2 
THE BIRDS OF WISCONSIN. 
represented, and the pleasing results obtained, there are still 
many points on which the information obtainable is entirely 
inadequate. The ranges of many conspicuous species, as well 
as of rarer and more difficult sub-species, are but little known. 
Some of these, especially the latter, can only be worked out 
by the accumulation of series of specimens, migratory and 
breeding, from all parts of the state. Many sections, in fact, 
whole counties and groups of counties, have been but little 
worked. Some of these districts . will doubtless well repay a 
careful observer, and furnish valuable material to throw new 
light on little known problems which now seem so hopelessh 
perplexing. That section of the state bordering upon the 
Mississippi River, the whole southwestern part, as well as the 
more northern counties, are but little known. It is not yet 
possible to say with certainty just what species may be found 
breeding in the extreme northern counties, and the western 
part of our area should furnish several western forms not in 
this list, as well as additional breeding records now hardly 
considered possible. 
We regret that several combinations of circumstances, 
including, as greatest of all, the "lack of time," have obliged us 
to omit from the present paper several subjects of great interest 
which it was originally intended to include in it. These are 
the History of Wisconsin Ornithology, Physiography and 
Bibliography. Much work has already been done on these 
subjects, especially the latter, and it is hoped that they may at 
some future time be presented in another paper. 
Records. — We have included in the main list only those 
species and sub-species which we ourselves are thoroughly 
satisfied have, at some time, occurred in the state, and which 
have records entirely satisfactory to us. Our determinations 
are founded either upon specimens which we have ourselves 
taken in the field, or have ourselves examined in collections of 
others, public or private, or upon records made by others 
whom we have been able to accept as strictly reliable and 
competent ornithologists. Doubtful species have, following 
the usual custom, been relegated to a "Hypothetical List," at 
the end of this paper. 
Classification and Nomenclature.— W«e have followed 
the arrangement of higher groups and the sequence of species 
of the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of North 
American Birds. In the matter of nomenclature, however, 
although following this recognized authority in the main, we 
have in some cases used names not yet acted upon by the 
