METEOROLOGY. 961 



5,fi9«ii'">-) — Critical notes and ilescriptions are j^iven of the American Ibrms of tho 

 subgenera Tnturinsand Ictis, and a table showing the a veraj^c cranial measiirenienta 

 of tho 18 species of North American weasels. 



Genera and subgenera of voles and lemmings, G. S. Millkii ( U. S. Dept. A'jr., 

 Divmov of Ornithology and Mammalogi/, JS\>rlh American Fauna, Xo. 12, pp. S4, ph. 



0, fifjs. ^).— The author gives an account of the geographical distribution, habits, 

 nomenclature, history of former classifications, characters upon which the present 

 classiticatiou of the subgenera Microtus is based, and descriptions of living and 

 extinct genera and subgenera. 



North American birds, H. Np:hri.ing {Milwaukee, If'is.: (t. Brnmdir, lSD4-96,vol. 



1, pp. 371; vol. :.', pp. J.IJ, jds. 36). 



The birds of Nebraska, L. Bruxer {yehra.ska .State Ilort. Soc. Rpt. ISDG, pp. 

 9S-17S, Jliju. .</). — .Some notes on Nebraska birds and a list of the species and sub- 

 species found in the .State, with notes on their distribution, food liabits, etc., cor- 

 rected to April, 1896. 



The forest birds as enemies of forest insects, E. Ikmer {Zool. (lurteti, 37 (ISOU), 

 2)p. ,?99-309). 



Crop and gizzard contents of some gallinaceous birds, C. Loos (Monal. dciil. 

 I'cr. Sehut:€ Vilgehi, 21 {1890), pp. 1(]-1S. f>2-5i!). 



Feathered vermin in the Pentland Hills, R. Godfrey (Sci. (ios., 3 (1S97), Xo. 

 S3, pp. 241-243). — Under this designation the author includes tho kestrel, merlin, 

 sparrow hawk, long-eared owl, magpie, crow, and jackdaw. 



Materials for statistics on the injuriousness or usefulness of certain species 

 of birds, E. Rzeiiak (Monat. dent. Ver. Schiit^e Vogeln, 21 {1S9G), pp. Il-IG). 



Sharp eyes: A rambler's calendar of 52 weeks among insects, birds, and 

 flowers, W. H. Gibsox {Xew York: Harper ,f- Bros., lS'9i:, pp. 322, ill.). 



Manual of North American birds, R. Ridgway (riiiladelphia: Lippincott, 189G, 

 2d ed.,pp. 653, figs. 404). 



METEOROLOGY. 



Annual summary of meteorological observations in Colorado 

 in 1896, W. L. ]\Iooke and F. L. Brandenburg ( T. tS. Dipt. Ayr., 

 Colorado Section Climate and Crop Service of the Weather Bureau, 

 Annual Summari/, 1896, pp. 12, charts 3). — Summaries are given of 

 observations on temperature, precipitation, cloudiness, etc., compiled 

 from data collected at CO stations in Colorado during 1896. The maxi- 

 mum temperature observed was 107° V. at Lamar June 14 and Aug- 

 ust 9, and at Delta June 15. The minimum temperature was— 29° F. at 

 Steamboat Si)rings February 4 and Gunnison February 6. The aver- 

 age i^recipitation was l.").()7 in., or 0.81 in. below the normal. "The 

 greatest precipitation occurred at Ruby, where the record for 8 mouths 

 gave 41.09 in., and the least, 3.5 in., at (larnett.'' The greatest siu)\v- 

 fall, 417 in. in 8 montlis, occurred at liuby. 



"On an average 160 days, or 44 jter cent, were clear; 134, or 'M per cent, partly 

 clondy; and 72, or 19 ]>er cent, cloudy. The average niiniber of rainy (lays (days 

 with 0.01 in. or more precipitation) was 61; the gn-atest nnniher, 79, occurring in 

 the mountain districts, and tho least, 39 days, in the Arkansas Valley. Tho jirevail- 

 iug wind during the year was from tho west. Tlie average sunsliine at Denver for 

 the year was 69 per cent of the i)Ossil>le. The yearly average is 68 jier cent. The 

 total wind movement for the year at Denver was 71, 168 miles, and Pueldo, 67,062 

 miles, making the average hourly velocity 8.1 au<l 7.6 miles per hour, respectively." 



