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COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE 
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496 ‘REPORT OF THE , 
"No, 19. (2 birds.) Fed on wheat soaked three hours in a solution of arseniate — 
| of soda (2.10 grams to 380 c.c. water) and dried. Commenced to eat at 9.30 a.m, 
First bird dead at 10.35 a.m.; crop empty ; stomach contained four kernels. Second | 
bird dead at 2.35 p.m.; crop and stomach empty. i Kekd) 2 
EXPERIMENT WITH LIQUOR POTASSII ARSENITIS (FOWLER'S SOLUTION). 
No. 20, (2 birds.) Fed on wheat soaked seventy-two hours in Fowler’s solution of 
arsenic (liq. Potassii arsenitis). Commenced eating at 10 a.m.; lively at 4p.m. — 
Both dead next morning. 
~ 
‘Oe EXPERIMENTS WITH ARSENITE OF CALOIUM (LONDON PURPLE). 
No. 21. (i bird.) One hungry bird exposed to ground hemp seed and London pur-  _~ 
et ple (15 to 1) for five hours, but would not touch it on account of its marked color. 
ee Notg.—When mixed with whole grain the color is not soconspicuous. (Seenext 
- experiment.) 
No, 22. (8 birds.) Fed on wheat and London purple (15 to 1) stirred up witha 
little gum-arabic water and then dried. Commenced eating at 9.45a.m. Firstone © 
dead at 3.30 p.m,; stomach and crop empty. Second and third badly affectedat __ 
3.30 p.m.; dead next morning; stomach and crop empty. af 
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EXPERIMENTS WITH ARSENITE OF COPPER (PARIS GREEN). 
' No.28. (8 birds.) Three hungry birds exposed to ground hemp seed and Paris | 
7 green for four hours, and refused to eat it on account of its bright color. tt 
No. 24. (3 birds.) Fed on wheat and Paris green (15 to 1) stirred up with alittle 
gum-arabic water and then dried. Commenced to eat at 9.45a.m. First birddead - 
at 3.30 p.m.; stomach and crop empty. Second and third birds badly affected at i 
3.30 p.m.; dead next morning ; stomachs and crops empty. , ie 
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REPORT ON SOME OF THE RESULTS OF A TRIP THROUGH PARTS 
OF MINNESOTA AND DAKOTA. be: 
By VERNON BAILey, Field Agent. 
Mr. Bailey was employed by the division to make field investiga- - 
tions in Minnesota and Dakota for the purposes set forth in the ac- ie 
companying letters of instruction : ” 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE, a 
Washington, D.C., May 4, 1887. 
Str: You'are hereby appointed a special field agent of the Division of Kconomic - 
Ornithology and Mammalogy of this Department, * * * your appointment to ! 
date from May 10, instant. 
You will set out on an expedition for the purpose of investigating the food habits 
and distribution of the mammais and birds of certain parts of Minnesota and A 
Dakota. You will proceed direct to Round Lake, Nobles County, Minn., toimves- 
tigate the damages inflicted upon the newly-planted corn by Blackbirds, of which 
grievous complaints have been made to me by the farmers of that region. You 
will determine the species which occasion the damage, examine their breeding- 
grounds, and suggest such measures as you may deem practicable for the relief of the 
losses they sustain. From Round Lake you will proceed to Heron Lake (Jackson ~~ 
County) for the purpose of ascertaining positively what species of birds breéd at 4 
that place, concerning which very remarkable reports have reached the Depart- 
ment. From Heron Lake you will cross the boundary into Dakota, and work 
northward to the Fort Sisseton Indian Reservation and the Traverse Lake region 
(including Big Stone Lake), onthe boundary line, visiting points on both shores. 
Thence proceed north, in the Red River valley, to Pembina, collecting as much in- 
formation as possible concerning the depredations of Gophers in that region, and 
determining in each case which species of Gopher is responsible for the injury. 
Throughout the trip you will make a special study of the habits of the peculiar in, 
