Editorial. 195 



article should contain some contribution to ornithological knowl- 

 edge. Acceptable notes should contain some information. Pei-- 

 sonal notices should be of general interest. Prospective contribu- 

 tors who bear these matters in mind before sending contributions, 

 and making sure that the matter to be submitted conforms to 

 them, will save the editor embarrassment and valuable time. 



Winter conditions have pi'obably set in, as lar as the birds are 

 concerned, the country over. Bird studies ought not to be per- 

 mitted to lapse because the birds are few and the weather cold. 

 Certain problems connected with bird movements must be worked 

 out during the season of ice and snow. Is there a sudden influx 

 of birds into your region which you cannot account for? Consult 

 the weather records and determine whether there is not some- 

 thing to be learned of the reason from that sonrce. About Thanks- 

 giving time the whole of the northern part of Ohio was covered 

 with snow exc^t a small area in the region of Oberlin. This 

 clear area was well supplied with birds. Problems like this are of Uo 

 small interest and value in relation to larger problems of distri- 

 bution. Last winter was especially noted for the large numbers 

 of Robins which passed the winter north of their usual winter 

 sojoui'n, and thereby many seem to have perished. Large num- 

 bers of Bluebirds also seem to have been killed by the severe win- 

 ter. Is there anything akin to the same conditions the present 

 vrinter in your locality? 



Responses to the Questionaire which was sent out to members 

 in November have come in to a gratifying extent. The neg- 

 ative votes on any of the propositions which the Executive Counc 1 

 offered are so few as to be almost negligible. Thus out of a total 

 vote of 70 but four vote "no" on the first and third propositions, 

 and but one on the second. It therefore seems clear that tlie 

 changes are authorized. The kind expres^sions which have accom- 

 panied very many of the returned blanks indicate a most whole- 

 some and lively interest in the Club and its official organ. These 

 expressions are a vote of confidence in the function and future of 

 the Club which it is good to know of. The net gain of the plan 

 for the forward movement, as we see it. will be an affiliation of 

 the bird students of the Interior of the county into any organi- 

 zation which will have for its object the working out of problems 

 peculiar to the region. It also contemplates personal acquaintance 

 at the meetings which it is proposed to hold at various convenient 

 points. Hitherto there have been no other opportunities for per- 



