situation and composition of the nest, deposition of eggs, incubation, 

 and the various other topics commonly discussed, this committee will be 

 able to indicate any geographical variations in nesting habits, nests, 

 color of eggs, any effects of climate on nesting, effects of the sun on the 

 color of the eggs and on incubation, distribution of pigment on the egg 

 shell, and many other not less interesting topics as yet little known. The 

 chief value of this report must be directly proportionate to the amount 

 of material which the chairman will have at his disposal, resting as it 

 will upon full reports from many localities. Vou may, therefore, greatly 

 enhance its value by sending him afiy notes you may have, be they 

 either old or new. Careful description of sets of eggs, period of incu- 

 bation, and relations of the sexes in building the nest and in incubation, 

 will be especially valuable. 



None of the committees on the Warblers will be ready to make a final 

 report this year, but a Bulletin containing a final report may be looked 

 for next year. Meanwhile the work of the special committee on the 

 Flicker is progressing, promising some very valuable additions to our 

 knowledge of the subjects discussed. 



Lynds Jones, C/iaz'rman. 



CHAIRMAN OF THE MIGRATION COMMITTEE. 



# 



Mr. President : — 



As soon as possible after assuming the chair of this department, I wrote 

 personally to each member, as given in Bulletin No. 3, outlining the work 

 for the year and requesting a reply, that I would know the stations which 

 would be represented. Replies were received from nearly all, the 

 majority promising their aid ; a few could not on account of business or 

 study. The balance made no reply, although in many cases written to 

 the second time. Schedules were then prepared for recording the mi- 

 gration of species and sent to each member, also to a number of other 

 observers. The few which have thus far been returned, are from such 

 widely separated stations that it is impossible to trace the movement of 

 any species over any particular territory. They all agree, however, in 

 this, that the representatives of the family were much less common than 

 usual. This year an extra effort will be made to induce the members to 

 contribute notes, and also to obtain the aid of many observers who are 

 not yet members. I shall issue and send a circular letter and schedule 

 before the vernal migration. I request those who have not sent in notes 

 to do so as soon as possible. Respectfully, 



J. E. Dickinson, Def<artme7it of Migration, 



II 22 S Winnebago St., Rockford, 111. 



