368 ELEMENTARY ZOOLOGY 



The field-study of the birds of a given locality will comprise 

 much observation bearing directly on zoogeography or 

 the distribution of animals. Certain birds will be found 

 to be limited to certain parts of even a small region, the 

 swimmers will be found in ponds and streams and the 

 long-legged shore-birds on the pond- or stream-banks, or 

 in the marshes and wet meadows, although a few like the 



FIG. 145. Western robin, Merula migratoria propinqua. (Photograph from 

 life by Eliz. and Jos. Grinnell.) 



upland plover, curlews, and godwits are common on the 

 dry upland pastures. Distinguish the ground-birds from 

 the birds of the shrubs and hedge-rows and these again 

 from the strictly forest-birds. Find the special haunts of 

 swallows and kingfishers. Which are the shy birds 

 driven constantly deeper into the wild places or being 

 exterminated by the advance of man ; which birds do not 



