The Condor/Volume 24/Number 6/Life Histories of North American Birds
LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS
The Editor of The Condor:
Realizing that no one man can know all there is to know about all the birds and that the completeness of the Life Histories of North American Birds depends on the cooperation which the author receives from others, I wish to make this report of progress and appeal to your readers for contributions, trusting that you will find the space to publish it at an early date.
Two volumes have been published and the third, containing the Petrels and Pelicans and their allies, is printed and should soon be out. The manuscript for the fourth volume, containing the Ducks, up to and including the Ring-necked Duck, is now in Washington in finished form and ready. for publication. It is not too late to add to this, when I correct the galley proof, any notes of importance on habits or distribution, and not too late to substitute any particularly fine photographs for those that I have already selected.
I am now at work on the fifth volume, which will contain the remainder of the Ducks and the Geese and Swans. I expect to finish this during the winter and send it to the publishers in the spring. The life histories are practically all written, subject to revision, but the photographs have not been selected.
I have no notes on the courtship of the American and White-winged Scoters or of any of the Geese, except the Canada, or on any of the Swans or Tree Ducks. I have no nesting photographs of Harlequin Duck, Barrow Golden-eye, any Geese except White-fronted and Canada, any Swans, or any Tree Ducks. I should be glad to receive contributions of notes or photographs to fill in any of these gaps. Or I should be glad to correspond with anyone who has anything else to offer. I am, of course, well supplied with photographs illustrating nests, eggs and young of all the common species, but there are many gaps still to be filled. I am trying to read everything that is published on American birds, but I have no access to private notes, that have not been published, unless they are sent in as contributions. I shall soon begin work on the sixth volume, which will contain the Herons and Rails and their allies. Contributions for this would be welcome at any time. Contributors will receive full credit for whatever material they send in and, if it is material that I can use, their names will be placed on the mailing list to receive the volumes when published.
Those who have seen the earlier volumes can understand what is wanted. Hoping for some generous cooperation I am,
Very truly yours,
Taunton, Massachusetts, September 13, 1922.