234 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Adv. Sci. /:«)■:. pp. 698, 699). — In the author's opinion the belief that the winter 

 whitening of animals takes place under the action of natural selection for protective 

 purposes is not well founded. It is argued that this change possesses a deep physio- 

 logical significance. The author noted a distinct sequence in which different parts 

 of the body become white. <>n the whole this sequence corresponds to the parts in 

 which the summer accumulation of fat takes place. 



Attention is called to the fact that the belly of many animals where peripheral fat 

 is thickest is permanently white and that the rump which usually shows the next 

 thickest accumulation of fat is the first to become white in winter. The whitening 

 of the feathers and hair is explained as a loss of pigment due to fat deposition and 

 consequent atrophy. Many instances of white patches of hair, such as white face on 

 the horse and white facial stripes on the badger are explained on the basis that they 

 are located immediately over bone and thin membranes in which the circulation is 

 not very vigorous and where atrophy and loss of pigmentation are likely to occur. 



A handbook of the genera and species of birds, IV, R. B. Sharpe (London: 

 British .1/"*. Nat. Hist., 1903, pp. 391). — In this volume the list of passerine birds is 

 continued down to the end of the family Certhiida?. It is stated that the work will 

 be completed in one more volume. 



Destruction of birds of prey, J. Aguet (Jour. Agr. Prat., n. ser., 8 (190 i). No. 

 35, p. 283). — Attention is called to the wanton destruction of birds of prey and notes 

 are given on the feeding habits of these birds, particularly their agency in the 

 destruction of injurious rodents. 



The protection of birds useful to agriculture, A. Meraz ( Com. Parasit. Agr. 

 [Mexico], Circ. 8, pp. 21, figs. 8). — Notes are given on the economic relations of a 

 number of species of birds belonging to the various families. 



Useful birds on the farm, how to attract and protect them, E. H. Forbush 

 (Ann. Rpt. New Jersey State Bd. Agr., 31 (1903), pp. 187-212, pis. 2, figs. 6).—k brief 

 account is presented of the economic importance of the birds with especial reference 

 to their agency in destroying the injurious insects of wood lots, orchards, fields, and 

 gardens. The majority of common birds are considered as being more beneficial 

 than injurious, and suggestions are therefore made regarding methods of attracting 

 these birds to orchards ami gardens and protecting them in such situations. 



The useful and injurious birds of New Jersey, S. N. Rhoads (Ann. Rpt. New 

 Jersey State Bd. Agr., 31 (1903), pp. 212-225). — In the author's opinion the terms use- 

 ful and injurious as applied to birds have not been defined with sufficient clearness 

 and are therefore used quite loosely. As a rule, birds are believed to do more good 

 than harm with the exception of the English sparrow, and more interest in their 

 preservation is urgently recommended. 



The birds of St. Vincent ( West Indian Bui., 5 (1904), No. 1, pp. 75-95).— A. 

 brief account is presented of the geological conditions of St. Vincent with reference 

 to the distribution of birds. The game birds of the islands are enumerated and 

 described, and a list of birds including 84 species is presented. A copy is also given 

 of an ordinance for the protection of birds. 



[Bird migration] , C. H. Merriam (U. S. Dept. Agr., Division of Biological Sur- 

 vey Circ. 41, P- !)• — Correspondents of the Department are requested to furnish notes 

 regarding the dates of appearance and other facts noted concerning nighthawks, cat- 

 birds, kingbirds, red-eyed vireo, and redstart. 



Bird migration in Great Britain and Ireland, A. Newton et al. (Bpt. British 

 Assoc. Adv. Sci., 1903, pp. 289-304). — This constitutes the sixth and final report of 

 the committee on bird migration. Particular attention is given in a statement fur- 

 nished by \V. E. Clarke to the migrations of the starling and rook. 



Introduction of bats, L. G. Blackman (Hawaiian Forester and Agr., 1 (1904), 

 No. 5, pp. 115-117). — Attention is called to the feeding habits of insectiverous bats 

 and the possible benefits which might be derived from the importation of such bats. 



