310 ANNUAL KECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



the ducks and geese, and probably few of the limicoline sj^e- 

 cies, are probably one tenth as numerous now as tliey were 

 250 years ago, while a great depletion has also occurred 

 among the gulls and terns. This great diminution is, of 

 course, not limited to the state of Massachusetts, but like- 

 wise characterizes most of the Atlantic states and some of 

 the older states of the interior. The reduction has mainly 

 been brought about by the destruction of forests, the prog- 

 ress of asiriculture, and the excessive use of the sfun. Bui- 

 letin Ntittall Ornithological Club^ September. 



CATALOGUE OF ALL THE BIRDS KNOWN UP TO THIS DAY. 



For three years M. Boucard has had this volume in prep- 

 aration, which has been published in London. 2456 genera 

 and 11,030 species of birds are mentioned, though he thinks 

 a large proportion of'these genera and species should be abol- 

 ished. The catalogue begins with the Ostriches, as he 

 believes that they approach most closely fossil types, while 

 the Truchilidse are the most recent, and perhaps the most 

 perfect. He proposes a good many changes, among others 

 three new orders. While he enumerates the names of leading 

 European ornithologists from Linnaeus down to Gulliver, no 

 American name is mentioned in the preface. He says that 

 he has examined more than 100,000 skins, and determined 

 more than 50,000, of which he possesses the greater part. 

 Journal de Zoologie,Y.^ No. 4. 



DOMESTICATING THE PKAIEIE CHICKEN. 



According to Mr. James A. Storm, of St. Josephs, prairie 

 chickens, or pinnated grouse, are more easily tamed than any 

 birds of his acquaintance. He has had them eat from his 

 hand in the space of five or six days from the time they were 

 caught. They will also breed while confined, if provided 

 with a suitable run. He proposes this year to try the ex- 

 periment of domesticating and breeding them, and thinks 

 they can be raised to great advantage. One object of his 

 experiment is to obtain a cross between them and the 

 bantam. This, he thinks, will give the bantam more stami- 

 na and hardness, making it less liable to disease, as well as 

 tending to keep it of the diminutive size so much sought 

 after. If crossed by the Dominique bantam, he thinks the 



