Instructions for Banding Birds. 95 
records for their own information. A copy of this record should 
then be sent to the Biological Survey. The following form of report 
is easily compiled, and would be of the most value to the bureau: 
TRAPPING STATION REPORT. 
Operator: John M. Jones. 
Location: National Zoological Park, Washington, D. C. 
Period covered: October 1, 1922, to April 1, 1928. 
Substations: “A ”“—Government sparrow trap, at edge of woods, 
near bison inclosure; dogwood and other shrubs at one side. 
“B”—drop trap, operated back of keeper’s house, 40 feet from 
large trees. “C”—Group of four false-bottom traps, in orna- 
mental shrubbery behind administration building. 
Returns. 
45703, Robin (banded Apr. 13, 1922); recaptured Mar. 26, 1923, 
Substation “A.” 
Repeats. 
90347, Song sparrow (banded Sept. 27); Oct. 2—OC; 6—C; 13—C; 
1j—C; 19—C; 30—A (forehead bruised) ; Nov. 3—A (fore- 
head healed) ; 4—A (2); 7—C; 8—A, C; ete. 
90361, White-throated sparrow (banded Oct. 1); Oct. 10—B; 
15—B ; 16—B (3); 17—B (2); 18—B (4) ; 20—B ; 27—B (2), 
C'; ete. 
90374, White-throated sparrow (banded Dec. 19); Dec. 21—C; 
238—C ; 26—C; Jan. 4—C; 5—C; 6—C; ete. 
96377, Cardinal (banded Feb. 12); Feb. 23—-A; 25—A; 26—A; 
Mar. 6—B; 15—B (2); 21—A; ete. 
Fic. 28.—Specimen station report. (Note that band numbers are entered in 
numerical order.) 
Supplementary notes regarding the weather, available natural 
food supply, relative abundance of the different species, etc., during 
the period covered, are often of much value both to the bureau and 
to the cooperator. 
Distinguish between “ repeats” and “returns.” The term “ repeat” 
is used to designate a short-time return at the original station. It 
is used in case of recoveries of banded birds that have apparently 
not been absent from the immediate neighborhood since the time they 
were last handled. Some birds acquire the “trap habit,” and repeat 
frequently. Such reports, when pertaining to migratory species, may 
provide exact information regarding the time that migration com- 
mences. Sedentary species may perhaps repeat continuously 
throughout the year. Every “repeat” should be reported. 
_.The term “ return ” is used to designate a recovery from the original 
or any other station after or during a migratory period, except 
that any banded bird meeting accidental death at or close by the 
station where it was banded should always be reported as a “return.” 
Returns may occur at the original station after migration by having 
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