66 The Ohio Naturalist. [Vol. IV, No. 3, 



THE BIRDS OF OHIO. 



Quite recently a neat volume under the above title has appeared. 

 The work contains 671 quarto pages ; the author is William I^eon 

 Dawson, A. M., with introduction and ke3-s by Professor L^'nds 

 Jones, of Oberlin College. The subject of Ohio birds is fully 

 treated both from technical and popular standpoints, consideration 

 being given to nesting habits, recognition marks and distribution 

 of each species. Many of the species are represented by plates 

 made after the tricolor process of photograph}^ and besides over 

 200 first-class halftones add to the value and interest of the work. 

 Most of the photographs from which the halftones were made are 

 the author's own, but it is also a pleasure to note that a number 

 of credits are given for photographs furnished by man}' others, 

 some of whom are or have been students at the university. The 

 volume will surely be an important factor in stimulating the study 

 of Ornithology in Ohio and elsewhere. With the work which 

 Professor Jones has recently done and published in a special paper 

 of the Ohio State Academy of Science, the bird fauna of the State 

 is so thoroughly known that it is not probable that many new 

 records of species will be added. As careful keys have been 

 prepared for all the species taken so far, the Ohio student has in 

 "The Birds of Ohio" a monograph to which he can turn for 

 satisfaction in all local matters concerned with the subject treated. 

 The author has treated the species beginning with what are 

 known as the highest birds, an arrangement which does not seem 

 quite natural, but as he gives good reasons for so doing we do 

 not feel like taking exceptions to the order adopted. The North- 

 ern Raven on account of his shrewdness and dignity is a splendid 

 subject with which to begin so important a work. 



For particulars regarding the work, address The Wheaton 

 Publishing Co., 12 16 The Hayden, Columbus, O. — J. S. H. 



A PRACTICAL DISSECTING TRAY. 



L. B. Walton. 



X'arious kinds of dissecting trays have been described by 

 Hatschek and Cori, Kiikenthal, Dodge, Pratt, Mark, Kellogg 

 and others, all of which, however, are more or less unsuited to 

 general conditions of laboratory work. 



A tray which a])parently meets all recjuirements can be made 

 by selecting a suitable china dish, attaching the cloth called 

 "cottonwool" or "cotton flannel" to the bottom, with the 

 smooth side down, by means of Le Page's glue, and pouring in a 

 mixture of melted beeswax and lampblack. The glue should 



