LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



U. S. Department or Agriculture, 



Bureau of Biological Survey, 

 Washington, D. C, February 3, 1913. 

 Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for publication as 

 Bulletin No. 45 of the Biological Survey, a report on "The Dis- 

 tribution and Migration of North American Herons and Their 

 Allies," by Wells W. Cooke, Assistant in the Biological Survey. 

 Formerly widely distributed in the United States, and very abundant 

 in certain localities, the herons in recent years have everywhere been 

 greatly depleted in numbers, chiefly because of the demand for their 

 plumage for millinery purposes. Several species of egrets bearing 

 the coveted " aigrettes " have, indeed, been almost exterminated, 

 and the few that remain in the United States owe their existence to 

 protective laws and to an aroused public sentiment. This bulletin 

 aims to give precise information as to the range of the several 

 species, especially the breeding range, and in regard to their migra- 

 tion. These data are believed to be amply sufficient to form a basis 

 for protective legislation by the States inhabited by the various 

 species. 



Respectfully, 



Henry W. Henshaw, 



Chief, Biological Survey. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



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