RETURNS FROM BANDED BIRDS, 1920 TO 1&23 5 



For instance, what might prove an excellent method of treatment 

 for returns from the mallard duck (Fig. 1) would not be applicable 

 in the case of the song sparrow. 



With a sufficient accumulation of information from different 

 parts of the country, it will be possible eventually to prepare reports 

 which will constitute distinct contributions to our knowledge of the 

 species involved. 6 The number of recruits to this new method of 

 ornithological research is constantly increasing, and it is gratifying 

 to note that many cooperators are directing their activities toward 

 the solution of definite problems concerning certain species. 



EXPLANATION OF TABLES 



The various species are presented in the order of the "A. O. U. 

 Check-List." 7 The records under individual species are arranged 

 numerically under the names of the operators, grouped alphabetically 

 by States, which also are in alphabetical order. Thus under " Tree 

 sparrow," the table begins with returns from birds banded in Connect- 

 icut by cooperators listed alphabetically. This is followed by 

 Illinois and Massachusetts, with the returns from the cooperators 

 in the respective States, similarly arranged. This method of treat- 

 ment has been adopted because any studies based on this material 

 should place initial emphasis upon the locality (State or Province) 

 where the birds were originally banded. 



Numbers preceded by an asterisk (*) are those of the American 

 Bird Banding Association, all others being those of the Biological 

 Survey. These records have been obtained mostly from birds 

 marked since January, 1920, as the remnant of the association 

 bands have been issued by the Biological Survey. In a few cases, 

 however, it has appeared advisable to give the complete history 

 of a bird that has yielded a series of returns of special interest, and 

 in these instances return records received by the association prior 

 to 1920 also are included. 



Numbers preceded by a dagger (f) indicate recently banded 

 birds found dead at or near the place of banding. Unusually late 

 dates in these "short-time returns" are often due to the fact that the 

 carrier was not found until some time after its death. 8 Following 

 is a list of known causes of such deaths : 



Due to — 

 Cats. 

 Shrikes. 

 Red squirrels. 

 Ground squirrels. 

 Weasels. 

 Rats. 



Owls (species ?). 

 Sparrow hawks. 

 Cooper hawks. 

 "Grass" snakes. 

 Gopher snakes. 

 Black snakes. 

 "Hawk or gull." 



Due to — 



Blue jays. 



Hunters. 

 Capture in — 



Herring net. 



Fish trap. 



Muskrat trap. 

 Saturation of plumage with fuel oil. 

 Crowding of fledglings out of nest by 



cowbirds. 

 Inclement weather. 

 Desertion of fledglings by parents. 

 Accidents due to traps or operators. 



' One preliminary report of the migrations of certain ducks, as deduced from banding returns, has been 

 prepared by the writer (Trapping ducks for banding purposes: The Auk, vol. 39, pp. 322-334, pis. 11-14, 

 map, 1922), and be baa Id progress more elaborate communications dealing with these birds, together with 

 the herring t'lill and Caspian tern. 



7 Check-List of North American liirds of the American Ornithologist:;' Union, third edition (revised), 

 1910. 



• Martin No. 104232 (p. 4. r <) was found dead when t he colony house was cleaned out — long after the parents 

 had left. 



