SOCIAL BIRD-STUDY 245 



such as the Tennessee and Cape May warblers, yel- 

 low-bellied and olive-sided flycatchers, etc. ; and from 

 ten upwards for others of still greater rarity. 



The scale of values, of course, should be different 

 for the several seasons. Many birds common in 

 summer would be the greatest rarities in winter. To 

 get up such a scale of values is considerable work and 

 needs some expert advice. Still, no one would be 

 harmed if it did not entirely represent true values, 

 and, if agreed upon, the members could have some 

 exciting hunts. Such a pastime is infinitely ahead of 

 the brutal one of shooting for a maximum record; 

 it would be a hunt for points, comparable to army 

 maneuvers in mimic warfare. 



On a given day each one in the game would put 

 in the specified hours afield, make a list of species 

 identified, and score accordingly. As more people 

 come to know the birds, I see no reason why such 

 hunts should not become more popular. No birds 

 would be hurt, and all concerned would get some 

 glorious exercise and have a splendid time. An even- 

 ing could be devoted to the judging of lists, hearing 

 stories of the hunt, and awarding prizes. A simpler 

 form of competition would be on the basis of the 

 largest number of species seen, the rarest or most 

 difficult bird to find, and so on. 



The interest attaching to the making of a list of 

 birds personally identified is much greater than one 

 would at first imagine. Especially when the list has 

 grown to goodly proportions, the desire to add to 



