UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY
WASHINGTON. D. C.
ADDRESS REPLY TO                     ly 1b,1930
CHIEF. BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY
AND REFER TO
Mr. Ido Leopold,
421 Chemistry Building,
University of isconsin,
Madison, is.
Dear Aldo;
Due to my absence and also to the accumulation of things that
reauired immediate attention upon my returnanswers to your several
communications have been considerably delayed
Your letter of April 17 in regard to photograblic work in
connection with the studies being carried on by tessrs. King, Yeatter
and Errington was received in Wrizona. Errington has, I believe been
taking as many pictures as is necessary at this stage of his work. I
have discussed the matter with Yeatter also -.nd he fully realizes the
importance of accumulating good illustrative material. Both he and King
have been so fully occupied with studies of present abundance and general
survey work that their work has not progressed to a point where important
photographic work can be attempted, but this phase will become increasingly
important as they get deeper into their work and begin to recognize
important factors as they encounter them. I know from experience accuired
in the quail investigations that unless one is careful. a great amount
of time can be wasted in taking photographs that have little significence
early in an investigation, while the importance of this work can hardly
be over emphasized during the last part,when one really knows what
is worth taking and what is not. King is the only one i have not fully
discussed the matter with and this will oe attended to- it is something
that should be 3atced very closely-especiL-ly the f.,uality of
photographs taken.
Your memo of -pril 2S, in regard to possible second broocs in
quail was also received. I have no record of a second brood in bobahite
that is satisfactory to me,although exceptions to the general rule of
one brood may at times occur. I have no recollection of the Goleman
record that you speak of. It is probable that hens occas/ionally bring off
two broods, but I believe that this only nappens vwhen the first was
destroyed early in their development and early in the season. 1 believe
that te rearing or   orood fully satisfies the reproductive instincts
of bobwnite,and also twat hile reusbers of a former crood of the se-son
still accompany a hen or a pair that no aurtner inesting activities are
.epted. I hope to sep Ir. Coleman in thX ,e r future and will ass
him about this observation. I auve nu  uori:ation at all as to the
possibility of -econd broods in pheAsants. I am convinced thrt ordinary
obsorvations  i -    are of little value, and that acceptable records
have to in some way be based on individually marked birds. The chances of
nesting destruction LAnd the long period that young Gailinaceous birds
accompany the adults makes a successful second brood appear very unlikely
under average field conditions.
I have thought a good deal about the matter of technique ef