THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC ORNITHOLOGY. 21 



relation of birds to agriculture is so intricate and the thorough 

 study of their food so difficult, on account of the amount of 

 time and material required, that investigations of this kind 

 are ordinarily beyond the means of private individuals and 

 are entitled to government support. In recognition of the 

 importance of the work, Congress granted an appropriation 

 of five thousand dollars, to be expended under the Division 

 of Entomology of the Department of Agriculture, and on 

 July 1, 1885, established a section of economic ornithology. 

 Under the direction of Dr. C. Hart Merriam, investigations 

 were outlined on a broad scale, to include the 'food habits, 

 distribution, and migration of North American birds and 

 mammals in relation to agriculture, horticulture, and forestry.' 

 A year later the section became an independent Division, and 

 in 1896 its name was changed by Congress to the broader 

 title of Division of Biological Survey. 



;i FIRST PUBLICATIONS OF THE DIVISION. 



u Upon the organization of the Division of Ornithology and 

 Mammalogy, the data collected by several of the committees 

 of the American Ornithologists' Union were turned over to it 

 and formed the basis of its first two bulletins. The notes on 

 distribution and migration of birds were published in 1888 

 under the title ' Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley,' and 

 the report on ' The English Sparrow in America' appeared in 

 the following year. The latter report contained a full ac- 

 count of the sparrow and its introduction into the United 

 States, its depredations on crops, and recommendations for 

 destroying it, or at least preventing its increase. Special at- 

 tention was called to the desirability of legislation permitting 

 the destruction of the bird. It is interesting to note that 

 at the time the bulletin was issued the English sparrow was 

 practically protected by law in twenty-two States, although 

 Ohio and Michigan had taken steps to exterminate it, while 

 now most of the States have withdrawn protection, and Illi- 



