160 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



at the command of the Division will permit, and will be extended in 

 the near future to Hawaii. While, as a rule, every effort will be made 

 to facilitate the prompt entry of foreign birds and animals, inspection 

 at the principal ports will be increased, and no effort will be spared 

 to prevent the introduction of species which are likely to prove inju- 

 rious. In this service lies the chief protection against the introduction 

 of the mongoose and of pests like the English sparrow. The losses 

 which would occur if certain foreign species should once gain a foot- 

 hold in this country would be enormous in comparison with the small 

 expense necessary to maintain the service on an efficient basis. 



The demand for information on game will be met, so far as possible, 

 by the publication of reports on various topics connected with game 

 preservation. A compilation of existing game laws, including the 

 changes made during the present year, will be prepared, accompanied 

 by tables showing in detail the close seasons for the various kinds of 

 game, not only under State laws, but also by counties in the case of cer- 

 tain States which have many local regulations. Besides the investi- 

 gation of the food of game birds, mentioned above, reports on ship- 

 ment of game for propagation, on game preserves, and on introduced 

 pheasants, are in contemplation. Much interest has been shown in 

 the introduction of game birds into new localities, or into regions 

 where they have become rare, and many applications have been 

 received for quail and pheasants. The Department has also received 

 offers of birds for introduction, and has been tendered the use of 

 land for making experiments of this kind, but the distribution of game 

 birds, or the acceptance of birds for experiment, has been prevented 

 by lack of a specific appropriation necessary for transportation and 

 maintenance. In view of the activity on the part of game associations 

 and individuals in introducing quail and pheasants, it is an open ques- 

 tion whether the introduction of these birds should not be left entirely to 

 private enterprise, and the efforts of the Department devoted to other 

 equally important species that have received comparatively little atten- 

 tion. Several valuable game Hirds of limited distribution, such as the 

 California mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus plumiferus), the Arizona 

 wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami), and the sharp-tailed 

 grouse (Pedi(Bcetes phasianellus campestris) would thrive in other 

 regions, and are worthy of the attention of persons interested in intro- 

 ducing new species of game birds. While the Department can not at 

 present make any experiments of this kind, it may be able to advise 

 as to the introduction of these species, and to aid persons interested 

 in such experiments in obtaining birds for propagation. 



MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



Ever since its organization, the Division has been collecting data on 

 the migration of birds, and Bulletin No. 2, published in 1888, under 

 the title, "Bird migration in the Mississippi Valley," was based on 

 observations made during the years 1884 and 1885. Since then sched- 

 ules have been distributed regularly, and notes have been brought 

 together, but until the present year no effort was made to prepare the 

 accumulated data for publication. An arrangement has now been 

 entered into with Prof. W. W. Cooke, the author of the bulletin men- 

 tioned, to devote a few months of the summer of 1901 to the elabora- 

 tion of some of the notes on migration. As the time available for 

 this work is limited, Professor Cooke has selected about sixty of the 

 more important migratory land birds that breed in the United States 



