ORNITHOLOGIST 



— AXD — 



OOLOGIST. 



$r.oo per 

 Annum. 



PUBLISHED BY THE FRANK BLAKE WEBSTER COMPANY. 



ESTABLISHED MARCH, 1875. 



Single Copy 

 10 cents. 



Vol. XVIII. HYDE PARK, MASS., FEBRUARY, 1893. 



No. 2. 



Distribution of the Long-Eared Owl 

 and Cooper's Hawk in Illinois. 



A synopsis of the plan of ascertaining the 

 distribution of some twenty-two species of 

 birds in the State of Illinois, was presented 

 in the preceding number of this magazine. 

 It is now intended to say a little regarding 

 the material to be used and the contri- 

 butors of the same. 



This material, on which this and succeed- 

 ing articles will be based, consists of the 

 notes and observations contributed by those 

 who have collected and obsened in Illinois 

 lields, and of the valuable information se- 

 cured from lists and catalogues, both State 

 and local. 



A great deal of ditificulty lias been experi- 

 enced in inducing collectors to furnish their 

 notes or obsen'ations on these species. 

 Many circulars were sent, many letters writ- 

 ten, many entreaties made, but without 

 a\ail. Probably one out of every dozen 

 would respond with a favorable answer : 

 others found their daily duties too pressing 

 to afford any assistance ; some paid no at- 

 tention to the request, and a few were skepti- 

 cal. It is with pleasure, however, that we 

 are able to present the list of contributors 

 herein given. This list is not as large as we 

 had hoped to have it, and there are great 

 gaps in certain portions of the State which 

 need filling. Information is still desired 

 from all, but more particularly from those in 

 the central, east-central, southern and west- 

 ern parts, and also from those living in ad- 



joijiing States, in close proximity to the 

 State line. .Although the less experienced 

 collectors are welcome, we should like to see 

 the more experienced ones take hold. There 

 are some in the State able to do much for 

 the work, and we trust they will give this 

 matter their prompt attention. 



Catalogues of the birds of Illinois are not 

 exceedingly numerous, but those we do 

 have, however, make up in quality that 

 which they lack in ([uantity. I shall not 

 enter into detail on an ornithological bibli- 

 ography, but make brief mention of the 

 more important lists which will be con- 

 sulted. 



Probably the oldest of any note is Kenni- 

 cott's " Catalogue of the animals obser\ed 

 in Cook County, Illinois," but more mod- 

 ern lists have since superseded it. Mr. 

 Robert Ridg\vay figures \ery prominently in 

 Illinois ornithology, and his numerous pa- 

 pers are valuable additions to our libraries. 

 Although many of the readers are undoubt- 

 edly well acquainted with these, special 

 mention is made of " The Ornithology of 

 Illinois," by Robert Ridgway, Fart i. Na- 

 tural History Survey of Illinois. No com- 

 ments are necessary ; we find it of great 

 \alue. Mr. K. W. Nelson's two valuable pa- 

 pers, " Birds of Northeastern Illinois " and 

 " Notes upon birds observed in Southern 

 Illinois between July 17 and September 4, 

 1875," are too well known to be dwelt 

 upon. " Migration in the Mississippi Val- 

 ley," by W. \\'. Cooke, carried on some 

 years ago on a co-operative plan, needs no 



Copyright, 1893, by Frank Blake Webster Company. 



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