WITH THE BIRDS IN FOURTEEN STATES. 



" How can I pass the time? " is the all-absorbing question 

 to those who must travel far by rail or water. To such per- 

 sons it must seem at least peculiar that anybody could deliber- 

 ately plan a 7(M)() mile journey for the sole purpose of studying 

 birds, partl)^ to be sure, on the ground, but partly also aboard 

 train. It may be putting it a little strong to say that the sole 

 purpose of this journey was bird stud\% but for the writer it 

 came near that. 



This Summer's work was largely a partnership work, 

 hence the report of the results will be double-barreled. Rev. 

 Winiam Leon Dawson, the partner in question, makes his re- 

 port under the caption " Wing Shots and Rests," which report 

 pretty fully covers the partnership part of the work, while the 

 writer supplies the horizons from both note-books for this part, 

 and adds his own work done alone. Little more need be said 

 in introduction further than the restatement that this piece of 

 work is the natural outgrowth of the close intimac}' which 

 grew up between these two bird-lovers engaged in study at the 

 same college. It is but fair to say that Mr. Dawson was the 

 prime mover in the scheme, and his personal knowledge of the 

 west from residence in Washington made it feasible. 



It is needless to say that this idea of studying birds by rail 

 is not new. Indeed, it is nearly a score of years old. The 

 onl}^ new feature introdiiced is the keeping of horizons for cer- 

 tain places, or certain lengths of time aboard train or steamer, 

 in the effort to more clearlj' illustrate what one might hope 

 to find in retra versing this region. 



In a rapid work of this kind there must be a considerable 

 margin of error, yet we think this has been greatly cut down 

 by eliminating every record about which there may seem to be 

 a doubt. A sharp lookout, a quick eye and discrimination, 

 born of long practice and familiarity with many species, where 

 two are working together, leave little room for misidentifica- 

 tions where the bird is seen well. Yet there are probably 

 errors. 



For the sake of continuitj- it seems best to give space first 

 to the report of Mr. Dawson, followed by the horizons in chro- 

 nological order, accompanied by a few explanatory notes. 



