22 Bulletin of the 



they fasten numbered tags upon individuals that have been caught and let 

 them go again, keeping accurate record of the numbers and all the data of 

 release. Instructions are dispersed among the fishermen of the region 

 asking them to return all labels they may find on the fish they take, together 

 with the data of capture, such as locality, condition of the fish, etc. As I say, 

 it is possible such a plan might be used in following the movements of 

 individual birds, if some way could be devised of numbering them which 

 would not interfere with the bird in any way, and would still be conspicuous 

 enough to attract the attention of any person who might chance to shoot 

 or capture it. 



A trial of the methods I have attempted to outline would necessarily en- 

 tail considerable labor and require much time of the person directing it, 

 and could probably be carried on best by a committee of some scientific 

 society or other organization. A number of years at least would be re- 

 quired to settle with definiteness many of the questions, and some of them 

 might require many years of continued observations. On the other hand a 

 very complete account would be collected of the habits of at least one 

 species, and many interesting things would undoubtedly come out that had 

 not been thought of before. Perhaps it would be found that more than one 

 species could be studied advantageously at the same time, as, for instance, 

 one bird that is a summer resident and another that is a winter visitant 

 within the region where observations are being made. The aim would 

 ever be to obtain the most complete data for as many species as possible. 



PERSONALS. 



The twentieth congress of the American Ornithologists' Union was held 

 in Washington, D. C, on Nov. 17, 18 and 19. Prof. Walter B. Barrows, of 

 the Agricultural College, and Prof. Herbert Lyman Clark, of Olivet, were 

 present, and presented papers. Dr. Clark was elected a member of the 

 Union. 



The Hon. Peter White, of Marquette, has been elected a member of 

 the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan. Mr. White is one 

 of the pioneers of the State, and has long been known as an admirer of 

 Nature and an earnest supporter of higher education. 



Dr. Jacob Reignard, Professor of Zoology in the University of Michigan, 

 has received leave of absence for one year to do special biological work for 

 the United States Fish Commission. 



Mr. Louis J. Eppinger, the taxidermist, is at present mounting a col- 

 lection of South African animal and bird skins collected by our late governor, 

 Hon. H. vS. Pingree. 



Dr. P. E. Moody and Mr. Edwin G. Mummery contemplate a two weeks 

 collecting trip among the birds of Oakland County, during the month of 

 May. It is unnecessary to say that these two careful observers, will be suc- 

 cessful and the Bulletin hopes to hear from them upon their return. 



Mr. Herbert H. Spicer, formerly of Detroit, is now in Chicago. 



Mr. J. Clair Wood opened the Oological season with a set of Great 

 Horned Owl, on March 13th. 



