No. 123.] REPORT OF STATE ORNITHOLOGIST. 99 



All who were willing to serve as observers were supplied with 

 check lists and asked to indicate upon them what species of 

 birds were found in their localities, and to tabulate other 

 definite information called for in the document. It soon became 

 evident that some of the would-be observers were really ac- 

 quainted with but few birds. One of them apparently knew the 

 hen, the robin and the crow. Others could recognize only a 

 few game birds. But many who had some knowledge of birds 

 and an abiding interest in them, and who were willing and 

 anxious to learn, to help and be helped, were placed on the list 

 of those who would make the attempt to qualify as observers. 

 Others whose qualifications were well known were appointed at 

 once. In December, 1917, the beginning of our fiscal year, 

 500 certificates of appointment were prepared for issuance to 

 qualified observers. Before all of these could be used the 

 State Board of Agriculture was abolished by the Legislature, 

 and on September 1, 1918, a State Department of Agriculture 

 was organized to take its place. This rendered the remaining 

 certificates worthless, and as no money was available for print- 

 ing others, further appointments will be delayed until next 

 year, but there are now nearly 300 names upon our list of 

 observers. 



A study of distribution necessarily also Implies a tabulation 

 of migratory movements, since most of the birds of the Com- 

 monwealth are species that come from the south to breed here 

 in summer, or come from the north in autumn to escape here 

 the rigors or privations of winter in more northern regions. 

 Others extend or contract their range from time to time, ac- 

 cording to their numbers, and come here when their numbers 

 increase, and as their numbers decrease they become rare or 

 disappear. Others merely pass through our territory on their 

 way north or south. Therefore a large part of the records 

 of distribution are in fact those of migration, as many species 

 make but a brief sojourn here. Mr. Harry S. Hathaway of 

 Providence, Rhode Island, expressed the wish that a bureau of 

 information could be established, by means of which the south- 

 ward movement of birds could be observed by those living 

 to the north and the facts transmitted in advance to those 

 living farther south, and vice versa. This excellent suggestion 



