METEOROLOGY. 729 



number of spiders. During the months of August and September 

 grasshoppers are eaten to the extent of 60 percent of the birds' food. 



The food of native birds, \V. ISaek (Ornith. Monateber., S. ser., 5 (1897), No. 8, 

 pp. 125-127). 



The agency of man in the distribution of species, L. O. Howard (Nature, 56 

 (ISO?), No. 1460, pp. 604,605). — This is the author's vice-presidential address before 

 the American Association for the Advancement of .Science. 



Elements of comparative zoology, J. S. Kingslky (New York: Henry Holt $• Co., 

 1897, pp. 357,ji(j8. 146). — This is an elementary work for high-school and college stu- 

 dents, and has the advantage of combining the valuable features of a laboratory 

 guide with an elementary text-book. Tbe hgures illustrating representatives of the 

 various orders of the animal kingdom or points in anatomy form an excellent fea- 

 ture, although a new one as laboratory manuals go. Considerable stress is laid upon 

 tbe value of leading questions in drawing out the student's powers of observation 

 and impelling him to form for himself the conclusions reached by others only after 

 long and patient study. In the same way his comparative faculties are exercised. 

 When he has finished the work the student should have a very fair elementary 

 knowledge of the structural features of most of the orders of the animal kingdom. 

 Under the bead of comparative physiology a very brief summary of the chief animal 

 functions is given. An equally brief chapter on the morphology of animals deals 

 •with the development of animals, dimorphism, metamorphoses, etc. In a chapter 

 on the animal kingdom it is endeavored briefly to bring out the distinguishing 

 features of plants and animals. An appendix deals with reagents. 



METEOROLOGY. 



Meteorological observations, J. E. Ostrander, J. L. ]>artlett, 

 and A. C. Monahan {Massachusetts Hatch 8ta. Met. Bute. 103-108, pp. i 

 each). — The usual summaries of observations and notes on the weather 

 during July-December, 1807. In addition No. 108 gives an annual 

 summary for 1897, the principal data in which are as follows: 



Pressure 1 (inches). — Maximum, 30.88, March 1; minimum, 29.12, November 9; 

 mean, 30.01. Air temperature -' (degrees F.). — Maximum, 91.5, September 10; mini- 

 mum, — 11, February 1; mean, 46.0.; mean sensible (wet bulb), 43.7; annual range, 

 102.5: maximum daily range, 47.0, October 4; minimum daily range, 3.5, November 

 19; mean daily range, 20.6. Humidity. — Mean dew-point, 39.6; mean force of vapor, 

 0.402; mean relative humidity, 76.4 Precipitation. — Total rainfall or melted snow, 

 57.05 in. ; number of days on which 0.01 in. or more rain or melted snow fell, 127; 

 total snowfall, 52.8 in. Weatlter. — Mean cloudiness observed, 51.4 per cent; total 

 cloudiness recorded by sun thermometer, 2,209 hours, or 50.5 per cent; number of 

 clear days, 108; number of fair days, 109; number of cloudy days, 148. Wind. — 

 Prevailing direction, W. or S. 79° W. ; total movement, 54,220 miles; maximum 

 daily movement, 400 miles, January 26 and February 3; minimum daily movement, 

 11 miles, February 1; mean daily movement, 146.8 miles; mean hourly velocity, 6.1 

 miles; maximum pressure per square foot, 22 lbs., 66 miles per hour on May 10. 

 Dales of fronts. — Last, May 8; first, September 22. Dates of snow. — Last, April 27; 

 first, November 12. 



Meteorological observations, 1896, C. S. Phelps (Connecticut 

 Storrs Sta. Rpt. 1896, pp. 288-290).— Notes are given on the weather 



1 Reduced to freezing and sea level. The instruments are 2,735 ft. above sea level. 



2 Temperature in ground shelter 51 ft. below level of other instruments. 



