CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 29 



and laboratory investigations, giving advice to farmers, and to issue 

 bulletins from time to time giving the results of his studies. In carry- 

 ing on such work it is sometimes necessary to destroy a limited number 

 of birds in order to make a correct analysis of the food that has been 

 eaten, but this loss is more than compensated for if the skins of such 

 be preserved as scientific specimens, as they serve a useful purpose in 

 assisting farmers to identify the various species with which they come 

 in contact, and are always of great value for school work. The cost of 

 equipping a small museum and laboratories and of carrying on the 

 necessary work is but the merest trifle when compared with the far- 

 reaching and lasting benefits to be derived. 



Because of geographical and climatic conditions the San Joaquin 

 Valley offers peculiar problems. We can not take advantage, to any 

 extent, of the knowledge gained in other states as our avian population 

 differs even from that of other parts of California. Several species 

 have gone forever; others are becoming more scarce each year, but we 

 can not hope to create a widespread public sentiment in favor of their 

 protection until we can show conclusively that it is to everybody's 

 advantage to encourage their presence. 



Shall we continue to neglect this important work until some insect 

 outbreak forces us to action, or shall we acknowledge our obligation t.o 

 ourselves and the future settlers of the San Joaquin Valley? 



