— 
Instructions for Banding Birds. 38 
“return” records may be obtained by retrapping banded birds at the 
original and other stations. Data already made note of indicate the 
exact lines of migration of individual birds, the speed of travel, and 
innumerable other items of interest, all of which have a direct bear- 
ing on the study of life histories. A lively interest attaches to the 
work, as each operator of a station is continually anticipating that 
birds banded at other stations may at any time come to his own 
traps. 
TRAPPING BIRDS FOR BANDING. 
Under the migratory-bird treaty act, a Federal permit is required 
before one can do bird banding. Application for such permit should 
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lic. 2.—Details of construction of Government sparrow trap, similar to that in opera- 
tiom in Figure 1. Relative position of funnels and door is shown. The numbers at 
the angles correspond to those in Figures 3, 4, and 5. 
be addressed to the Bureau of Biological Survey, United States De- 
partment of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 
After having received the necessary permit and a supply of bands, 
the bird-banding cooperator should have adequate information as 
to the most suitable traps. For trapping land birds, the Government 
sparrow trap has been generally satisfactory. Other traps, there 
being several kinds on the market, will also give satisfaction. But 
there is a distinct advantage in having a standard type, which birds 
may come to recognize as a source of food, and for this reason at 
least one standard trap is recommended for each station. 
“GOVERNMENT” SPARROW TRAP. 
The following specifications will enable anyone moderately skil- 
ful in the use of tools (tin snips, pliers, file, and hammer). to make 
