46 



itoba. These observers sent reports as follows: Twelve occupied less 

 than half a schedule, 21 occupied more than half but less than a whole 

 schedule, 28 sent one full schedule, 10 sent one and a half schedules, 5 

 sent two schedules, 4 sent two and a half schedules, and 7 sent three or 

 more schedules. 



In addition to the schedules several hundred notes were sent in let- 

 ters. Schedules relating to fall migration were received from 16 ob- 

 servers, distributed as follows: One in Illinois, 1 in Wisconsin, 2 in Mis- 

 souri, 3 in Iowa, 3 in Minnesota, 2 in Texas, 2 in Kansas, 1 in Dakota, 

 and 1 in Manitoba. 



These observers sent reports as follows: Three occupied less than 

 half a schedule, 1 occupied more than half but less than a whole sched- 

 ule, 9 sent one full schedule, 2 sent two schedules, and 1, Mr. Otto Wid- 

 mann, sent the most complete record of fall migration that has ever 

 been made in the United States. 



NOTES ON THE MIGRATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF EACH SPECIES 

 REPORTED AS INHABITING THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 



In the first circular on migration issued by the American Ornitholo- 

 gists' Union, records were called for concerning four movements for 

 each species of bird, nainely, the arrival of the first, the arrival of the 

 bulk, the departure of the bulk, and the last one seen. The notes con- 

 tiibuted by observers relate principally to first arrivals. Of a few 

 species a number of 'lasts' were noted, and of still fewer the move- 

 ments of the bulk are recorded with sufficient fullness to serve as the 

 basis of intelligent study. 



The second circular issued by the American Ornithologists' Union 

 contained instructions for the year 1885. It called for records of the 

 arrival of the first individual of a species, for the date when it was next 

 seen, when it became common, and when the last one was seen. The 

 records received under the second and third of these headings are very 

 disappointing. These records are voluminous, numbering several thou- 

 sand, but they are almost without value. The records of the second 

 time the species was seen have served in a few instances as a check on 

 the date of the first arrival, showing whether the first seen was a 

 straggler or a regular arrival, but these instances are very much fewer 

 than had been expected. When the dates of arrival and departure of 

 bulk were asked for, not many observers gave these records, but the 

 notes that were sent were usually of value, since in most instances they 

 indicated a real movement of the species at the date specified. 



In my experience the record " common" can not be so interpreted ; 

 indeed, it cannot be interpreted in any manner which will throw any 

 light on the movements of the species. 



The records for 1885 give no intimation of the arrival or departure of 

 the bulk of the species, but merely furnish notes on the first and the 

 last, with two additional checks on the record of the first seen. What 



