REPORT OF THE ACTING CHIEF OF THE DIVISION OF 

 BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Division of Biological Survey, 



Washington, D. C, September 30, 1901. 



Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the work of 

 the Biological Survey for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901, with 

 outline of work for 1902, and recommendations for 1903. 

 Respectfully, 



T. S. Palmer, 



Acting Chief. 

 Hon. James Wilson, Secretary. 



WORK OF THE YEAR. 



At tlie beginning of the year the assumption of the varied duties 

 connected with carrying out the act of May 25, 1900, commonly known 

 as the Lacey Act, necessitated some reorganization of the work of the 

 Biological Survey. The Division is now practically divided into three 

 sections, the work being distributed as follows: (1) Biological surveys 

 and investigations of geographic distribution of mammals and birds — 

 under the immediate charge of the chief of the Division; (2) investi- 

 gations to determine the economic relations of birds — in charge of 

 Prof. F. E. L. Beal; (3) supervision of matters relating to protection 

 of game and importation of foreign birds and animals — in charge of 

 the assistant chief. 



field work. 



During the year the field work necessary in making biological sur- 

 veys and in investigating the distribution of mammals and birds was 

 carried on in four States and Territories — California, Texas, Alaska, 

 and New Mexico; also in Yucatan, Mexico; and in Athabasca, Kee- 

 watin, and Mackenzie, Canada. In several of these regions the work 

 was a continuation of that begun several years ago. The biological 

 survey in California, outlined in the report for last year, was conducted 

 chiefly in that part of the Sierra Nevada lying between Lake Tahoe and 

 the Yosemite Valle}'. Some work was also done in the northern Sierras 

 between Beckwith Pass and Oroville, in the Coast Range near Mount 

 St. Helena, and, during the spring of the present j^ear, near Baird, 

 Shasta County. The plans for this season contemplate a resumption 

 of the work in tlie Sierras from July to October. 



The work outlined for Alaska, in charge of W. H. Osgood, was 

 restricted to the region about Cook Inlet. A report on tliis expedition 

 has been completed for publication as North American Fauna No. 21. 



For several years past field work has been progressing in the South- 

 west, with the object of making a comprehensive survey of the State 



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