506 Correspondence. ane 
Ottawa Naturalist, The, XX XI, Nos. 2 and 3-4, May, and June-July, 
1917. 
Records of the Australian Museum, XI, Nos. 9 and 10, May 28, and 
July 12, 1917. 
Revue Frangaise d’Ornithologie, Nos. 98 and 99, June and July, 1917. 
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 26th Annual Report. 
Science, N. 8., XLV and XLVI, Nos. 1173-1185. 
Scottish Naturalist, The, Nos. 66 and 67-68, June and July—August, 
1917. 
South Australian Ornithologist, The, III, Part 3, July, 1917. 
Wilson Bulletin, The, XXIX, No. 2, June, 1917. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
Definite Localities. 
Epiror or ‘THe AvuK’: 
In modern zoélogical work a knowledge of the geographic distribu- 
tion of the various forms of animal life has become increasingly impor- 
tant. It is at least highly desirable, not to say essential, in systematic 
work, in the investigation of economic problems, in the enactment of 
protective legislation, and in practically every other phase of zodlogical 
activity. And the more exact this knowledge is, the greater its useful- 
ness. 
It is perhaps only those who make a special study of geographic distribu- 
tion that realize to what extent ornithological literature is filled with 
indefinite data on the subject. A great many published records of occur- 
rence are so inexplicit as to localities and dates as to be all but worthless. 
In the preparation of distributional maps and in the study of migratory 
movements the futility of indefinite records becomes particularly apparent. 
A case in point is a paper by Messrs. Philipp and Bowdish in the July 
issue of ‘The Auk,’ wherein the authors, for some unexplained reason, have 
failed to state any definite localities for a large number of breeding records, 
which would have been of real value if accompanied by proper geographical 
data. It is to be hoped that the authors will supply the desired data in full 
in a later issue of ‘The Auk.’ 
Cases like the one just quoted suggest the urgent need for authors of 
ornithological papers to become impressed with the importance of supply- 
ing exact and detailed information as to localities and dates of occurrence. 
