34 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 72 



specific names. The mean temperature for each sex is given where 

 information for both males and females is available. 



In grouping this information a departure has been made from a 

 method that has been utilized by many authors that gives the minimum 

 temperature, then the maximum, and then the mean. In the present 

 connection the mean temperature for each species is considered the 

 most important fact and is therefore placed first, nearest the name 

 of the bird concerned. Records show^ing the minimum and maximum 

 range follow immediately where they are readily available in case this 

 information is desired. 



In table 4 is given another summary in which mean temperatures 

 for each of the families of birds represented is tabulated. The name 

 of the family is followed by the number of species represented in the 

 present studies. Following this are mean, minimum and maximum 

 temperatures with the mean as the most important fact given first. 

 The data in these three columns are taken from the column of mean 

 temperatures in table 3. In other words, this is a summary based 

 upon the mean temperatures alone of the various species. 



The laborious work of securing the averages in these various tables 

 was performed with the aid of a computing machine. This not only 

 greatly lessened the labor and expedited the work in hand but also 

 made the results less liable to error than would have been the case 

 had it been necessary to perform so many computations mentally. 



In a final table (table 5), is given a compilation of temperature 

 records for species of birds that I have not been able to examine 

 personally in the flesh. This table has been taken from available 

 literature and includes only those records for which it has been possible 

 to assign specific names with certainty. Where a record is listed 

 simply as " gull," " hawk," etc., it has been discarded. No attempt 

 has been made to cite all records available for each species but simply 

 to give enough to indicate the body temperature in relation to other 

 forms. Many published notes have been discarded for lack of certain 

 identification, while in utilizing other records I have simply quoted 

 what I have found with no assumption as to accuracy of statement. 

 Records are given for 89 species of birds in addition to those found 

 in table 3. The table has been made as complete as practicable but no 

 claim is made that it includes all records that have been published. 



The system of nomenclature to be used in recording the data in 

 table 5 has given considerable trouble. The records cited cover 

 birds from all parts of the world. This material is listed according 



