2^oofe ^etosi anb Ctebteto* 



The Book of Birds for Young People. 

 By F. Schuyler Mathews. With 6 illustra- 

 tions in color and 28 in black and white, 

 by the author. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 

 New York, 1921. i2mo, xviii+323 pages. 



Mr. Mathews tells us that by 'Young 

 People' he means anyone from "five to fifty 

 years of age," and his method of presentation 

 seems to be as well designed to hold the 

 attention of an audience of children and 

 grown-ups as any we recall having seen em- 

 ployed. His actual audience, however, ap- 

 pears to be a grandson whom he takes afield 

 with him for a series of walks and talks which 

 carry them through the year. 



His style is far from being prosy or unnec- 

 essarily didactic; at times, indeed, is so 

 sprightly as to verge on flippancy, but the 

 interest is sustained and actors and incidents 

 follow each other rapidly across the page. 



The author has won deserved success in 

 transcribing bird songs to the musical staff, 

 and he here offers bits of rhyme designed to 

 express the rhythm and to a lesser extent, 

 sentiments of bird songs, some of which de- 

 serve to live. 



The ornithological accuracy of the book 

 does not, unfortunately, measure up to its 

 literary quality. There is, for example, no 

 excuse for saying that the small Flicker is 

 "without" red on the nape, that the Mock- 

 ingbird is "always" an imitator, that his call- 

 note is "fo-ree" or that he sings throughout 

 the year. That "fearlessness" is a charac- 

 teristic of Warblers which are the only 

 "species," known to the author, in which a 

 cautious student may stroke the brooding 

 female, will also be news to experienced 

 field men. Many of the illustrations are 

 attractive but art rather than accuracy has 

 supplied a standard for others, and even the 

 widest artistic license cannot sanction draw- 

 ings of birds with wings of from eight to ten 

 feathers. — F. M. C. 



Annual Report of the Biological Sur- 

 vey. By E. W. Nelson, Chief of the 

 Bureau. 8vo, 34 pages. U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



This document, covering the work of the 

 Biological Survey for the year ending June 



30, 192 1, gives one in comparatively few 

 words, some conception of the scope and im- 

 portance of the work of this invaluable 

 Bureau of our Government. In reading it 

 one is impressed, not only by what the widely 

 varied activities of the Bureau saves the 

 nation, but also by the absolutely incalculable 

 losses we should have sustained without the 

 services of the experts that form the Bureau's 

 staff. 



Nor should we reckon the value of their 

 work on the basis of their yearly achieve- 

 ments, but take also in account the vast and 

 ever-growing store of information in regard 

 to the inter-relations of bird and man which 

 has made the science of economic orni- 

 thology what it is today. — F. M. C. 



Community Bird Refuges. By W. L. 

 McAtee, Farmers' Bulletin No. 1239, U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture, Washington, 

 D. C. December, 192 1. 14 pages. 



This admirable leaflet cannot have too 

 wide a circulation. It may be obtained with- 

 out charge by applying to the Department 

 of Agriculture, and we hope that every readei 

 of Bird-Lore will secure a copy for himself 

 and having read it will give it to his neighbor. 

 'Bird Refuges on Farms,' 'Roadsides,' 

 'Right-of-Ways,' 'Community Parkings,' 

 'Municipal Parks,' 'School and College 

 Grounds,' are some of the headings under 

 which practical suggestions are given in re- 

 gard to the creation of conditions which will 

 increase the bird population. — F. M. C. 



The Ornithological Magazines 

 The Auk. — 'In Memoriam: William 

 Dutcher,' by T. S. Palmer, illustrated with 

 a full-page portrait, opens the October num- 

 ber of The Auk. It is a tribute to this 

 eminent ornithologist, who was identified 

 with the early activities of the American 

 Ornithologists' Union, and was the power 

 behind the Audubon Society movement, 

 from its inception until ill health forced his 

 retirement from active affairs several years 

 before his death. "To know William Dutcher 

 was a privilege; to work with him was an 

 inspiration." 



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