360 
ANNUAL REPORT. 
birds of Minnesota, when completed, of the most value to the ends 
for which this subdivision of the State natural history survey was 
instituted. I find it no small undertaking to ascertain the average 
distribution of species on so wide a domain, considerable of which 
is remote and some of which is extremely difficult to explore after 
access has been attained. 
I understand better than I did once, why so few competent nat¬ 
uralists have undertaken the life-histories of birds in the interest 
of agriculture. To follow a single species from the time of its ar¬ 
rival until its departure, and record its habits of migration, feed¬ 
ing through all the months, nesting, rearing and protecting its 
young, seems to be task enough for the spare hours of any one in¬ 
dividual, but what of it when instead of one we have nearly three 
hundred. While, however, I am doing this with the assistance of 
all reliable aid which 1 can enlist, there is an increasing demand 
for a correct list north for the use of collectors and for scientific 
purposes in the other states and foreign countries, which I have 
now completed and herewith place in your hands for publication, 
it it shall meet your approval. 
Yours very respectfully, 
P. L. Hatch. 
Minneapolis, October 21, 1880. 
