ABSTRACTS • 



Authors of scientific papers are requested to see that abstracts, preferably 

 prepared and signed by themselves, are forwarded promptly to the editors. 

 The abstracts should conform in length and general style to those appearing in 

 this issue. 



ORNITHOLOGY. — Lead poisoning in waterfowl. Alexander Wet- 

 MORE. U. S. Dept. Agric. Bull. 793: 1-12. PI. 1-2. 1919. 



Lead poisoning in water fowl has only recently attracted much at- 

 tention. It results from the swallowing of pieces of lead in the 

 form of shot obtained by birds in the mud of their feeding grounds. 

 As many as 76 pellets of shot have been found in the stomach of a 

 single duck, but 20 to 25 is the ordinary number. The poisoning 

 results from particles of lead that have been ground away in the gizzard 

 and passed into the intestines where they are absorbed. The most con- 

 spicuous symptom is paralysis of important muscles ; and as the disease 

 progresses, the bird becomes unable to walk, and rarely recovers. Experi- 

 ments show that 6 pellets of No. 6 shot are always fatal, and sometimes 

 death results from a single pellet in the stomach. The following water- 

 fowl are known to have been affected in the wild state: Anas platy- 

 rhyncha, Dafila acuta tzitzihoa, Aristonetta valisineria, Olor columhianus, 

 and Limosa fedoa. In addition to these, Nyroca americana has died 

 from the same cause in captivity. Although some alleviation by the 

 administering of magnesium sulphate has been noticed in the labora- 

 tory, there is really no satisfactory remedy yet known for the disease. 



Harry C. Oberholser. 



ORNITHOLOGY. — A revision of the subspecies of Passerculus rostratus 

 {Cassin). Harry C. Oberholser. Ohio Journ. Sci. 19: 344- 



354- 1919- 

 The large-billed sparrow, Passerculus rostratus, has been of much 

 interest to ornithologists, perhaps by reason of the elusiveness of the 

 breeding grounds of two of its races. Moreover, this bird has always 

 presented a difficult problem for the systematist. A large amount of 

 material has been brought together, by which three recognizable sub- 

 species are now indicated. The typical Passercidus rostratus rostratus 



202 



