2 "2 Rece?it Literature. [October 



area of observation includes (i) "Norddeutschland," with 6 observers; (2) 

 "Mittledeutschland," with 23 observers; (3) "Siiddeutschland und Oestr- 

 reich-Ungarn," with one observer; (4) "Alpenland," with 3 observers. 

 These divisions are subdivided into 12 lesser districts, four of which are 

 unfortunately without observers, while the middle district of Central Ger- 

 many has 19. The large area included in the observation field is thus 

 quite unequally supplied with observers, while important parts are as yet 

 unoccupied. There are, however, reports from no less than 36 stations, 

 and the resume of the observations taken forms a paper of great interest 

 and value. 



While the collection of data on the migration of birds is carried on 

 systematically on a large scale in Europe, little, we regret to say, is being 

 done in this country, aside from the praisewoi-thy work of Mr. W. W. 

 Cooke of Jefferson, Wisconsin.* Our great breadth of territory, together 

 with the large number of widely scattered, competent observers, offers 

 unusually favorable conditions for prosecuting an investigation of this 

 interesting subject. What we need is organized effort on a large scale, 

 and we hope it will not be long before persons of leisure and fitness 

 for the work will supplement ana extend the work Mr. Cooke has so 

 intelligently begun, till the whole area from the Rocky Mountains at 

 least to the Atlantic seaboard will be suitably covei-ed by observers. 

 As a result of such observations we should at least soon learn with 

 reasonable definiteness just where our hardy migrants winter, and their 

 northern limit of distribution at that season, and also what are the 

 coincident, if not the causative, meteorological and other conditions of 

 the various successive "migrator^' waves." 



Mr. Cooke's scheme contemplates a large number of observing stations, 

 not all of which are as yet filled. From his published reports he appears 

 to have correspondents at 44 stations, distributed as follows : Texas, Flor- 

 ida, Georgia, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Indiana, each i ; Kansas and Miss- 

 issippi, each 2; Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, each 4; Missouri, 

 5; Iowa, 6; Illinois, 8. The number, except in one or two of the States 

 named, is of course quite inadequate, and there are no reporters from Ala- 

 bama, Louisiana, and Nebi-aska, and by far too few in Kansas, and in most 

 of the other states already on the list. We sincerely hope that these 

 deficiencies may be soon filled, and that Mr. Cooke will receive the co-op- 

 eration he desires and so well merits. If the work goes on, as we sincerely 

 hope it may, the proper elaboration and publication of the results will 

 prove a work of no trifling magnitude, and aid in its prosecution may well 

 be one of the subjects the proposed American Ornithologists' Union may 

 properly feel called upon to consider and encourage. f 



* Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley. By W. W. Cooke. Forest and Stream, 

 XIX, Nos. 15, 16, 20, pp. 283, 284, 306, 384, Nov. 9 and 16, and Dec. 14, 1883. 



Mississippi Valley Migration. By W. W. Cooke. Ornithologist and Oologist, VIII, 

 Nos. 4-7, April-Ji.ly, 1883, pp. 25-27, 33, 34, 41, 42, 49-53. 



t Since the above was written the American Ornithologists' Union has been formed, 

 and a Committee appointed to co-operate with Mr. Cooke and his corps of observers. 

 (See this issue of the Bulletin, p. 224.) 



