x 
70 THE CONDOR 
modic pastime, but a business, with well de- 
fined duties and responsibilities. A bird 
trap must not be used like a mouse trap, to 
be baited and set and left to itself until one 
happens to think of it again. Bird traps 
should be open to constant observation and 
must be visited regularly and frequently, be- 
cause: (1) birds of certain species will not 
submit to the trap but will kill themselves 
in efforts to escape; (2) birds that do not 
object to the confinement may nevertheless 
quarrel and injure or kill each other; (3) 
birds that you wish to protect and save may 
be killed by the other birds or by rats 
trapped with them; (4) birds are liable to 
be killed by exposure in traps overnight. 
... Trap and band, if you are competent 
and willing and able to do it properly; ... 
but do not, yourself, nor permit anyone else 
to, bring terror or destruction to those birds 
that our Association is pledged to protect.” 
COMMUNICATION 
THE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 
To the Editor of THk Conpor: 
The Biological Survey began in 1914 to 
collect data on the numerical distribution of 
bird life in the United States. By such in- 
formation, which is.gained through counts 
made by volunteer collaborators, of the birds 
breeding on selected areas, it is possible to 
gain some knowledge of the yearly fluectua- 
tions in bird life and of the effect the pres- 
ent State and Hederal laws may have on the 
increase of game and insectivorous birds. 
During the earlier years we received a very 
gratifying response to our request for as- 
sistance, but: during the war many persons 
were unable to continue the work and inter- 
est in it has seemed to wane, It is desirable 
that these counts should be repeated on a 
large scale through a period of years in or- 
der that adequate data may be accumulated 
to make possible definite conclusions. Any 
one thoroughly familiar with the breeding 
birds of his vicinity can do this work, and 
will find it growing in interest from year 
to year. We are therefore again appealing 
to the readers of THr Conpbor in the hope 
that all who are able to do so will make one 
or more bird counts this summer. 
The general plan of this work is to select 
a tract of land containing from 40 to 80 
acres and representing as nearly as possible 
the average conditions for the _ vicinity. 
Some day, during the height of the breeding 
season, this land should be carefully gone 
over in the early morning and the male 
birds counted, which at that season are usu- 
BIRD COUNTS 
Vol. XXIV 
ally in full song and may be considered each 
to represent a breeding pair. The result of 
this count should be checked subseyjuently 
to be sure that all birds counted nest within 
the selected area, and that none have been 
missed, The count should not be made until 
the spring migration is over and the birds 
are settled on their nesting grounds. In the 
latitude of Washington, D. C., the best time 
ior the first count is about the first of June; 
in New England and the northern states 
probably about June 10; and south of Wash- 
ington, during the latter part of May. 
Anyone who is willing to do this work is 
requested to send his name and address to 
the Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. 
Full directions for making a count and re 
port blanks will be sent in time for plans to 
be made before the actual time for the field 
work. Since the Bureau has no funds with 
which to pay for this work, it must depend 
on the services of voluntary observers. 
An added impetus should be given to this 
work at the present time by the report that 
the British ornithologists are contemplating 
a census of the birds of the British Isles, 
planned along the same lines as our own. 
Very truly yours, 
E. W. NELSON, 
BrotogicaL Survey, Washington, 
D, C., February 1, 1922. 
CHIEF, 
MINUTES OF COOPER CLUB MEETINGS 
SOUTHERN DIVISION 
OcrorrR.—The regular monthly meeting of 
the Southern Division, Cooper Ornithological 
Club, was held at the Los Angeles Museum 
at 8 Pp. M., October 27, 1921. President 
Dickey wasin the chair, with others present 
as follows: Messrs. Appleton, Barnes, Brown, 
Chambers, Hanaford, Howell, Lamb, Little, 
Miller, Pierce, Rich, van Rossem, Taylor, 
Warmer, Wyman; Mesdames Hall, Schnei- 
der and Warmer, and Misses Beers, Burnell, 
Germain and Kennedy. Mrs. Beers, Mrs. 
van Rossem and Miss Martin were visitors. 
Minutes of September meeting were read 
and approved. The following new names 
were presented: Benjamin W. King, Coeur 
d’Alene, Idaho, by H. J. Rust; Mabel M. 
Lawrence, Los Angeles, by Wright M. Pierce; 
Harry Rae Van Cleve, Los Angeles, by Dr. 
Warmer: James Norris Proctor, Santa Pau- 
la, by J. O. Snyder; Mrs. Aurelia B. Fergu- 
son, Los Angeles, by Mrs. Bicknell. The 
Northern Division sent the name of Mrs. 
Sara S. Boyle, Berkeley. 
Business Manager Chambers announced 
