GG8 ANNUAL REPOBTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the growing interest in this work may be cited requests from officials 

 of Alabama, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa for cooperation in a 

 biological survey of these States. 



Field Avork in Alabama has been undertaken and a report upon 

 the life zones of the State is being prepared which will be accom- 

 panied by a map showing the life areas and detailed reports on the 

 bird and mammal life of the State and its relation to agriculture. 



For several .years requests have been received for cooperation with 

 (lie State University and State Agricultural College of North 

 Dakota in a biological survey of the State, with special reference to 

 a study of its bird and mammal life and their relations to agricul- 

 ture. By the plan of cooperation arranged the Biological Survey 

 and the State are to share equally in the expenses of field work and 

 in preparing final reports. Field parties of the Biological Survey 

 began work in the s]:)ring of 1012, but owing to lack of funds the work 

 will be suspended after June 30. It is hoped that means will be pro- 

 vided for the resumption of this work the next fiscal year. 



Requests for cooperation in a biological survey of Iowa and Ne- 

 braska have been received and work in those States will be inaugu- 

 rated as soon as appropriations are available. 



Field work which was conducted in Mississippi and Louisiana for 

 several seasons was temporarily suspended. It is intended to resume 

 work in the two iSlates named in the near future should funds be 

 available. 



In the fall of 1911 a little field work was dt)ne in previously un- 

 visited parts of California. 



Field work in Wyoming has been actively pushed and would have 

 been completed during the summer of 1912 but for the necessity of 

 suspending field work on June 30. A few months of additional work 

 will complete the survey of that State, when final reports can be 

 published. 



In Idaho field work was continued during the summer of 1911 

 from the Snake River to the Wyoming line, and up to June 30 of the 

 present season was continued in the central mountain valleys, where 

 the distribution of the ground squirrels and chipmunks and their 

 relations to agriculture were studied. 



The final report upon the life zones of New Mexico, with a map, 

 has been completed and is ready for publication. 



The report on the birds of Texas is still in course of preparation 

 and is making good progress. 



A bulletin on the herons of North America, giving their distribu- 

 tion and migration, is ready for publication. Another bulletin, on 

 the rails of North America, covermg similar ground, has also been 

 prepared and is ready for publication. A new and revised edition 

 of a bulletin on the distribution and migration of North American 

 shore birds has been prepared and published during the year. These 

 bulletins are of great value in connection with the enforcement of 

 the Lacey Act and aid in the preparation of game laws, both Federal 

 and State. 



A vast amount of valuable data has been gathered during the year 

 from correspondents and from literature concerning the birds and 

 mammals of North America. Good progress has been made also in 

 mapping the distribution of both birds and mammals. 



