abstracts: ornithology 203 



(Cassin) breeds about the Gulf of California; Passerculus rostratus 

 guttatus Lawrence, with which Passerculus rostratus sanctorum Ridgway 

 is identical, nests on the San Benito Islands, Lower California; and 

 Passerculus rostratus halophilus, which proves to be a perfectly good 

 race, breeds at Abreojos Point, western Lower California. For birds 

 so well subspecifically differentiated, the subspecies of the large-billed 

 sparrow occupy exceedingly restricted localities. The most astonishing 

 feature of their life history is the curious migration of at least two of the 

 subspecies, for these travel regularly both to the north and south of 

 their breeding grounds to winter. Such a migration is almost, if not 

 quite, unique, for no other North American passerine bird follows even 

 similar routes. H. C. O. 



ORNITHOLOGY. — Life histories of North American diving birds, 

 order Pygopodes. Arthur Cleveland Bent. Bull. U. S. Nat. 

 Mus. 107: 1-13, 1-245. P^s. 1-55. 



The work on the life histories of North American birds begun by 

 Major Charles E- Bendire has remained unfinished since his death. 

 The present bulletin is -intended in a sense as a continuation of Major 

 Bendire's woi-k, although the method of treatment is entirely changed. 

 This first installment takes up the birds included in the families Colym- 

 bidae, Gaviidae and Alcidae. Information regarding the life histories 

 of the species of these families is particularly desirable, since no modern 

 work treats the North American forms with sufficient fullness. In 

 the present contribution all the available information regarding these 

 groups has been brought together and though original data are used in 

 preference whenever obtainable, these are supplemented by pertinent 

 quotations from literature. Eacn of the 36 species and subspecies is 

 treated in detail but undue repetition is avoided. The method of 

 treatment is decidedly modern, and facilitates reference to any kind 

 of information desired. The account of each bird is divided into two 

 parts, one relating to habits, the other to distribution. The data 

 under the former are presented under the following headings : "Spring," 

 "Courtship," "Nesting," "Eggs," "Young," "Plumages," "Food," 

 "Behavior," "Fall," and "Winter." The distribution, given at con- 

 siderable length under the headings "Breeding Range," "Winter 

 Range," "Spring Migration," "Fall Migration," "Casual Records," 

 and "Egg Dates," reflects the present knowledge of this important 

 subject. Harry C. Oberholser. 



