OCTOBER. 1902. 
THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 
185 
Before 1850 comparatively little was accomplished. At about 
this time the subject of migration seems to have become of inter- 
est to zoologists in general. In America the initiative was taken 
by Dr. Baird in 1866 (24). In Europe, although the work was 
well under way, interest increased immensely. The investigations 
of Herr Gatke, Middendorf, Severtsoff, Homeyer, and Palmen, 
now appeared and stimulated others to action. May the 22nd, 
1875, the General German Ornithological Society met at Bruns- 
wick and undertook a systematic collecting of data. This marks 
the beginning of a national form of investigation. The ornitholo- 
gists of a nation combined their efforts and elected officers who 
could supervise the work to the best advantage. Similar work 
was begun in England in 1879, and in Austria-Hungary in 
1880, while the remaining countries of northern Europe followed 
their example during the next few years (25). 
In our own country similar investigations were begun by Prof. 
Cooke in 1881. Prof. Cooke's field of observation included that 
part of North America ordinarily known as the Mississippi Val- 
ley. All the ornithologists of the district were asked to co-op- 
erate in the collection of data. Although observations were con- 
tributed from only thirteen persons in 1881, another attempt was 
made in 1883 resulting in reports from twenty-six persons. The 
results of these investigations were published in the leading orni- 
thological periodicals of the time. 
In 1883, the year which marks the advent of the American 
Ornithologists' Union, the work begun by Prof. Cooke was 
widened into a scheme of national extent. A committee, with 
Dr. C. Hart Merriam as chairman, was appointed to co-operate 
with Prof. Cooke. This gave a great stimulus to ornithologists 
all over the country, and the list of observers, now nearly 700 
strong, was scattered all over the United States, British Amer- 
ica and Alaska. Beside this the committee secured the co-opera- 
tion of the Light-house board. The field of observation was 
divided into fourteen districts each with a competent superintend- 
ent at its head. With such an elaborate and extended scheme ii 
is not to be wondered at that the results have far exceeded all ex- 
pectations (26). 
24. Baird, Tlie Distribution and Migration of N. A. Birds. Amer. Jour, 
of Science, 1866; pp. 78 et seq. 
25. Palmen, Rep. on the: Migration of Birds. Smith. Rep. 1892, p. 3. 
For accounts of the work done by these societies see Jour. Ornith., 1875- 
1883. 
26. Merriam, Auk. vol. 2. 
