often in broad daylight. Formerly, when Formerly, when lighthouses cast steady beams of dazzling light athwart the sky, migrating birds dashed against the glass of the lights and perished in large numbers. This source of mortality seems largely to have disappeared in recent years, since the continuous light has been replaced in many instances by a series of temporary flashes.

To these dangers may be added the recurring periods of scanty food supply and the never-ending depredations of their bird and mammal foes, including man in the case of game species. Pollution of waters by various means and other man-made death traps also take their toll. With the multiplication of swiftly moving automobiles, enormous numbers of small

birds haunting the highways in some districts are stricken down and their pitiful bodies lie flattened in the dust.

CIVILIZATION AFFECTS THE BIRD
POPULATION

It is comforting to know, however, that civilized man is appreciating bird life as never before and is throwing about the harmless or useful species the protection of the law. Furthermore, in the United States, Canada, and some other countries refuges, which already cover many millions of acres of forest and other lands, are being established in increasing numbers. In winter food and shelter are being provided, especially in times of stress, on a growing scale.

As a consequence of the changed conditions of the country through the clearing of primeval forests and the modern protection afforded birds in the United

States, it is safe to say that there are now more small birds in North America than at any previous time in our history. On the other hand, our migratory wild fowl will never again equal the vast swarms that existed in the early days before enormous areas of water and marshlands were drained.

With so many opportunities to have little aluminum records carried by winged messengers to distant places, bird banding tions to the Far North and of research should invite the attention of all expedistations in regions where wild fowl, especially Ducks, Geese, and waders, breed in large numbers.

Capturing and banding of such of the breeding waterfowl and their young as winter in southern latitudes should also offer an interesting variation to the frequently monotonous everyday routine. Some of the banded birds would undoubtedly be taken later in lower latitudes, thus bringing word to the public of those in remote northern climes and adding valuable facts to our knowledge of the travels of feathered wanderers.

The Biological Survey will take pleasure in coöperating with sportsmen or future northern travelers who may be interested in this work. It will see that they are provided with necessary instructions, numbered aluminum bands, and other small equipment. If bird banding had been developed years ago, we might now have many precious records brought by birds from places in the Arctic regions visited by Greely, Peary, and other explorers.

F

ROM the hands of President Coolidge, Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, first to fly the Atlantic alone, received America's highest award to explorers, the Hubbard Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society, in Washington's largest auditorium, before the most distinguished audience ever gathered for such an occasion in the National Capital, on the evening of November 14, 1927.

The eminent jurists of the United States Supreme Court, virtually all the members of the President's Cabinet, and all the United States Senators and Representatives then in Washington; members of the Diplomatic Corps from all over the world in their full-dress regalia; ranking officers of the Army and Navy; the Director of the Budget; members of the Interstate Commerce Commission, and many other Government officials and noted scientists and private citizens formed the brilliant gathering which did honor to the 25-yearold hero, youngest man to receive the Hubbard Medal or any comparable honor.

FAMOUS TRANSOCEANIC FLYERS PRESENT

With the modest young flyer on the platform, besides the President of the United States, were Mrs. Coolidge, Mrs. Lindbergh, Dr. Gilbert Grosvenor, President of the National Geographic Society, and Dr. John Oliver La Gorce, Vice President of the National Geographic Society. With them were the Hon. William P. MacCracken, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aëronautics, and the Hon. Everett Sanders, Secretary to the President.

Flanking this group were famous transoceanic flyers who had contributed epochal achievements to the aërial conquests of the oceans. And with the aviators sat Dr. Orville Wright, whom many of those. present remembered meeting when that pioneer of the air was in Washington with

his brother conducting the experiments which culminated in launching an airplane from a creaky rail at Fort Myer, Virginia, and thus inaugurating the science which thrilled the world when Colonel Lindbergh flew from New York to Paris.

Every seat in the Washington Auditorium was taken, police guards had to be thrown around the building to keep those from entering who did not have tickets, and six thousand members of The Society saw the historic ceremonies which were broadcast to millions of other Americans. For weeks the offices of the National Geographic Society were besieged for admission to the exercises, and a clerical force had been kept busy explaining to personal applicants, and answering thousands of letters from others, that the ticket supply had been exhausted when the 6,000th fortunate member of The Society had claimed the last available seat coupon.

The U.S. Army Band began playing at 8 o'clock and at 8:35 Colonel Lindbergh entered, accompanied by his mother and Dr. La Gorce. Ten minutes later, the President of the United States and Mrs. Coolidge came on the stage with Dr. Grosvenor. Dr. Grosvenor, in presenting the President, congratulated him, as Commanderin-Chief of all our air forces, on the amazing contributions of the Government's air

men.

PRESIDENT COOLIDGE INTRODUCES

COLONEL LINDBERGH

President Coolidge complimented Colonel Lindbergh's achievement in an address which was continually interrupted by applause, especially when he said that Colonel Lindbergh, after his flight, “determined to capitalize his fame, not for selfish aggrandizement, but for the promotion of the art he loves," and again when he referred to him as "this courageous, clear-headed, sure-handed youth, whose

DR. GROSVENOR PRESENTS THE PRESIDENT

Dr. Grosvenor, in presenting President Coolidge, said:

"Mr. President, Mrs. Coolidge, members of the National Geographic Society: “During the last four years American navigators of the air, with bewildering rapidity, have made voyage after voyage of amazing importance.

"The first round-the-world flight, the first North Polar flight, the first circumnavigation by air of Central and South America, the first flights to Hawaii, the first flight from New York to Tokyo via Europe, the first, second, and third transatlantic flights from New York to Europe

in one summer! And world records for altitude attained in a plane and for millions of miles flown with air mail without accident!

"To the greatest of these achievements the National Geographic Society has now assembled to pay tribute.

"In order that the acknowledgment to our dauntless young navigator may be truly national, our warm-hearted Chief Magistrate has generously honored us by his presence.

"In every one of these outstanding voyages, so fruitful in scientific knowledge, the aviators were men trained, developed, inspired in the Government Service.

"And so to you, Mr. President, the Commander-in-Chief of all of our air forces, whose clear, practical, constructive program has guided, encouraged, and stimulated an air conquest that is phenomenal, the members of the National Geographic Society throughout the Nation extend most earnest and respectful congratulations.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States."

PRESIDENT COOLIDGE LAUDS THE AIR HERO

President Coolidge spoke as follows: "Fellow Countrymen :

"Transportation and communication are essential to civilization. Within the year an encouragement has been given to their development that has few parallels in history. The principles of aviation were demonstrated first by Americans at the turn of the last century. In the intervening years their science progressed, both here and abroad. Important flights were made.

"It remained for one of our own citizens in May, 1927, to arouse universal interest in the practical possibilities of travel through the air. His flight, alone and unaided, from New York to Paris thrilled the world. It appealed to the imagination of humanity. How the hero of this exploit was revealed, not as a reckless adventurer, but as an able, sober-minded, modest young man of high and unselfish. purpose, has now passed into history. What he did to strengthen the cordial relations between our people and Europe is well known. The wonderful and sincere welcome he received abroad, the acclaim that greeted him at home, are still fresh in the public mind.

"But that was not all. With a clear conception of public service, he determined to capitalize his fame, not for selfish aggrandizement, but for the promotion of the art he loves. He was unmoved by the many opportunities for private gain. The flight to Europe was spectacular. It stirred the heart of the people. But foremost in his mind was the permanent good that might come from thus having directed public thought to human flight. This courageous, clear-headed, sure-handed youth, whose character had withstood the glare of publicity and the acid test of hero-worshiping adulation, became an apostle of aëronautics. He dedicated himself to advancing the science and practice of aviation.

"Taking little time to recover from the strain of his experiences, he started on a missionary tour of over 22,000 miles. Flying in his Spirit of St. Louis, the 'Spirit of America' visited 82 cities in our 48 States. Only once did he fail to arrive on