(43) 



These numbers may not allow of sufficient rang-e and may be found 

 not to be the most appropriate, but that must be decided experimentally. 



The application of this scheme would involve the counting- or the care- 

 ful estimation of the birds seen, and a consideration of the distance or area 

 covered. If the observer were recording- the I'esults of a day's trip, or of 

 a journey of longer duration, he would divide the total number of a g-iven 

 species noted by the number of miles covered, without reg-ard to whether 

 the birds were seen in one or two larg-e flocks or as scattered individuals, it 

 seeming- inadvisable to attempt to express this difference except by a specific 

 statement of the fact, if for any reason it should seem desirable to do so. 

 If the observer, on the contrary, were desirous of preparing a formal list of 

 the birds of a given region, certain areas, as sections or quarter-sections, 

 etc., here and there throughout the region under consideration could be se- 

 lected, gone over carefully, the number of pairs of a given species breeding 

 in the area estimated, the average of the different areas taken, and from 

 this the number in the whole region and the abundance of the species ob- 

 tained. 



The use of this scheme would open up many questions now unanswer- 

 ed, such as those of the exact duration and intensity of migration waves 

 and whether these culminated in a single maximum or presented several 

 crests, the graphical method of presentation of this subject being then ap- 

 plicable. It would be possible to work out the exact components of avian 

 faunae and to present maps showing the density of bird population; 

 while no doubt other lines of investigation would suggest themselves. 



We in Nebraska possess opportunities for work exceeding those of al- 

 most any other state. The character of the surface is such that the region 

 lends itself very readily to the application of such a scheme as the one pro- 

 posed; while here is the meeting place of many of the eastern and western 

 subspecies, and the variety of conditions is so great, that hardly any other 

 state in the Union could present so instructive a series of maps as might be 

 compiled for Nebraska, if the distribution of the different species were 

 carefully worked out, for area, for limits of subspecies, and for abundance. 

 These are the questions which should be urged upon the ornithologists of 

 the state, these the subjects suggested to the student, and this the sort of 

 ornithological work which should supplant the work of the mere collector. 



The following words are suggested as applicable to the time of appear- 

 ance of different species: 



Resident: Here throughout the year and breeds. 



Summer resident: " during the summer 



Winter resident: " during the winter; breeding farther north. 



Spring migrant: " " spring migration. 



Fall migrant: " " fall " 



Winter visitant: " " winter for a limited period only, and 



onU' under certain favorable conditions. 

 Summer visitant: " during the summer for a limited period only, and 



only as a wanderer. 

 Accidental: presence here due to abnormal conditions and not to be 



again expected. 

 Regular ( prefixed to proper words above ): Appearing every year. 



Irregular " " Not appearing every year. 



