Report on the Spring Migration of 1914 



COMPILED BY WITHER STONE 



The efforts of the committee to secure additional observers for 

 the season of 1914 met with gratifying success and reports were 

 returned by 80 persons. It is to be hoped that both old and 

 new members of the migration corps will be stimulated to con- 

 tinue with the work. Information and blank schedules may be 

 obtained at any time from Dr. Witmer Stone, Academy of 

 Natural Sciences, Logan Square. 



Suggestions for Observers 



The following suggestions are made for the guidance of ob- 

 servers. The value of all records depends upon their accuracy, 

 and any recommendations that make for increased accuracy, 

 are of the utmost importance both to the observers and to the 

 users of the report. 



1. Every observer should familiarize himself with the usual 

 time of arrival of each species in his neighborhood (see appended 

 list). With the exception of the February and March migrants, 

 the time of arrival of most species varies only a few days, so 

 that a remarkably early occurrence demands very careful and 

 positive identification as it is always suggestive of an error on 

 the part of the observer. 



2. The record of a very rare or unusual species should be ac- 

 companied by some statement of : (1) how the identification 

 was made ; i. e. distinctive markings noted, or peculiarities of 

 song or action; (2) the length and character of the observation ; 

 (3) whether the observer was previously acquainted with the 

 species. The committee always reserves the privilege of pub- 

 lishing only such records as it feels absolutely sure of, since the 

 real benefit or detriment to science lies in the act of publication. 

 We do not wish to advocate the killing of every rare bird in 

 order to make identification sure, and must therefore take the 

 greatest care to publish only such sight records as will occasion 

 no question of accuracy. 



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