X BULLETIN 16 2, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



been actually found in various parts of the country, showing the 

 earliest and latest dates and the limits between which half the dates 

 fall, the height of the season. 



The plumages are described in only enough detail to enable the 

 reader to trace the sequence of molts and plumages from birth to 

 maturity and to recognize the birds in the different stages and at 

 the different seasons. No attempt has been made fully to describe 

 adult plumages; this has been already well done in the many man- 

 uals. The names of colors, when in quotation marks, are taken 

 from Ridgway's Color Standards and Nomenclature (1912) and the 

 terms used to describe the shapes of eggs are taken from his Nomen- 

 clature of Colors (1886 edition). The bold-faced type in the meas- 

 urements of eggs indicates the four extremes of measurements. 



Many of those who contributed material for previous bulletins 

 have continued to cooperate. Receipt of material from more than 

 320 contributors has been acknowledged previously. In addition 

 to these, our thanks are due to the following new contributors: 

 Clinton G. Abbott, W. C. Adams, M. C. Badger, J. H. Baker, Paul 

 Bartsch, Glenn Berner, E. J. Booth, O. M. Bryens, R. L. Coffin, L. V. 

 Compton, J. V. Crone, P. D. Dalke, Ben East, F. L. Farley, J. A. 

 Gillespie, F. J. Herman, R. B. Horsfall, F. N. Irving, Miss A. M. 

 Keen, E. A. Kitchin, T. T. McCabe, Norman McClintock, E. A. 

 Mcllhenny, G. W. Monson, G. W. Morse, J. J. Murray, L. T. S. 

 Norris-Elye, W. W. Perrett, G. B. Pickwell, Gower Rabbitts, W. M. 

 Rosen, W. B. Savary, E. W. Schmidt, W. E. Sherwood, F. H. Shoe- 

 maker, W. A. Squires, J. W. Sugden, J. G. Suthard, L. M. Terrill, 

 C. W. Tindall, I. R. Tomkins, Miss F. May Tuttle, J. H. Wales, 

 N. A. Wood, and Miss M. W. Wythe. 



Through the courtesy of the Bureau of Biological Survey, the serv- 

 ices of Frederick C. Lincoln were again obtained to compile the 

 distribution paragraphs. With the matchless reference files of the 

 Biological Survey at his disposal, his many hours of careful and 

 thorough work have produced results far more satisfactory than 

 could have been attained by the author, who claims no credit and 

 assumes no responsibility for this part of the work. 



Dr. Charles W. Townsend and Dr. Winsor M. Tyler rendered 

 valuable assistance in reading and indexing, for this group, the 

 greater part of the literature on North American birds, which saved 

 the author many hours of tedious work. Doctor Townsend also 

 contributed the entire life histories of four species and Doctor 

 Tyler also contributed one. Dr. Alfred O. Gross contributed two 

 life histories and wrote up the diseases of the ruffed grouse. Dr. 

 Arthur A. Allen contributed the courtship of the ruffed grouse. 

 E. A. Mcllhenny and the Rev. P. B. Peabody loaned the author 



