Pref. 



rerace 



As THEY undertook to write this record of the birds found in Oregon, the 

 authors were quickly impressed with the scarcity of published notes on 

 the avifauna of this State, which ornithologically is one of the richest and 

 most interesting areas in the West. The more important ornithological 

 papers that have been published about this fascinating territory since 

 Lewis and Clark made the first recorded notes in 1805 could be counted 

 on the fingers of two hands. 



The task of gathering the literature and tabulating the records, an 

 enormous though enjoyable one that has occupied the authors' spare time 

 for many years, would have been insurmountable without the kindness 

 of hosts of friends who have saved specimens and forwarded notes that 

 have been freely drawn upon. Attempt has been made to give due credit 

 in the text to all these friends, and the authors wish here to express their 

 appreciation to them collectively and individually for the very great help 

 extended. 



The State Game Commission and the State Fish Commission of Oregon 

 have been very generous in helping the authors obtain data, often even 

 having detailed the services of staff members; and the Fish Commission 

 has given financial aid as well in carrying out some of the investigations. 

 All field notes and specimens of the Bureau of Biological Survey have been 

 made available, and every possible help has been extended by numerous 

 members of the Bureau. The same holds true for the National Museum, 

 where Dr. Alexander Wetmore, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, has examined many old specimens and verified records. Among 

 the Oregon students of birds, Dr. William L. Finley, Dr. A. G. Prill, Alex 

 Walker, W. E. Sherwood (now deceased),}. C. Braly, and Ed. S. Currier 

 have furnished many valuable records and notes. Among later students, 

 Reed Ferris, H. M. Dubois, Overton Dowell, Jr., John Carter, and J. E. 

 Patterson have furnished specimens and notes that have contributed to the 

 book materially. Many others, too numerous to mention here, have been 

 helpful, and due credit has been given to each. 



Every effort has been made to go over the literature and to make this 

 volume, the first comprehensive bird book for the State, a condensed 

 summary of the existing knowledge of Oregon birds. It is impossible that 

 the effort has been fully successful. Oregon is far distant from the larger 

 scientific libraries, so that for information concerning many of the older 

 and rarer works it has been necessary to depend on sources other than the 

 original. A few of the older journals were checked by Gabrielson on 



[ix] 



