iSSs-] Merriam, Preliminary Report on Bird Migration. C c 



distance in a straight line between the most remote points (Som- 

 brero Key and Point Barrow) is about four thousand three 

 hundred miles. 



The amount of material now on hand is so great that the Com- 

 mittee cannot hope to fully elaborate it without considerable 

 pecuniary assistance. Reports on the Robin {Morula migra- 

 tor ia), Catbird (Afimtts carolinensis), Martin (Prognc st/6is), 

 Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbtda) , and Nighthawk (Ckordeiles 

 popetite), have already been prepared by the superintendents of 

 the districts east of the Rocky Mountains, and were presented at 

 the last Congress of the Union. 



At the end of this article will be found a summary of the 

 records of the Martin, together with Professor Cooke's report on 

 the northward movement of the Baltimore Oriole in the Miss- 

 issippi Valley. 



Mr. John Murdoch, Superintendent of Alaska, has completed 

 a very interesting report upon the times of arrival and departure 

 of the species that visit Alaska, supplementing his personal 

 observations (which will be found appended to the present paper) 

 by the published records of previous explorers. 



The most valuable report yet received is that of Mr. L. Belding, 

 Superintendent of the Pacific District. It contains notes on no 

 less than two hundred and eighty species, and is such an impor- 

 tant contribution to the ornithology of our western coast that the 

 Committee hopes to publish it in full at an early date. 



Professor Cooke's report for the Mississippi Valley will soon be 

 ready for printing, and contains a vast amount of useful informa- 

 tion. In addition to the report proper, consisting of original 

 notes on three hundred and eighty-three species (which fills 

 about four hundred pages of foolscap), there is a supplemental 

 annotated list of one hundred and twenty-six species which have 

 been found in the Mississippi Valley, but which have not as yet 

 fallen under the notice of the Committee's observers. The total 

 of birds known to visit the Mississippi Valley is thus increased 

 to the surprising number of five hundred and nine species. But 

 this by no means concludes the report, for Professor Cooke also 

 traces the 'bird-waves,' treats of the rate of speed at which 

 certain species migrate, and gives a tabulated statement of the 

 contemporaneous phenomena observed. Furthermore, the report 

 will be accompanied by weather maps, prepared by the able 



