FOREWORD 

 Recognizing the complicated interrelationships of wildlife 

 with man T s changing uses of the land, the Biological Survey has 

 for many years conducted studies in various parts of North Amer- 

 ica, obtaining facts on which to base wise management of our 

 wildlife resources. Opportunity for research has been lacking 

 on lands where deliberate changes in management practices and 

 where the habitat requirements of the native species of wild 

 animals oould be under control of the Biological Survey. This 

 gave rise to the establishment of the first national wildlife 

 experiment station of a general nature. On the Patuxent Re- 

 search Refuge, wildlife problems relating to the production of 

 agricultural crops and to the practice of forestry will receive 

 careful study. As a basis for long-time research the physio- 

 graphy and the fauna and flora will be studied. This contri- 

 bution is the first of a number of reports that will deal with 

 the natural history of this research refuge. 



