THE 



WILSON BULLETIN 



NO. 94. 



A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY 



VOL. XXVIII MARCH, 1916 NO. 1 



OLD SERIES VOL. XXVIII. NEW SERIES VOL. XXIII. 



NORTH DAKOTA. 



BY GERARD ALAN ABBOTT. 



North Dakota, as far back as I can remember, has never 

 been boosted as some of our states have. It is one of the 

 most wonderful states in the Union, one becomes convinced 

 of this after spending a few days traveHng through some of 

 the counties. No saloons, few spots with " bright lights," and 

 almost void of manufacturing plants. 



Lacking in artificial play grounds, navigable streams, and 

 automobile highways, it is a land of plenty for those who live 

 the simple life. 



For the bird lover it is matchless. No unsurmountable obsta- 

 cles are to be encountered, such as unseasonable weather, 

 vermine, treacherous quagmires, vast forests, high mountains, 

 malaria, or poverty. 



True it is, that many species of birds are becoming rarer, 

 but relatively speaking I believe this state will continue in- 

 definitely to attract and retain its large per cent of the feath- 

 ered tribe. 



Prior to my first North Dakota invasion I received advices 

 to the effect that the region was not the paradise it used to be. 

 I could see that in more respects than one, notably the vast 

 number of buffalo skulls lying about on the prairie. For the 

 ornithologist, wishing to do any field work, the opportunities 



