PEOCEEDINGS FOR 1887. XXXV 



XVI.— From The United States Department of Agriculture, through Dr. C. Hart Merriam. 



Through the courtesy of the Eoyal Society of Canada, I have the honour to represent the Division 

 of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy, of the United States Department of Agriculture. 



The interrelation of birds and agriculture is not a new theme of discussion by bodies of learned 

 men. Almost from the earliest historic times there have been occasional records of the effects of birds 

 upon certain crops; and of recent years a not insignificant literature has grown up on the subject. 

 And yet it must be acknowledged that most that has been written is the result of individual opinion, 

 conjecture or hasty observation, and that very little in the way of exact knowledge is available. 



The Government of the United States, recognising the practical importance of this subject, and 

 wishing to obtain more extended and trustworthy information than now exists in relation to it, has 

 established a division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy in the Department of Agricultm-e. 



The function of this division, as defined by act of Congress, is "the promotion of economic 

 ornithology and mammalogy, an investigation of the food-habits, distribution, and migrations of 

 ISTorth American biids and mammals in relation to agriculture, horticulture and forestry." The 

 regular work of the division consists in the collection of facts relating to the above subjects, and in 

 the preparation for distribution, among farmers and others, of special reports and bulletins upon 

 birds and mammals which affect the interests of the farmer, and also upon the migration and distribu- 

 tion of North American species. 



A knowledge of the food-habits of our common birds and mammals would benefit every intelli- 

 gent farmer to the extent of many dollars each year, and occasionally would save him the loss of an 

 entire crop. It would save certain States many thousands of dollars which they now throw away in 

 bounties, and would add millions of dollars to the proceeds derived from our agricultural industiies. 

 Hence it becomes the duty of the Division to attempt to educate the farming classes in the truths 

 of economic oi'nithology and mammalogy. 



Among the many subjects now demanding the attention of the Division are : — The depredations of 

 Eicebirds in the South ; the status of the so-called English SpaiTOw in Amei'ica; the true status of the 

 various birds of prey in relation to agriculture ; the depredations of Blackbirds in the grain-growing 

 districts of the Northwest ; the destruction of small fruits by birds ; the depredations of small 

 mammals, particularly in the west; and the true status of the several species of mammals which 

 prey upon j)0ultry. 



It is hardly necessary to add that a knowledge of the economic relations of our birds and 

 mammals is almost as important to the farmers of Canada as it is to those of the United States, and 

 that cooperation is earnestly desired. 



XVII.— From L'Institut Canadien de Québec, through Mr. Fremont. 



XVIII.— From La Société Historique de Montréal, tiirough Abbé Verreau. 



SESSION IV. (May 21th.) 



The members of the Society assembled at 10 o'clock, a.m., and the President called the meeting 

 to order. 



Miscellaneous Business. 



A committee composed of Prof Johnson, Sir "William Dawson, and such other members of the 

 Eoyal Society as would be present, was appointed to cooperate with the committee appointed by 



