REPORT OF THH ORNITHOLOGIST AND MAMMALOGIST. 427 
sectivorous Mouse, known as the Missouri Grasshopper Mouse (Hesperomys leuco- 
- gaster). 
’ From Pembina you will proceed, if practicable, to the Turtle Mountain region, 
and thence to Forts Berthold and Buford on the Missouri. If this route is not prac- . 
ticable, you will proceed from Pembina to Devil’s Lake (in Ramsey and Benson 
Counties) ; thence to old Fort Berthold, and thence to Fort Buford. Before leaving 
this part of Dakota you will visit the arid area, and will ascend the Little Missouri 
as far as practicable. Thence proceed by the most direct available route to the 
Black Hills of Dakota. It may be necessary to descend the Missouri to Fort 
Abraham Lincoln, and thence, by the old post-road, proceed to Fort Meade. You 
will visit some of the higher mountains of the Black Hills and determine their 
fauna. Thence proceed to the ‘‘ Bad Lands,” and the ‘‘ Sand Hill Desert ” just south — 
of it, remaining long enotgh at each place to learn the peculiarities of its fauna, and 
_ the principal food of the species which live there. 
You will receive detailed instructions for your routine field work from the Orni- 
thologist of this Department. 
Respectfully, 
NORMAN J. COLMAN. 
Commissioner. 
-VERNON BaILny, Esq., 
Elk River, Minn. 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
DIVISION OF HCONOMIC ORNITHOLOGY AND MAMMALOGY, 
Washington, D. C., May 5, 1887. 
Dear Sir: In obedience to your commission, which this letter accompanies, yo 
will set out for Round Lake, Minn., on the 10th instant, for the special. purpose o 
investigating the damage done the newly-planted corn crop by Blackbirds. If on 
your arrival at Round Lake you learn that the season is so backward that corn will 
not be up for a week or ten days, you will proceed at once to Heron Lake (for the 
purpose specified in your commission). ’ 
Unless you find a particularly promising locality in southeastern Dakota you had | 
better proceed at once to Fort Sisseton and the Traverse Lake region, where you 
ought to stay about two weeks. 
* * ¥% * * * * 
Before leaving any locality at which you have stopped a few days givea brief ac- 
count of the more important physical features of the place. This will help explain 
any peculiarities which the species found there may suggest. iis 
You will make a collection of the stomachs and gizzards of birds, in accordance 
with instructions contained in Circular 4, of which a copy is inclosed. 
Respectfully, 
C. Hart MERRIAM, 
Ornithologist. 
Mr. VERNON BAILEY, 
Elk River, Minn. 
Supplementary instructions were sent from time to time, but the 
above sufficiently cover the objects and general direction of the ex- . 
pedition. 
Mr. Bailey was in the field about five months, during which time 
he made a valuable collection of the stomachsof birds and mammals 
of economic importance, and secured much useful information con- 
cerning their food habits and distribution. His report is too bulky 
to be printed as a whole, hence portions relating to Blackbirds and 
mammals, together with his descriptions of the localities visited, have 
been selected and arranged for publication asa part of the present 
report. For the determination of the specimens collected, and for 
the nomenclature employed, the nanithalowist of this department is 
responsible. 
