32 Bulletin No. 14. 



work will refer only to that which can be done in the garden, the orch- 

 ard, and by the hedge, or on the occasional "day off." It is because we 

 believe that there is no more fascinating or profitable nature study than 

 that concerning the geographical distribution of animal life that we ask 

 ourselves if there is not a necessary and important work which we may 

 begin where we are. Birds, on account of their almost universal distri- 

 bution and widespread movements, as well as for the reason that all the 

 species in one locality can be learned and kept readily in mind, afford an 

 ideal field for the investigation of the problems of specific variations, in- 

 herited traits and the influence of and accomodation to climatal and geo- 

 graphical changes. 



Without proposing at present any elaborate scheme of co-operation 

 among the members of the W. O. C, I wish to recommend for prelimi- 

 nary work two simple tasks, which, if undertaken and faithfully carried 

 out will lay good foundation for fuller work. The first is what I should 

 call the taking of daily horizons. That is, when you are in the field 

 make a note of all the species seen, however common, and preserve these 

 for future comparison. It will be a surprise to some to find how many 

 species of birds may. be seen on a little early-morning-before-breakfast 

 ramble. Simple recording, however mechanical it may seem at first, 

 will stimulate the powers of observation to a wonderful degree. I may 

 instance sample "bags," or horizons, taken here at Oberlin this past win- 

 ter and spring. On the 13th of February last Mr. Lynds Jones and I 

 took a trip to the lake shore and found 18 species of birds — not of course 

 counting such vermin as English Sparrows. By the first of April the 

 number of resident and migrating species to be found on a day's tramp 

 had reached 37. While by the 29th of the same month, between the 

 hours of 4:30 and 6:30 a. m., we saw 55 species of birds in town and in a 

 neighboring wood. The best horizon of the season was taken on the 

 forenoon of May 10th, when we found 76 species of birds present, includ- 

 ing 18 kinds of warblers. 



In connection with this Mr. Jones has an excellent scheme in a pass- 

 book of quadrille-ruled paper. In this he enters every bird as it appears 

 each year and allows a space, or square, for each day throughout the re- 

 mainder of the season. When returning from a morning ramble he 

 enters the. number seen after each species, however common. In this 

 way, by glancing over the pages, the exact dates of arrival and departure 

 of any given bird may be easily noted. 



Another plan and one requiring a little more consecutive attention is 

 the taking of the bird census for a given locality. Such expressions as, 



