258 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPAR'TMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of the Lacey Act, the regulation of importations and interstate ship- 

 ments of birds, the maintenance of bird and mammal reservations, 

 and investigations of the economic relations of birds and mammals. 



DISTRIBUTION AND MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



Reports on the migration of birds were received, as in past years, 

 from more than 300 volunteer observers located throughout the United 

 States, in many parts of Canada, and in Alaska. Information re- 

 garding the distribution and migration of birds was gathered from 

 many published sources as well. The data secured from these various 

 sources were tabulated on about 100,000 cards, which were added to 

 a file system already containing more than 1,000,000 cards. Progress 

 was made in the preparation of reports on the distribution and migra- 

 tion of several families of waterfowl, 



BIRD COUNTS. 



The second annual report of bird counts in the United States, 

 with discussion of results, was published. Results of the third count, 

 made in the summer of 1916 by about 200 volunteer observers, have 

 been partly tabulated. The fourth annual count was made by about 

 the same number of observers during the summer of 1917, and many 

 reports have been received. These bird counts throw much light on 

 the conditions most favorable for useful species, and show that the 

 numbers of such species on the farms of the United States may be 

 largely increased by furnishing them protection and food. Results 

 of great interest and value already have been obtained from these 

 counts, and others doubtless will be brought to light as the investiga- 

 tions are continued. After a few years we shall have from these 

 counts the first fairly accurate basis for an estimate as to the increase 

 or decrease of useful birds in certain parts of the country. 



BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS. 



Progress was made in the biological surveys of Arizona, Cali- 

 fornia, and Montana, and field work on the survey of Oregon was 

 finished. A report on the life zones of AVyoming is now in press, 

 and one on the mammals of that State has been completed. Reports 

 on the birds of New Mexico, mammals of New Mexico, and birds of 

 Texas are ready for publication. Field work on the survey of Ala- 

 bama was completed and the report on the birds brought up to date. 

 Arrangements have been made with the State of Alabama for co- 

 operation in the publication of this report. A report has been pre- 

 pared on the mammals of the Canal Zone, forming a part of the 

 results of a biological survey of that region undertaken in cooperation 

 with the Smithsonian Institution in 1911 and 1912, A reconnaissance 

 of the Okefenokee Swamp region of southeastern Georgia was under- 

 taken in the winter, preliminary to a biological survey of the State, 

 Preliminary work also was begun on biological surveys of Washing- 

 ton and Wisconsin. 



MIGRATORY WILD FOWL. 



During July, 1916, in continuation of work begun in Jime, an in- 

 A-estigation of the principal areas within which migratory waterfowl 

 breed was carried on in various parts of the eastern half of North 



