Bird-Lore's Nineteenth Christmas Bird Census 417 



that cover areas that are contiguous and with a total diameter not exceeding 

 15 miles should be combined into one census. 



Each unusual record should be accompanied by a brief statement as to the 

 identification. When such a record occurs in the combined list of parties that 

 him ted separately, the names of those responsible for the record should be given. 

 Reference to the February numbers of Bird-Lore, 1901-18, will acquaint one 

 with the nature of the report that we desire, but to those to whom none of 

 these issues is available, we may explain that such reports should be headed by 

 the locality, date, hour of starting and of returning, a brief statement of the 

 character of the weather, whether the ground be bare or snow-covered, the di- 

 rection and force of the wind, the temperature and the distance or area covered. 

 Then should be given, in the order of the A.O. U. ^Check-List' (which is followed 

 by most standard bird-books), a list of the species noted, with, as exactly as 

 practicable, the number of individuals of each species recorded. A record should 

 read, therefore, somewhat as follows: 



Yonkers, N. Y. (to Bronxville and Tuckahoe and back). — Dec. 25; 8 a.m. to 4:30 

 P.M. Clear; 5 in. of snow; wind west, light; temp. 38° at start, 42° at return. Eleven 

 miles on foot. Observers together. Herring Gull, 75; Bob-white, 12 (one covey); (Sharp- 

 shinned?) Hawk, i; . . . Ruby-crowned Kinglet, i. Total, 27 species, about 470 

 individuals. The Ruby-crown was studied with 8x glasses at 20 ft.; eye-ring, absence of 

 head-stripes and other points noted. — James Gates and John Rand. 



These records will be published in the February issue of Bird-Lore, and 

 it is particularly requested that they be sent to the Editor (at the American 

 Museum of Natural History, New York City) by the first possible mail. It will 

 save the Editor much clerical labor if the model here given and the order of the 

 A. O. U. 'Check-Lisf be closely followed. 



Those readers who take part in the Christmas census this year will find 

 it very interesting to examine the censuses from their part of the country 

 in years gone by, which will be found in back volumes of Bird-Lore, and 

 to note how the northern birds vary in the different winters. Reference to 

 'The Season' Department of the present issue will show that up to the mid- 

 dle of this October there had been no incursion of the Pine Siskin or other 

 northern Finches, as during some autumns, and observers fortunate enough 

 to find these on the Christmas Census should take particular pains with 

 their identification. The Red-breasted Nuthatch, on the other hand, has 

 rather generally moved south. We also would call to the special attention 

 of observers who are able to be in the field this winter, the article on winter 

 birds, by Dr. A. A. Allen, pubUshed elsewhere in this issue of Bird-Lore. — 

 J. T. N. 



