REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 463 



ion for the promotion of economic ornithology, and charged the Ento- 

 mologist AVith carrying on the work. This appropriation was made 

 at the instance of Professor Baird, myself, and Dr. C. Hart Merriam, 

 and in obedience to a memorial from the American Ornithologists' 

 Union. Work was begun by your appointing Dr. Merriam as a 

 special agent in charge, and Dr. A. K. Fisher and a clerk to assist. 

 The scope of the work planned was indicated in my last annual re- 

 port, it being arranged that the part relating to food habits should 

 be dealt with by myself and former associates because of its entomo- 

 logical bearing; while to Dr. Merriam was assigned all the other 

 I)hases of the work, he being particularly interested in the migra- 

 tions of birds as chairman of the committefe on migrations of the 

 Union above mentioned. 



Early in July, 1885, a circular was prepared (Circular 20, Divisiog. 

 of Entomology) setting forth the objects of the investigation, and 

 asking information concerning the food-habits of certain well-known 

 birds which were supposed to be beneficial or injurious to the farmer. 

 About 2,000 copies of this circular were distributed to farmers and 

 ornithologists throughout the country, and a large number of replies 

 were received. During the winter two additional circulars (Circu- 

 lars 24 and 27, Division of Entomology), accompanied by three 

 schedules, were prepared, which related to the migration and geo- 

 graphical distribution of North American birds. These were sent to 

 the keepers of light-houses along the coasts and lakes and to the 

 regular observers of the American Ornithologists' Union. 



Special attention was given during the year to the English Spar- 

 row question, and a large amount of information has been collected. 

 The ravages of birds in the rice fields of the South was another mat- 

 ter which early received attention, and Dr. Fisher was sent on an 

 extended tour through the rice-growing districts, giving particular 

 attention to those of Georgia and Louisiana. The formation of a 

 collection of the stomachs, crops, and gizzards of birds was early 

 undertaken, and has been continued to the present time. 



From the outset I have recognized that while the ornithological 

 work, so far as it related to food-habits, was legitimately placed in 

 the Entomological Division, because of its intimate connection with 

 the subject of entomology, yet there were many other lines of inquiry 

 that have no particular bearing on entomology, and could not well be 

 prosecuted in earnest without detracting from the time which should 

 be devoted to the more legitimate sphere of the Division. As soon,, 

 therefore, as it was ascertained that there was some prospect of get- 

 ting a new Division created I strongly urged such action, and a new 

 Division of Ornithology and Mammalogy was created last June by 

 Senate amendment to the House bill, it having been previously ar- 

 ranged that the Entomologist should take charge of the question 

 of food-habits so far as they relate to insects. Unfortunately, how- 

 ever, the appropriation to the new Division was taken from the 

 Entoniological Division, thus reducing the means of this last below 

 what it was two years ago, so that the work has been correspond- 

 ingly crippled by the stoppage of investigations already begun (espe- 

 cially m California and the South), by the discharge of some of the 

 employ(^s and the reduction in salary of some of the others. 



So much of the time devoted to ornithology during the year having 

 been taken up in original investigations and the accumulation of ma- 

 terial. Dr. Merriam has submitted no formal report, and the results 



