Editorial. 53 



feed aud breed in absolute safety and be accorded the freedom of 

 the continent. The organization of the people of a continent 

 around such an interest is in itself an inspiring thing. 



This plan should be effective as well in discovering existing Pas- 

 senger Pigeons as in protecting them when discovered. 



Since the above was written, there have been other offers of re- 

 wards for undisturbed nests of Passenger Pigeons, for the matter 

 has been received with gratifying interest — an interest which 

 ought to grow. Let us then have more awards and without delay. 

 There should be enough to cover the whole continent and to arouse 

 an interest everywhere. If no nests are found it will cost no one 

 anything ; if nesting colonies are found and protected it will be 

 worth a great deal. 



Here is the list of the offers of awards up to January 19, 1910 : 

 Col. Anthony R. Kuser, for first nest or nesting colony on North 



American continent, confirmed $300 



"Wim. B. Mershon, for first nest for Michigan 100 



Edw. Avis, for first nest for Connecticut 100 



Messrs. Deane and Whitman, first nest for Illinois 100 



John E. Thayer, five awards of $100 each for the five most 

 likely States or Canadian provinces from which no local 



offers have been secured by April 15 500 



County Awards : Allen A. Miller, for first nest found in Wor- 

 cester County, Mass 20 



New Haven, Conn., 10 February, 1910. 

 On December 8, 1909, there was organized in New York City 

 the American Bird Banding Association, the object of which is 

 " the banding of wild birds and the recording of accurate data on 

 their movements." The formation of this society was the out- 

 growth of a movement which was started in 1908 by a committee 

 of the New Haven Bird Club, having in mind the study of the 

 movements and migrations of wild birds by means of metal bands, 

 which should be attached to their legs. These bands bear an ad- 

 dress and a serial number, the inscription reading " Notify the 

 Auk, New York." When a bird is banded a record is made of the 

 number of the band, and the species of bird on which it is used, 

 as well as the date and the place of banding. Should this bird 

 ever fall into anyone's hands, it is hoped that as a result of the 

 inscription on the band, a notification of the finding will be sent to 

 " The Auk," together with a record of the number. In this way 

 accurate data may be obtained of the movements of individual 

 birds, a thing which is not possible by the ordinary methods of 

 studying migration. The bands are distributed to interested per- 

 sons throughout the country, who use them as opportunity offers, 

 this being principally, of course, upon young birds which have not 

 yet left their nest. 



