THIRTIETH BIENNIAL REPORT 87 



in all the larger cities. There is much favorable comment on these 

 portable exhibits and others will be built. 



There has long been needed a study collection of birds and mammals, 

 both from the standpoint of reference and of teaching materials. Dur- 

 ing the biennium, the miscellaneous collection, which had accumulated, 

 was renovated, properly labeled and housed. To this original set of 

 study skins of birds, there have been added numerous specimens bring- 

 ing the total to 365. Among them are to be found some which are par- 

 ticularly useful for study. Three varieties of tinamous from South 

 America are now to be found in the collection. Several of the rarer 

 hawks have been added and specimens of shorebirds include a mountain 

 plover, and in the specimens of geese, a black brant. Few things have 

 so stirred the interest of deputies in the direction of better knowledge 

 of the wild resources of the state than has this collection of bird skins. 



RESEARCH AND FIELD INVESTIGATIONS 



With the assistance of Dr. K. F. Meyer of the University of Cali- 

 fornia, investigations relative to animal disease were begun in 1927, and 

 finally some of the research problems concerning game were centered 

 in a separate research bureau. There have still been allotted to the 

 Bureau of Education economic studies relating to agriculture. 



For several years there has been increasing complaint that small birds 

 were damaging fruit buds in eastern Tulare County. When damage 

 was reported in the fall of 1927 an investigator was sent to look into the 

 situation. It was found that there was a concentration of birds in that 

 general locality and that damage to fruit buds was real. Helpful sug- 

 gestions were offered ranchers as a means of protecting their crops from 

 attack and the investigations are to be continued another year. In 

 order to place on a better basis the arguments pro and con as to the 

 depredations committed by predatory species, data relative to the food 

 of hawks and owls and other predators are being collected. Interrela- 

 tions between predatory species and the animals preyed upon are not 

 well known and more dependable information is being sought. Staff 

 members have also participated in investigations relative to game 

 refuges, poison campaigns in relation to game and to fur-bearing ani- 

 mals. 



LIBRARY 



The accumulated library of the division was destroyed in the San 

 Francisco fire of 1906. Thereafter, no attempt was made to rebuild it. 

 Beginning in 1927, the Bureau of Education was given the task of 

 establishing a useful reference . library. A librarian on full time has 

 devoted her energies to classifying and cataloging the rapidly filling 

 book shelves. . Books have. been cared for in glass front sectional book- 

 cases, .and hound, magazines and . miscellaneous pamphlets have been 

 placed in cases in metal stacks. A simple system of classification has 

 been utilized so that technical experience is not required in order to 

 locate the materials sought. Nearly four hundred interoffice and out- 

 side employee call loans have been made this past year. Files of laws 

 of all states and Canadian provinces and biennial reports of other fish 

 and game commissions have been completed as nearly as possible. 

 Back volumes. of about. sixty sporting and scientific magazines have been 

 suitably bound.. A. subject bibliography is .in process of formation and 



