52 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



that persons who have notes on the habits, nests, migrations^ 

 moults, etc., of New England birds will correspond with him. 

 Any new information for the work will be gladly received and 

 credit will be duly given the contributors. 



Investigations. 

 Investigations regarding the nesting habits of tree-nesting 

 wild fowl and the underwater activities of diving birds were 

 continued during the year. The Director visited Nahant, 

 Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard for the purpose of observing 

 some of the habits of the latter birds. Space will not permit 

 the inclusion of the results of this investigation in this report. 

 A continued study of the migration, habits and distribution of 

 Massachusetts birds was conducted. Inquiries also were made 

 regarding the present status of the Heath Hen, and of the 

 breeding gulls and terns along the Massachusetts coast, while 

 much was learned regarding the food of birds by observers 

 acting for the Division of Ornithology. Mr. John A. Farley 

 spent parts of the months of June and July in an ornithological 

 reconnaissance in the hill country of western Massachusetts. 



The Heath Hen. 

 During the period in April most advantageous for taking a 

 census of the Heath Hen on Marthas Vineyard, the Director 

 could not spare time for a visit to the Island, and Mr. Farley 

 took the census. He could locate only "117 birds as present or 

 accounted for" as against 314 birds found there by the Di- 

 rector in three days of April, 1921. His report seems to indicate 

 that within a year the birds decreased at least one-half in 

 number. This diminution may be accounted for in part by 

 the fact that very few young were reared in 1921, as recorded 

 in the last annual report of this Division; but this fact, to- 

 gether with deaths from other natural causes, would hardly 

 explain this apparent excessive and alarming decrease. The 

 birds on the reservation are well guarded against man and their 

 natural enemies, but it seems probable that the law protecting 

 them is not respected by some of the people in other parts of 

 the island. Heavy rains occurred during the breeding season 

 of 1922, and possibly further decrease will have to be recorded 

 in 1923. 



