854 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



including a detailed discussion of species belonging to the following families: Mota- 

 cillidae, Hirundinidse, A.mpelidae, Ptilogonatidse, Dulidse, Vireonidae, Laniidse, 

 Corvidse, Paridse, Sittidae, Certhiidse, Troglodytidse, Cinclidae, Chamseidse, and 

 Sylviidae. 



Birds of New Jersey, S. R. Morse (Ann. Rpt. New Jersey State Mug., 190S, pp. 

 29 188, pis. 44)- — This is a general account of bird life in New Jersey in which all of 



the species known t -cue in the State are listed and described and notes are given 



on the habits wit b especial reference to their economic importance. The destruction 

 of birds is briefly discussed and notes are given on the migration and the causes of 

 this phenomenon. In addition to detailed descriptive notes on numerous species a 

 copy is given of a New Jersey law for the protection of birds. 



Saskatchewan birds, II. T. Congdon ( Trans: Wisconsin Ann!. Set., Arts and Let- 

 ters, 14 (1903), pt. .', pp. 569-620, pis. 8). -The observations reported in lids article 

 were made largely during the spring and summer of L902 during the tour of col- 

 lection and study in the Saskatchewan region. Detailed notes are given on the 

 occurrence, distribution, habits, and economic relations of various species of birds 

 observed in that region. 



The economic value of our native birds, H. A. Surface ( Pennsylvania lh pi. 

 Agv., Zool. Quart. /In/., j ( 1904), No. .'. />/>. 37-48, figs. ..'). — Brief notes are given on 

 the leedinu' habits of cuckoos. 



Directions for collecting birds' stomachs, C. II. Merriam (V. S. Dipt. A<p\, 

 Biological Survey ('ire //(J, p. 1). — Brief directions for collecting and shipping birds' 

 stomachs to the Department for examination relative to their food content. 



Protection of seed against crows {.lour. Bd. Agr. [London], 11 | 1904), No. 9, 

 pp. 544, 545). — Brief notes are given regarding beneficial results obtained in Europe 

 from the treatment of seed wheat with mixtures of coal tar, petroleum, carbolic acid, 

 and other substances which render the seed unpalatable to crows. 



METEOROLOGY CLIMATOLOGY. 



The evolution of climate, M. Manson (Science, n. ser., 20 {1904), No. 519, pp. 

 SOI, 802). — A paper read before the Philosophical Society of Washington, in which 

 "in opposition to the modern views which attribute geological climate to solar con- 

 trol and the glacial epoch to astronomical causes, the author emphasizes the influ- 

 ence of the dense aqueous atmosphere which must have surrounded the earth in 

 early times, and the change that occurred when the sun's rays could reach the surface. 

 The ice-age was a transition period between the long periods of earth-controlled and 

 sun-controlled surface temperature." 



Meteorological observations, J. E. Ostrander and <i. W. Patch (Massachusetts 

 Shi. Mil. Huh. 193, 194. pp. 4 each). — Summaries of observations on pressure, tem- 

 perature, humidity, precipitation, wind, sunshine, cloudiness, and casual phenomena 

 during January and February, 1905. The data are briefly discussed in general notes 

 on the weather of each month. 



Meteorological report, 1902-3, 1903-4 (New Hampshire Shi. Rpt. 1904, pp. 

 265-316). — Daily, monthly, and annual summaries of observations at Durham, N. 

 II., on pressure, temperature, precipitation, direction of wind, cloudiness, etc., for 

 the period from July, 1902, to June, 1904, inclusive. The mean temperature of the 

 year ended June .'!0, 1904, was 42.7° F. (for the 9 years ended on that date 45°), 

 precipitation 4(>.9K in. (9 years 45.62), snow 77.1 in. (9 years 58.5), number of rainy 

 days SI (9 years 98), cloudy days 125, prevailing direction of the wind NW. 



Meteorological summary, 1903-4 (New Hampshire Sta. Bui. 115, />. 177). — The 

 detailed report from which this summary is taken is noted above. 



Meteorology, 0. B. Ridgaway ( Wyoming Sin. Rpt. 1904, />/>■ 4U4-). — A sum- 

 mary of observations at Laramie, Wyo., on temperature, relative humidity, dew- 



