BUREAU OF THE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 89 



purpose the Survey was originally organized; second, in the 

 period 1886-1906 emphasis upon scientific studies; third, 

 the partial return to economic ornithology; and, finally, 

 since 1920 the emphasis upon the protection and active pro- 

 motion of desirable species of birds and mammals in addi- 

 tion to the control of the undesirable species. The purely 

 scientific studies are still carried on and, in large measure, 

 form the basis of the practical work but in proportion to 

 what might be called the economic activities they have be- 

 come progressively of less importance in the annual appro- 

 priation. 



One cannot but be impressed with the fact that during 

 most of its history, the Survey has not been particularly 

 aggressive in undertaking wild life conservation measures. 

 The initiative for new developments seems to have come 

 mainly from outside groups. This state of affairs has re- 

 sulted because of the lack of a clear definition of the Survey's 

 functions. Fortunately, in recent years with the develop- 

 ment of a consensus of opinion that the chief function of 

 the Survey is to act as guardian of the wild-life resources 

 of the nation, more progressive and forward-looking policies 

 can be expected. 



The Chiefs of the Biological Survey: Dr. Merriam was 

 succeeded as chief of the Survey by Henry W. Henshaw in 

 1910. Henshaw was largely a self -trained biologist. As a 

 young man he joined the Wheeler Survey in 1872 in the 

 capacity of naturalist. During the next few years he was 

 either engaged in the field with that Survey or in writing 

 up the results of its explorations. In 1879 he became a 

 member of the staff of the Bureau of Ethnology, on which 

 he remained until 1893 largely in an administrative capac- 

 ity. In the ten years following he lived in the Hawaiian 

 Islands. Then returning to the United States he became 

 administrative biologist in the Biological Survey and finally, 



