BIRDS OF WISCONSIN 
By L KUMLIEN and N, HOLLISTER. 
Prefatory Note. — The publication of the present list had 
been contemplated for some time before the actual work on it 
was begun, about two years ago. For some years past we 
have been as active as time from other affairs would permit 
in looking up records, gathering material, and working out, as 
best we could, those innumerable, obscure and discouraging 
points, which constantly multiply before one, when an attempt 
is made to compile an accurate and strictly reliable local list in 
any branch of biology. Our foremost thought during this 
period has been to< perfect the list whenever an opportunity 
has presented itself, or could be found. 
The result of this work has been, not to enlarge the list of 
birds supposed to occur within the boundaries of our state, as 
might reasonably be expected, but actually to reduce the 
number by eight species! Starting in 1899. with a list of 365 
species and sub-species that had been recorded from, or were 
supposed to have occurred at some time within the state, the 
number has fallen away from time to time, until now we recog- 
nize but 357 in all, that we believe are really entitled to a place, 
and are therefore embraced in the list proper of the present 
paper. 
This does not necessarily imply that no new species have 
been added, but rather that many species heretofore considered 
as belonging to the Wisconsin avifauna are found to be wholly 
lacking in any authentic record to prove their claim to such a 
place. 
We have made no attempt at descriptions of birds, nor have 
we gone to any length in discussing their habits. Our whole 
aim and object has simply been to bring our knowledge of 
Wisconsin ornithology, as regards occurrence and abundance, 
up to date, and to present a carefully compiled list of all those 
species and sub-species which have positively been known to 
occur within the limits of the state at any time, with as exact, 
simple, reliable and accurate an account of such occurrence as 
possible. 
The Work Ahead. — Notwithstanding the vast amount of 
work which has been done in the state, the long period of years 
