How important was understanding the environment to 19th century business owners? In 1885, the United States Department of Agriculture established a group to focus on "economic ornithology and mammology." This included naturalist Vernon Bailey who, early in his career with the USDA found himself in the field documenting mammals, birds and plants in many different states.This field book describes the collecting efforts of Bailey through Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia from July through early September 1892. Scientific names of mammals observed are organized by date and place name with botanical and ornithological lists interspersed.
Join us in transcribing this field books which begins with a "Prairie dogs report" and also includes hand-drawn depictions of prairie dogs and "coon tracks".
How important was understanding the environment to 19th century business owners? In 1885, the United States Department of Agriculture established a group to focus on "economic ornithology and mammology." This included naturalist Vernon Bailey who, early in his career with the USDA found himself in the field documenting mammals, birds and plants in many different states.This field book describes the collecting efforts of Bailey through Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia from July through early September 1892. Scientific names of mammals observed are organized by date and place name with botanical and ornithological lists interspersed.
Join us in transcribing this field books which begins with a "Prairie dogs report" and also includes hand-drawn depictions of prairie dogs and "coon tracks".
Vernon Orlando Bailey (1864-1942) was born in Manchester, Michigan. At an early age his family moved to Elk River, Minnesota, where he developed an interest in natural history. Around 1885, Bailey began sending collections of birds and mammals to Clinton Hart Merriam, Chief of the newly created Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy of the United States Department of Agriculture (in 1896 the name was changed to the Bureau of Biological Survey). In 1887, Bailey was appointed Special Field Agent for the Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy. His title was changed to Chief Field Naturalist in 1890, and he remained with the Biological Survey until his retirement in 1933. Bailey's chief biological interest was the study of the life history and distribution of mammals. During his career with the Biological Survey, he made field investigations throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, including intensive biological surveys of Texas, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oregon. His bibliography numbered 244 titles and included scientific monographs, as well as publications for the general reader.
