THE WILSON BULLETIN 
Published at Oberlin, Ohio, by the Wilson Ornithological Club. 
Official Organ of the Wilson Ornithological Club and the Nebraska Ornithological Union (jn 
affiliation). 
Price in the United States, Canada and Mexico, $1 50 a year, 50e a number, post paid. Price 
in all countries in the International Union, $2.00 a year. 60c a number. Subscriptions should be 
sent to Geo. L. Fordyce, Youngstown, Ohio. 
EDITORIAL 
The editor cannot allow the opportunity to pass without expressing 
his sincere appreciation to our retiring Secretary and Treasurer for the 
aid they have given him in the editorial work. It has not been merely 
moral support, but real support in the various functions that make up 
the work of manufacturing a journal like ours. The Club sustains a 
genuine loss because they do not feel that they can continue to serve us 
in this capacity. They have earned a rest. Of course the activities of 
these two officers have not been limited to the aid given to the editor. 
The greatly increased membership of the Club, its improved financial 
condition, and its morale are largely due to their efforts in behalf of the 
Club. And to the new officers we extend a most hearty welcome. Prom 
what we know of them they are worthy successors of two whom it will 
not be easy to equal. 
Our studies of the birds in the winter season have led us to the be- 
lief that at this time many birds are rather narrowly limited in their 
range. Whether this is true of individuals or not can only be accurately 
determined by banding operations. At this season there is so much dan- 
ger that a bird confined in a trap for long will either be chilled or frozen, 
that it seems that the drop-trap is the only sort to use. That is, a drop- 
trap that is sprung by the person who is watching it. Of course it can 
be used about the home grounds, but this does not at all meet the need 
that I am thinking about, although it will accomplish certain results that 
are valuable. May there be somebody who can go out to where the birds 
live during the winter, set their drop-traps there, and learn from these 
operations just what occurs on the outside? That this is a very much 
needed work no one can question. We would like to see it done. If 
somebody will volunteer to lift the editorial burden and carry it, we 
would agree, with keen anticipations, to do some of this sort of banding 
hereabouts. 
