No. 123.] REPORT OF STATE ORNITHOLOGIST. 101 



The thanks of the Ornithologist are due to the earnest and 

 altruistic helpers who are giving their time and means to the 

 collection of the data for such a report. They have devoted 

 much care and thought to the work, and the Commonwealth 

 does not even furnish them postage stamps. 



Personal visits from this office were made during the year to 

 parts of Franklin, Worcester, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable 

 and Dukes counties, and many notes were taken on the dis- 

 tribution of birds in these localities. Mr. J. A. Farley, an 

 ornithologist of many years' experience, accompanied the State 

 Ornithologist on a tour in Franklin County, and some interest- 

 ing discoveries were made regarding the distribution of species 

 in the breeding season. 



Co-operation with the Commissioners on Fisheries and 



Game. 



During the year the Ornithologist has co-operated with the 

 Commissioners on Fisheries and Game, advising in regard to 

 men or means for the protection of the heath hen and the 

 colonies of sea birds along our coasts. At the request of the 

 commissioners he has suggested places suitable for feeding 

 wild fowl in severe winter weather. The commissioners them- 

 selves will report on these matters, therefore it is unnecessary 

 to duplicate their report here. In pursuance of these objects, 

 visits have been made to various localities along the coasts. 



The Heath Hen. 



Again, as in three previous years, a census of the heath hen 

 on Martha's Vineyard was taken in April. This showed ap- 

 proximately a 40 per cent increase in the number of the species 

 over those of last year. On April 20, 1918, the count showed 

 155 birds, and some may have been overlooked. Some of these 

 birds bred well, and probably under improved conditions the 

 increase will continue. The commissioners have sought expert 

 advice, and have placed a superintendent in charge of the 

 heath hen reservation, whose entire time is to be devoted to 

 looking after the welfare of these birds. 



Under authority of the Secretary of Agriculture at Washing- 

 ton, Dr. A. K. Fisher, in charge of economic investigations for 



