CHATTER III. 



The following report is based upon the material gathered by the regular 

 collectors of the expeditions, which has been increased by some few speci- 

 mens from other of the survey assistants, during the field-seasons of 1871, 

 1872, 1873, and 1874. In 1871, the collection of birds, made mostly by 

 Mr. F. Bischoff, was quite small, comprising sixty-four species, represented 

 by eighty-eight specimens* These came from various parts of Nevada and 

 Arizona, the greater portion being found in the latter Territory, and were 

 interesting as illustrating, in several instances, valuable facts regarding the 

 geographical distribution of certain forms. The entire loss of Mr. Bischoff s 

 manuscript notes is greatly to be regretted, since doubtless was recorded in 

 them much information concerning the birds making up the collection, 

 which would have added very much to the value of the report. 



Besides the report of 1871 , and in addition to my own work, which extends 

 through the seasons of 1872, 1873, and 1874, it also includes the results in 

 this department of Dr. II. C. Yarrow in 1872, whose labors, as well as my 

 own, were confined chiefly to Utah. In 1873, the general results were further 

 swelled by a collection of some two hundred birds, made by the joint exertions 

 of Dr. J. T. Rothrock and Dr. C. G. Newberry. In 1874, besides much aid 

 received from Dr. Rothrock and Mr. Jas. M. Rutter, who, with myself, were 

 engaged during the entire season chiefly in Arizona, a valuable collection 

 of fine skins, amounting to over three hundred specimens, representing no less 

 than one hundred and fifteen species, were gathered in Colorado by Mr. 

 C. E. Aiken, who accompanied the expedition as general naturalist. Be- 

 sides many valuable specimens, which, by their labors, were added to the 

 collection, I am indebted to each of these gentlemen for certain information 

 respecting the habits and range of species, some of which were not met with 

 by myself at all. 



"These, at least, were all thatwero received at the office. Some of the season's results were lost by lire. 



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