Publications on Birds 91 



the New York Zoological Society and elsewhere, to continue 

 his study of the pterylosis of the bird's wing, and has also 

 worked upon the classification of the Woodpeckers and their 

 allies. 



Mr. Chapin has begun his monographic treatment of the 

 birds of Central Africa; and, in cooperation with Mr. Miller, 

 Mr. Griscom has made considerable progress in his studies of 

 the birds of Nicaragua. 



Mrs. Reichenberger, having completed her preliminary iden- 

 tification of our Ecuador collections, is now engaged on a revi- 

 sion of the identifications of the Roosevelt collection. 



Ten papers by members of our scientific staff (based on the 

 study of Museum material) have been published outside of 

 the Museum. It is to be regretted that the congestion in our 

 printing office prohibited their publication by the Museum. 



Six papers were presented by members of the scientific staff 

 before the Annual Congress of the American Ornithologists , 

 Union, held at the United States National Museum in Wash- 

 ington, November 8-1 1, 1920. 



The cordial cooperation which exists between this depart- 

 ment and our colleagues in various parts of the world, makes 

 our respective collections accessible to us all. 

 As occasion arose during the year we borrowed 

 specimens from our fellow-workers, and it has been our privi- 

 lege to comply with requests for the loan of material from 

 museums and private individuals both in this country and in 

 Europe. 



In addition to the material which we have sent to our col- 

 leagues, we have filled the wants of numerous artists who come 

 to the Museum to secure models for their work. 



Year by year, as the contact of this department with the 

 public becomes closer, the demands upon us for information 



and assistance have greatly increased. These are 

 R^utfn made by correspondents and visitors, and include 



not only requests for information in regard to 

 almost every phase of bird-study, but for technical advice con- 

 cerning the enforcement of game laws and the laws governing 

 the importation of foreign species. 



