerable economic importance in parts 

 of the western United States, owing to their injury to crops. The 

 fact that one of these rats in Alameda County, Cal.. has been found 

 by the Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service to be infected 

 with plague renders it important that information shall be available 

 on the habits and distribution of these rodents. 



Individuals and institutions from all parts of the country continue 

 to send in many birds for identification. The examination of this 

 material enables the Survey to secure much valuable information, and 

 often leads to cooperation in the economic investigations of the 

 Survey. 



