ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY ENTOMOLOGY. 553 



The bird book, C. A. Reed (Garden City, N. Y.: Douhleday, Page & Co., 1915, 

 pp. Jfl2, figs. 1425). — Brief descriptions are given of 768 North American birds 

 and additional descriptions of varieties. More than 700 North American birds 

 are illustrated in natural colors and several hundred photographs are given of 

 their nests and eggs. 



Forty common birds of West Virginia, E. A. Brooks (In Arbor and Bird 

 Day Manual, Charleston, W. Va.: Dept. Free Schools, 1915, pp. 21-19, pis. 2, 

 figs. 39). — ^This paper gives popular accounts of 40 birds that occur commonly 

 in West Virginia, including their range, habits, usefulness, song, etc. 



Som^e Pennsylvania birds and their economic value, H. A. Surface {Bi-Mo. 

 Zool. Bui. Penn. Dept. Agr., 3 (1913), No. 5-6, pp. 153-216, pis. 11).— This bulle- 

 tin, which deals chiefly with the families including the larks, crows, and spar- 

 rows, is based upon the results of investigations by the author and by the 

 Bureau of Biological Survey of this Department. 



The practical value of birds, J. Henderson (Umv. Colo. Bui., 13 (1913), No. 

 4, pp. 48)- — A discussion of the economic importance of birds, based upon a 

 very extensive review of the literature, 208 references to which appear as foot- 

 notes to the text. A bibliography of 7 pages is appended. 



Some observations on the food of nestling- sparrows, W. E. Oollinge (Jour. 

 Bd. Agr. [Londonl, 21 (1914), No. 7, pp. 618-S23) .—This is a report of work 

 carried on in continuation of that previously noted (E. S. R., 28, p. 450). 



During 1913 and 1914 over 280 specimens were examined, 200 having been 

 obtained in fruit-growing districts and 87 from suburban districts. The results 

 of the examinations of the stomach contents are presented in tabular form. 



" In a single day 100 nestling house sparrows require nearly 2.000 insects for 

 food in fruit-growing districts and about a third of that quantity in suburban 

 districts. Excepting for a few spiders and earthworms, the whole of the food 

 consists of injurious insects." As regards the house or English sparrow, the 

 author finds that it is extremely difficult to arrive at any satisfactory and con- 

 vincing conclusion as to its precise economic status. After carefully considering 

 the results obtained from an examination of the stomach contents of 404 adult 

 birds and of 329 nestling birds and also from an examination of the feces, he 

 is of the opinion that if it were considerably reduced in numbers the good that it 

 would do would probably more than compensate for the harm, especially in 

 fruit-growing districts. 



Comparative physiology and morphology of the arachnids, I, F. Dahl 

 (Vergleichende Physiologie und Morphologic der Spinnentiere unter Besonderer 

 Berilcksichtigung der Lehensweise. Jena: Oustav Fischer, 1913, pp. VI-\-114, 

 figs. 223). — This first part deals with the classification of the arachnids, their 

 anatomy, color, etc. 



Bibliography of Canadian entomology for the year 1913, C. J. S. Bethune 

 (Proc. and Trans. Roy. 80c. Canada, 3. ser., 8 (1914), Sect. IV, pp.. 53-68).— 

 An annotated list of 136 titles, with a subject index. 



Guide to California insects, C. W. Wood worth (Berkeley, Cal.: The Law 

 Press, 1913, pp. V-\-360, figs. 361). — In the introduction to this work the author 

 presents a brief account of the structure and classification of insects. The main 

 part consists of systematic annotated lists of the insects known to occur in Cali- 

 fornia. An appendix treats briefly of the collection, rearing, etc., of insects. 



First biennial report of the Montana State Board of Entomology, R. A. 

 CooLEY (Bien. Rpt. Mont. State Bd. Ent., 1 (1913-14), pp. 50).— This is the 

 first report of the secretary of the newly created board of entomology. The 

 regulations of the board are first presented. A report of the work of the 

 Bureau of Entomology against spotted fever tick in cooperation with the board 

 7700°— No. 6—15 5 



