UNITED STATES DEl'ARTMENT OF ALRICULTURE BUREAU OF 3TOLOGICAL SURVEY Washington, D. O. BAN:D.ING NOTES :To 114. April 15, 1925. GENEFJ-J.,, INFORMA:210N- TO COOPERATORS During the several months that have elapsed since. the last issue of these metes there have been a minter of happenirigs of imoorc.ance to the successful prosecution of the Ali - 'd banding work_ . This number should therefore be i ea caref 'OZT interested all coorerators. _To those stations always : in new types of traps we reconimenr3 sec al attention to thto two shown and desCribed. in this ist . -ae. These have been tested. and it is lieved that the,y will be most helpful. -oe- Reports.---At the baAj.nning of the year many well-prepare.d reports -1,7ere received. some beim -;- repleteWith interesting experiences, and it is regretted that space forbi-l.s rotinr, as many of them -?,s is, It must be re-eaphasized, 7T ev r that repeats and teturns should. not be sent in oncars, excap:: for data noted.tefore the original-reco rd of banding is forwarded. Cirs. T :u.1.,.r No. 2'4 and 25 „ he necessity of forwar(2.i.Lg original records T .:rem:Al- • again Failure to. 7 must also be emphasized. 01-if lent cause fore. revocation of the band- ing pe.rwit Tt believed - however, that -TilleY1 Cleopprato; pleaspze. in the bird - q - are taking extrenie mi';`J,EtireS ame .:;q possible. - De_avoided. if Photo.g:Laphs--, excer t nl. ; re ceived the last two or three tvo from C. , ..72,1drit.h,. iilass., showing theba-.-1,..C..77{.2; Testfielci, z-o -1,12,7 14a70ks by A. A, Cr and himself; three fro,--) oss 4 q.'var, 7T, -7 . showing a flock of redpor..s. (.`F:r:, hic-1 trap - -zt three from O. Hoffman,' T,akewcod, I Ohio, showinE his sta,, on by - the shore of of Erie; one from H. P. ijarnS, Knoxville,,, 7.-2; rood of fo- fr om 1. -17, arrf)7/ ha'f.k.s with their bands; ,:;n:-)..r . g.some young red-tailed 'hawks that he bansie6_,. pf and one from John A, re,turn information ; showing comfr.on. tern No. 21rI2G8 banded by NO,TE: - 7.7,-;ter is not a -out', icejdon in any sense of the word, being issued me...el:7 for the in_formatior. of our cooperators, not for general -in a published I.Jaw,er any of the inrorrnation contailied.n this oircul, -..=,r, howe -.,er, 7:)e, expected to give full credit to the na --,Ed and. to -2- him at Anglesea, N. J., on August 3, 1923, and killed at the mouth of the Chumpan River, Campeche, Mexico, during January, 1924. This last photograph was forwarded to Mr. Gillespie from Mexico. Good prints on glossy paper are desired of the Chardonneret and three-leaf clover traps, preferably showing captured birds. Visitors to the Washington office.--Among recent visitors to the Bioldgical Survey have been the following bird banding cooperators: Richard B. Harding, of Cohaseet, Mass„ was in Washington on December 9-, and discussed various types of traps.- F. Satterthwaite, - of Webster Groves, Mo,, called on December 9, and spent much_imein examining records in the bird banding files. On-December 10,. Mrs. E. F., Chilcott, of 7foodward, Otcla., and Mrs. Asaph-Hall, of the Naval Observatory, Washington, D. C., met at the bureau offices. Mrs. Hall is a new cooperator who has recently started her station. Herbert W. Brandt, of Cleveland, Ohio, ras in Washington from January 8 to 11; on January 9. Mr. and. Mrs. Frank: '7. Commons, of Crystal Bay, Minn„ called at the office; and on March 5, S. Prentiss Baldwin. of Cleveland, Ohio, stopped for a. few hours while en route to Thomas/ille, Ga. We are alad to announce that Mr. Baldwin, who has been ill for seveaaI-meathe, jreatli improved and we believe he will soon be again in periect health. STATIONS J. Van Tyne, Of Ann Arbor, reports: that during the past year he has had opportunity to insneet the trapping stations of J. E. Law, at Altadena, Calif.; F. H. Kennard at Newton, Mass.; and of R.-B. Harding, L. B. Fletcher, and C. L. Whittle, at CohasSet, Mass. As a result he has many new ideas to try out. During the conning summer he expects to be in Panama, but arrangements are being made to have his station maintained in full operatiou. Suer-saation "El; with a sliding door trap, has recentlY been installed. Ernest D. Clabaugh, of Berkeley, Calif., in a report of -ethe activities at :his station ,far the period Anril 1 to December 31, 1924, states that fox sparrows were particularly numerous during the fall season and proved interesting subjects for study, as indicated by 'the long series of repeat records. Futtall sparrows aleo were, common, presenting opportunity for interesting studies of their. plumage. M. J. Magee, of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich, has forwarded the record of his station for the last six months of 19j24, sunplemented by an interest- ing summary for the entire year, the whole.leeing rerlete 'pith interesting and valuable observations. A total of 1,374 birds were banded, and 101 - number of birds returns ,noted. Repeats totaled 1,051, and che entire handled was 2,526. 187 English sparrows and 4 cats were destroyed. Dr. A. R. Shearer, of Mont Belvieu, Tex., birds he has banded reports that among other 'a large number of red-winged blackbirds. These birds present a serious economic problem in certain districts and therefore should be banded at every opportunity so that inflrmation may be obtained that will assist in their control.Dr. Shearer is , continuing his observa- tions on diseases or deformities of birds which come to his attention. A recent report from Burr B. Butler, of Whitten, Iova, states that his station enjoyed a highly successfulYyear,' as 110 birds were banded, rith 17 s reneate and 1 retUrn, all resU:i.ting from a.commen drop trap, operated by a pull-strinz in his back yard in the business section of the city. R. E. Horsey, operating at "Roclester, N. Y., retorts for his station for the period June 13 to nacesa)er 31, 1(224 , that four suL- stations have been in service and in adsitioh to banling- a'large number of ne- birds, -ith many repeats, seVeral returns have been obtained, one of -hich, robin 25917T, was the Cause of some desirable publicity through the local press, of -Lich 1..1r. Horsey took full advantage. Frank L. Bishof, of 'Rockport, supplements a recent re - of .activities at his station with scmsen,s Port the habits of the different species of biro s that he has studied, 31rd banaing stations are particularly suited to note data of this and studies made may be important if properly followed - Up. Mr. a ',=.1shsf cotained one bird in most unusual manner. Or. December 31, he nocic -,:i a few bluebirds in his yard drinking water from a hole in the ice in a steel tank. One bird got its feet wet and upon ali6ting on the steel rf.7, iirsediately froze fast. All Mr. Bishof had to do was hold the bird while with his breath he thawed its feet loose. As it was uninjured it was banded and released. Dr. i', 177est, 01 Lafayette, :nd., in a 1,stt3r states that while he is no tryilig to specalize on Psrec:_fles, he seems to be able to capture a great many. Grackles ars a sreces lilsely to yield interesting retarns and it is hoped that cooperators'rill band them at every opportunity. Harold Dlichener, of Pasadena, Calif., started his station during October with five traps in operation. Three of these are of the trio- doorstep t3roe (described it this issue) and the other two are clover-leaf traps (see Bird Banding 176ces No. 13). His first report Vas • by a series accombanied. of photographs. David L. Madkaye, of Tulare, is using traps that are • operated by a false floor and has already captured several birds. Mr. and. its. Frank W. ComMons, of Crystal Bay, Minn., have forward e ed a beautifully preparea report of their aetlaTitAes daring the past season— The totals are as follows: handled; 3,519; new bisds berded, ropeats, 2,0S2; returns, 41. In two years this station has climbed to secand plooe in the number of birds banded, being exceeded only, by Mr. Lyons -station, at Waukegan, Ill, E. C. Hoffman, of Lakewood, Ohio, has established his station in a locality which appears to offer opportunities for experimental work of a character badly needed. His station is ahout 20 feet from the edge' of a cliff on the south share of Lake Erie, Be has already banded- a large number of birds, among them several blue jays, and he is planning to , give special attention to gulls, Geo. I. Hopkins, of Manchester, N. F., revorts carturins- several chipping sparrows on which wood ticks were found. The study of such external parasites and their hosts should receive more attention from station operators. P. Kuntz, of Winnipeg, Man., sends in an interesting account of the ray in which he castueed orioles-last seaspn, A male c? a. Was used as a decoy or "call birl,:f and the trep baited with oranges, laTInanas, meal worms, and rater. One bird that •ereated several times was faund to ha=-7e a nest within a short distance of the traps. In all, 34 orioles were banded at his station, most notable experienae with Roy H.