100 THE CONDOR Vol. XXII 
One of the most important functions of the Survey is the care and main- 
tenance of the islands and tracts of land set apart as bird reservations, which 
now number no fewer than seventy, widely distributed through the country. 
Of this number all but three were designated as refuges during my term of 
service with the Survey, and it is a pleasure to be able to record the fact that 
of the whole number all but eight were proclaimed by Theodore Roosevelt 
during his terms of office as President. May we not consider these bird 
refuges set apart by his act as a most fitting memorial of one who was ever a 
most enthusiastic student of all wild life and a special lover of birds? 
The number of places where birds may resort and lead their lives in peace 
has been still further augmented through the generosity of private individuals 
and societies, who have set apart more important tracts as sanctuaries. From 
the first, special efforts have been made by the Survey to cooperate with such 
enterprises, and to stimulate in every way possible a knowledge of, and an 
interest in, our bird life. This is a work in which there is room for all. 
The mammal reservations in charge of the Survey, five in number, have 
also been very successful, and, come what may, are likely to insure the per- 
petuation of our biggest game animal, the bison, of our unique antelope, and 
of the elk and the several species of our native deer. 
An important part of the work of the Biological Survey, that of destroy- 
ing noxious rodents, has been very successful, and recently has assumed large 
proportions. This includes a war of extermination not only against several 
species of noxious rodents, including some that are plague carriers, but also 
against wolves and coyotes, which in recent years have proved enormously 
destructive to live stock. Because of the success achieved the number of states 
and stock associations that have entered into close cooperation with the Sur- 
vey and that have contributed funds to directly assist in the work has recently 
largely increased. This part of the functions of the Survey is destined to 
assume still greater importance in the future. 
The so-called Lacey Act, which enabled the Government through the 
Survey to aid the several States in the suppression of violators of the state 
game laws, was a long step towards the protection of American game birds. 
Still more important was the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, concluded August 
16, 1916, which placed all our migratory birds under govermental supervision. 
But more important still was the treaty between Great Britain and the United 
States, concluded June 6, 1918, whereby the United States and Canada bind 
themselves to protect all migratory birds which pass from one country to the 
other, thus placing under the direct supervision of either country a great 
majority of the game and insectivorous birds of America. This is the first 
treaty of the kind ever entered into on this continent and it is hoped that the 
example thus furnished will be followed in time by every civilized country in 
the world. 
The study of the several phenomena of migration, including the time of 
year, causes and methods of migration, and of the routes of travel pursued by 
the several species, has been an important object of the Survey for years and 
is still being carried on, notwithstanding the death of the lamented Prof. — 
Cooke, whose earnestness of purpose, zeal, and grasp of the subject entitle his 
name to first place on the roll of the students of migration in this country. 
Looking back on its 33 years of active work the Biological Survey may 
