174 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Mar. 



The reports from the use of these boxes are very encouraging. 

 One friend near Hamilton put up several Flicker boxes and had 

 every one of them occupied. He also had Bluebirds and Wrens 

 in the smaller sizes. Another lot of boxes which were put in 

 place on an island in the Rideau Lakes were a source of actual 

 competition among the Tree Swallows, there being more pairs 

 than there were nests, and considering the fact that these birds 

 are almost extinct in south-western Ontario, where they were 

 formerly tolerably common, it would seem an excellent policy 

 to encourage them in the Ottawa district while you have them 

 there. 



The last importation of these BerlepschNe sting Boxes cost 43 

 cents for the Wren size, 55 cents for the Bluebird size and $1 . 29 

 for each of the two sizes for Flickers and Screech Owls. It 

 is expected that the cost this year will be just about the same. 

 I shall be glad to reserve for members of the Ottawa Field- 

 Naturalists' Club any number that they may request and 

 would suggest that in shipping to Ottawa I might make a single 

 shipment to some central point, as otherwise the expense for 

 freight on shipments of one or two boxes would be unreasonably 

 high. 



The birds which most readily use these nests are Wrens, 

 Bluebirds, Tree Swallows and Flickers, all of which are not only 

 worthy of protection and encouragement but are also delightful 

 neighbours. w ^ ^ SAUNDERS, London, Ont. 



BOOK NOTICE. 



Birds of Ontario in- Relation to Agriculture. By 

 Charles W. Nash: Ontario Department of Agriculture; Bulletin 

 218; 5th edition, 124 pages, 48 illustrations. 



A copy of the new edition of this publication recently came 

 to hand. The importance of a study of our insectivorous birds 

 cannot be overestimated. The service they render to the 

 agriculturist, or horticulturist, in feeding upon injurious insects, 

 destroying field mice, etc., and in devouring weed seeds, is oi 

 the utmost value. The author has, for many years, studied 

 specially the feeding habits of our birds, and the results of such 

 work is invaluable. Much original information, therefore, 

 appears in the bulletin; the illustrations are from his own draw- 

 ings. In the discussion of the different species, descriptive notes 

 are uiven of the adult, the young, and the nesting habits. The 

 fact that it has been found necessary to print five editions of 

 this bulletin speaks volumes for its usefulness. A. G. 



