08/09/04

According to the Knight-Ridder News Service, the inscription
on the metal bands used by the U.S. Department of the
Interior to tag migratory birds has been changed.

The bands used to bear the address of the Washington
Biological Survey, abbreviated: "Wash. Biol. Surv." until
the agency received the following letter from an Arkansas
camper:

Dear Sirs:

While camping last week I shot one of your birds. I
think it was a crow. I followed the cooking instructions
on the leg tag and I want to tell you it was horrible.

The bands are now marked Fish and Wildlife Service.