in the spring and are very popular. During the past two years, the 

 study of Ornithology has become quite general among cultured people in 

 Oberlin, as the result. The courses are quite extensive and comprehen- 

 sive and are designed for upper class students. 



The classification of North American birds is practically settled and 

 general geographical distribution is fairly well defined. There seems to 

 be little reason for much more extensive collecting and there is certainly 

 little to justify most ornitholigists in making private collections of large 

 series of single species, except for careful study and research. Desire 

 for study of individual variations, etc., cannot be sufficient ground for the 

 wholesale slaughter of birds even now becoming rare. The writer does 

 not wish to condemn all collecting nor the accumulations of series in our 

 museums and colleges, where students may study them. There are few 

 men who can make use of a large private collection of birds or their eggs 

 who will justify the collecting, however. 



The time has come for a more careful and systematic study of the hab- 

 its and economic relations of birds. The food of birds at various sea- 

 sons, period of incubation, the appearance of the young, periods and 

 manner of moulting, etc., are broad fields yet to be explored. 

 Geographical distribution, including the conditions that govern it and 

 the mapping of the lesser life areas is yet in its infancy. Mr. Jones 

 spent a large portion of the summer studying the habits of the Bronzed 

 Grackle and a grackle roost in Oberlin. A valuable paper may be ex- 

 pected from him giving the results of his observations and conclusions in 

 a few months. 



One of the widest fields in orinthology is to be found in the study of 

 migration. Much has been done along this line but much more is to be 

 done. Mr. J. E. Dickinson has charge of the committee work on migra- 

 tion of the warblers and wishes the notes of all the members of the 

 chapter. 



Mr. H. C. Higgins has a committee studying nesting habits of the war- 

 blers. No family of birds is more fascinating than this group and none 

 needs study any more than these "feathered jewels" of our woods and 

 streams. 



Mr. Frank L. Burns, Berwyn, Pa., is preparing a careful report upon 

 the Flicker. He writes that he already has something like eighty local 

 names for this widely distributed bird. Mr. Burn's report on the "Crow" 

 attracted great attention and deserved praise from prominent ornitholo- 

 gists. The demand for his report exceeded the supply of copies. It will 

 undoubtedly be as great an honor to be a contributor to his 

 Flicker bulletin. 



