REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGIST AND MAMMALOGIST. 401 
Bailey, of Elk River, Minn., has visited many paris of Minnesota, 
Dakota, and eastern Montana, for the purpose of studying the dis- 
tribution and food habits of the various birds and mammals met 
with. This trip was particularly successful, and some of the results 
will be found in aspecial paper, forming a part of the present report. 
His report on birds treats of a very large number of species and is 
too bulky for publication in the Annual Report. His notes on the 
food of mammals and birds is an important contribution to economic 
zoology, and will be published as soon as supplemented by the re- 
sults of the determination of the stomach contents collected by him. 
Much of Mr. Bailey’s field work was done in the region where the 
eastern and western faunas meet or overlap, and the ranges of sev- 
eral species were determined with more precision than heretofore. 
In connection with Colonel Macbeth’s work in the rice-fields, a 
few experiments have been made with live Hawks for the purpose 
of frightening the birds from the fields. These experiments have 
been only partially successful, owing chiefly to the fact that the 
Department was unable to secure the services of an experienced fal- 
coner to train the Hawks and take charge of the experiments. One 
fact, however, was demonstrated, namely, that Rice-birds will not 
come near a live Hawk, even when resting on a stake; and when in 
motion, the Hawk is effective at much greater distances than when 
at rest. There canbe no question that Hawks trained to fly about 
the fields would keep the Rice-birds off, and the expense would be 
less than that of the present system of ‘‘ bird minding.” 
In addition to the investigations carried on by these special field 
agents, the assistant ornithologists, Prof. Walter B. Barrows and 
Dr. A. K. Fisher, made brief trips in order to obtain special infor- 
mation relating to subjects then under investigation. Professor Bar- 
rows visited the grape-growing district in central and western New 
York, and the results of his field work will be found in the special 
bulletin on the English Sparrow. Dr. Fisher visited northern Iowa, 
southern Minnesota, and southern Michigan, for the purpose of pro- 
curing information in regard to the depredations of Blackbirds and 
Gophers in the grain-fields of that area. Some of the results of his 
inquiry will be found in the present report. 
A number of experiments in poisoning have been made by Dr. 
Fisher, for the purpose of ascertaining what poison or poisons may 
be used to best advantage in the destruction of certain pests. 
The correspondence of the division continues to consume so large 
a portion of the time of the office force that it seriously interferes 
with the elaboration of material and the preparation of reports. 
SPECIAL REPORTS. 
The following special reports will be found herein : 
(1) Food of Hawks and Owls. By Dr. A. K. Fisher, assistant 
ornithologist. 
(2) Experiments in poisoning. By Dr. A. K. Fisher, assistant 
ornithologist. 
(3) Some of the results of a trip through Minnesota and Dakota. 
By Vernon Bailey, special field agent. 
(4) Notes on the depredations of Blackbirds and Gophers in lowa 
and southern Minnesota. By Dr. A. &. Fisher, assistant orni- 
thologist. 
AG 87——26 
