of the different species are perhaps the most valuable con¬ 
tributions from these state reports. Our own state should 
certainly require license holders to report, because much 
material of value may be accumulated for the future. If 
a Federal license to hunt migratory birds is authorized in 
the future, as now seems probable, very valuable data 
might be obtained. For instance, any downward tendency 
of a species could be immediately discovered, without wait¬ 
ing until it had reached the danger point before applying 
the remedy. If real information as to the status of a given 
species were available, it would be far easier to convince the 
sportsmen, as well as those who make our laws, of the neces¬ 
sity for protection, or in some cases for the removal of pro¬ 
tection. At present we have to work more or less in the 
dark, and we are in constant danger of having some valu¬ 
able or beautiful species alarmingly depleted before the fact 
becomes generally appreciated. 
New England is peculiarly situated in respect to the 
migration of most of our ducks. In fact there is no other 
part of the United States where Western bred ducks, and 
this of course means nine-tenths of all our ducks, are so 
poorly represented. Only on occasional years do more than 
a few straggling specimens of Mallards, Pintail, Green¬ 
winged Teal, Canvas-back, Red-head and Widgeon appear; 
still less well represented are Shovelers, Gadwalls, and 
Ring-necked Scaups. It therefore gives the Essex County 
sportsman a real thrill of interest when he picks up one of 
these strangers from the West, who ordinarily pass us far 
to the West and South on their well traveled routes through 
the Great Lakes, and Southeastward to Virginia and the 
Carolinas. 
Now a word as to the seasons covered by the records. 
That of 1899 was short and began late, from October 28th 
to December 10th. Nearly all the others extended from 
September 20th to 28th into mid-November. In one year 
observations were started as early as September 6th, and 
in another year on September 13th. On three different 
seasons the records reached well into December (December 
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