1884.] Zoblogy. 313 
(a) Ornithological phenomena. —Each observer is nyom to prepare, at his ear- 
liest a ience, a complete list of the birds known to occur in the vicinity of his 
and to indicate (by the abbreviations enclosed in parenthesis) to which of 
the folliëlig five categories each species pertains : 
I. Permanent residents, or those that are found regularly opiato the entire 
rom (R). 
Winter as or those that occur only during the winter season, passing 
socth i in the spring (WV). 
B hT Transient mA or those that occur only during the migration in spring and 
v}. 
4. Summer residents, or those that are known to breed, but which depart southward 
E dh winter (SR). 
5. Accidental visitants, or stragglers from remote districts (AV). 
It is desirable also to indicate the relative abundance of the different species, the 
to be employed for this purpose being: Abundant, common, tolerably common, 
In many species the arap arrive + berien of the females, hence it is important 
to note the sex of the first comers, and the date at which the opposite sex is first seen. 
In Cos tM and Seater ‘it is highly i mate to distinguish between 
o 3 
3. The departure of the bulk (BD 
4. The last gpa sn ` r 
time of mating, when observed, should alw ways CET ems 
ko p teorological phen omena.—Extended meteorologieal data are not required, 
observer would derive material assistance from a systematic weather 
i i nse 
ind, 
2. The direction, character and duration of storm 
3. The general conditions of the atmosphere, Satadiny rainfall. 
4. The succession of marked warm and cold waves, including a record of all 
sudden changes of temperature. 
(©) Contemporary and correlative phenomena.—The committee desires that the data 
psa this head be as full and complete as possible, and requests exact information 
I. a date at which the first toad i is seen, 
€ date at which the first fi rd. 
ies * The date at which the first tiny isai or “ peeper ” is heard 
“alia which certain mammals and reptiles enter upon and emerge from 
ation 
hi 
The dates of the floweri 
ing of various plan 
$ te dates of the ris and falling of the wnt of various trees and shrubs. 
in dates of the breaking up and aeeppessaner of the ice in rivers and lakes 
=e and of the freezing over of the same in the fall. 
C. HART MERRIAM, 
Chairman of Committee on Migration, 
Locust Grove, Lewis county, N. x. 
C 
tinued R-Markincs oF Mammats.—Professor Eimer has con- 
As ed his Studies in regard to the color-markings of vertebrates. 
7 * "Ne result of his observations he has laid down certain general 
