10 
econoftiic 
In compiling the work on Iowa Birds, a study of the economic phase of 
Ornithology and especially of Iowa Ornithology, is essential. With this 
end in view therefore-every active member is solicited to preserve the 
stomach, with contents, of every bird collected by him, regardless of sea¬ 
son or species. The stomachs should be preserved in ordinary or wood al¬ 
cohol, 90 per cent solution, or in a 2 per cent solution of formic aldehyde. 
The alcohol is to be preferred. 
Each stomach should have attached to it a label written in India ink or 
lead pencil. This label should correspond to numbered data recording the 
locality, date, name of bird, sex, character of place collected, and time of 
day, together with any remarks that may prove of use. Identification 
whenever doubtful should be made certain by saving the skin and num¬ 
bering it to correspond to the stomach. The skin can then be sent in wfith 
the stomachs and after identification will be returned to the owner. 
The Association will co-operate with the Biological Survey, U. S. Dept, 
of Agr. in this work. It is hoped that every member of the I. O. will 
take an active part in this work, and do as much as possible, adding 
thereby both to the reputation of our Asscciation and to the value of its 
subsequent publications. 
Those who are prepared to enter into active, work from now on, and 
those wishing further infermation are requested to correspond immediate¬ 
ly with the Chief of Economic Dept., Wilmon Newell, Agricultural Col¬ 
lege, Ames, Iowa. 
Jl gall to BMW. 
At the Third Congress of the Iowa Ornithological Association held at 
Manchester, Iowa, Sept. 4, 1897, cur Asr.ociation decided to appoint de- 
partment heads to take up special work and aid the Annotation Commit¬ 
tee—these heads to take up four branches, as follows : Economic Study, 
Nidifica.tiou. Seasonable Changes, and Migration, of the last of which I 
had the honor of being chosen Chief. 
J. Eugene Law, Secretary of our Association writes, that regarding mi¬ 
gration, the plan is to make a special study of the routes chosen by the 
birds through Iowa—also a study of Bird Waves. 
□ In the winter of 1881-2 Prof. W. W. Cooke, attempted to secure the as¬ 
sistance of the ornithologists of Iowa in studying the migration of birds— 
changing his residence from Iowa to Minn., necessitated a mcdification of 
