Plan to Save the Passenger Pigeon. 
Clark University, Worcester, Mass., Jan. 15- 
—Editor Forest and Stream: We ought to make 
Col. Kuser's generous offer of a reward for a 
wild pigeon’s nest find not only the first, but 
practically every passenger pigeon’s nest in the 
United States and possibly in Canada. In order 
to do this we should call for volunteer awards— 
at least one of any sum from $10 to $100, or 
more—for first undisturbed nest in each State 
and Canadian Province. I am practically au¬ 
thorized to start the ball, by offering $100 for 
first nest found in Massachusetts. Mr. Mershon 
writes me under date of Dec. 28 ult. that he 
withdraws his offer of $25 for a freshly killed 
pair of the birds, and offers $100 for "the first 
location of an undisturbed nest or nesting colony 
in Michigan, subject, of course, to confirmation 
etc.,” and he also offers to confirm the finding 
at his own expense. A complete statement of 
all similar awards will be printed as soon as it 
is possible to get them all in. 
All sorts of reports continue to appear in the 
papers, but for the past fifteen years every one 
that has been run to ground has proved to be a 
mistake or a hoax. After a busy man has taken 
an expensive journey to a distant State to meet 
a man who claims to know the “old passenger 
pigeon as well as he knows his own children.’’ 
and then is shown mourning doves or even kill- 
deers, we cannot blame him for losing patience 
and even hope, and for claiming, as does Mr. 
Mershon, that he does not believe that a single 
live wild specimen exists on the American con¬ 
tinent. 
This should make us all realize that the case 
is desperate. We must “quit fooling,” get down 
to business, know what we are talking about, or 
“keep strictly out of the game.” Here is where 
location of the nest will steady us. There can 
be no excuse for anyone to make any mistake 
in the identification of the birds. He can take 
time to observe them carefully, consult local 
libraries and authorities and so be absolutely 
sure. 
To insure good faith it ought to be under¬ 
stood that the informant agrees to pay expenses 
of confirming party, if the birds do not prove to 
be passenger pigeons. In any case, if two or 
more reports come in at the same time, that 
one will be investigated first which incloses a 
check or P. O. (of, say, $10) with definite agree¬ 
ment to forfeit, if mistaken in the birds. 
It is a mere matter of common sense to ask 
that the information be exclusive and confiden¬ 
tial. The one who finds the nest shou’d get the 
award. He may, of course, obtain such assist¬ 
ance in identifying the birds as he may need, 
but we must avoid any conflicting claims or 
squabbles, and if the find were published some 
skin and egg hunter might “collect” it. 
No one connected with this movement wishes 
to obtain possession of the birds, but every effort 
will be made to insure their safety and preserva¬ 
tion; in fact, the demand for an undisturbed 
nest ought tc work for the most careful conser¬ 
vation of every'specimen discovered on the con¬ 
tinent. With a species ranging so widely, the 
requirement of a freshly killed bird might lead 
to killing a considerable flock if each man who 
tried for the award shot but a single bird. Now, 
if a man finds a flock, or even a pair, feeding on 
his place, he can afford to put down a bed of 
corn or screenings with some salt and thus try 
to induce them to remain and nest. And aside 
from all awards the effort to save to America 
and to the world the finest species of pigeon ever 
developed must appeal to all as something worth 
working for. 
I have developed the following plan of cam¬ 
paign for the present and have to start with: 
1. A letter file devoted to this topic. 
2. A large wall map of North America, in 
which to insert: 
(a) Pins bearing red arrows where flocks are 
reported, giving number of birds and direction 
of flight. 
(b) Pins with black cards at localities where 
pigeons have been reported killed since 1908, with 
number and date. 
(c) Pins bearing white cards for experts who 
are willing to go out and confirm a report in 
their State or district. 
(d) Pins with blue labels for nests reported. 
(e) Pins with gold labels for nests that are 
confirmed. 
(if) Plain black pins for address of every 
person who wishes to join the Passenger Pigeon 
Restoration Club of America, in case nests are 
discovered. 
3. A card index with references to literature. 
4. An assistant to help in correspondence and 
in the clerical work. 
I wdsh to ask for appropriate correspondence 
on all the above topics, which may forward the 
work either of discovery or organization. There 
is no fund available for defraying the expenses 
of those who may be called upon to confirm re¬ 
ports of nests, but if not otherwise provided for 
the undersigned is willing to pay such expenses 
up to $100, and he asks ornithologists- or men 
who are familiar with the birds to send in their 
names and addresses from all parts of the coun¬ 
try and state exactly what they are willing to 
do. It is hoped to secure a sufficient number of 
good names of those who are interested in the 
cause to the extent of being willing to contribute 
their time and defray their own traveling ex¬ 
penses, but no one should hesitate to send in his 
name because unable to do this. 
Finally, anyone willing to volunteer an award 
for the first undisturbed nest discovered in his 
own State, county or section should send in his 
name and address, stating amount offered, con¬ 
ditions, etc., as soon as possible in order that a 
complete list of such awards may be issued with 
the next notice in February. It will be under¬ 
stood that the first offer from any State will 
cover the first nest located under the conditions 
of the offer, the second offer to cover the second 
nest, and so on. 
Let us “play ball.” ‘ C. F. Hodge. 
Caribou Migration in the North. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
A recent newspaper dispatch from Dawson in 
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer tells of the annual 
caribou “trek” in Alaska as follows: 
“Bill Stoner, who is leaving the ‘Thirty-Mile’ 
roadhouse on the Glacier trail, which he will 
open for the winter, reports that the caribou 
herd in that direction is moving northward, and 
is far out. For a time it was within twenty 
miles of Dawson, but is now said to be twenty 
miles out. 
“It is estimated by Bill that there are 5,000 
caribou in the herd. Stoner and Billings, whose 
teams happen to be on the West Dawson side, 
are planning to haul the caribou to town. The 
Indians have been bringing in considerable of 
late with dogs. 
“John Parker who brought down a supply of 
caribou from White River, estimates that the 
herd west of Dawson is not nearly as large as 
some think. He believes it cannot exceed 700. 
Clare Faulkner got eight, and says that each 
was found a mile apart. 
“On the Sixty-Mile River last year the herd 
was weeks in crossing and those who watched 
them during all the time said the total must have 
run into the hundreds of thousand, wffiile some 
thought a half a million to a million would not 
be putting it too strong.” R. M. 
[No more interesting description of the migra¬ 
tion of the caribou of the North has ever been 
printed than that given by Warburton Pike, in 
his fascinating book entitled, “The Barren 
Ground of Northern Canada,” which we quote: 
“With the increasing depth of snow there was 
a noticeable migration of life from the Barren 
Ground. Ptarmigan came literally in thousands, 
while the tracks of wolves, wolverines and Arctic 
foxes made a continuous network in the snow. 
Scattered bands of caribou were almost always 
in sight from the top of the ridge behind the 
camp, and increased in numbers till the morn¬ 
ing of Oct. 20, when little Baptiste, who had 
gone for fire wood, woke us up before daylight 
with the cry of ‘La foule! La foule!’ and even 
in the lodge we could hear the curious clatter 
made by a band of traveling caribou. La foule 
had really come, and during its passage of six 
days I was able to realize what an extraordinary 
number of these animals still roam in the Barren 
Ground. From the ridge we had a splendid view 
of the migration; all the south side of Mackay 
Lake was alive with moving beasts, while the 
ice seemed to be dotted all over with black 
islands, and still away on the north shore, with 
the aid of the glasses, we could see them com¬ 
ing like regiments on the march. In every direc¬ 
tion we could hear the grunting noise that the 
caribou always makes when traveling; the snow 
was broken into broad roads, and I found it use¬ 
less to try to estimate the number that passed 
within a few miles of our encampment. We 
were just on the western edge of their passage, 
and afterward heard that a band of Dog-Ribs, 
, it’ J 
