44'2 Recently published Ornithological Works. [Ibis, 



Finally, Mr. Grinnell, from the examination of over a 

 hundred skins from all parts of North America, finds it 

 necessary to recognise three new subspecies in addition to 

 the original H. v. vespertina and H. v. montana, which latter 

 is confined to Mexico and southern Arizona. These are 

 H. V. brooksi from British' Columbia west of the Rockies, 

 H. V. californica confined to California and southern 

 Oregon, and H. v. ivarreni from (Colorado to New Mexico 

 and northern Arizona. 



The characters given for discriminating these subspecies 

 are not very marked ones — proportions of bill, width of 

 frontal band and colour-tones generally ; but probably M'ith 

 a large series it may be possible to distinguish the five forms. 

 It need hardly be added that the Evening Grosbeak is a great 

 wanderer in winter, and the ranges given are the probable 

 summer ones. 



Gurney^s Report on Norfolk Ornithology . 



[Ornithological Notes from Norfolk for 1916. 23rd Annual Tteport, 

 By J. H. Gurney, F.Z.S. British Birds, x. 1917, pp. 230-244.] 



Mr. Gurney's Norfolk Notes are published in ' British 

 Birds' instead of the 'Zoologist' as formerly, since the 

 latter journal has now become extinct. The notes also are 

 now arranged under species and general headings instead of 

 in diary form as heretofore — a very great improvement. 



Mr. Gurney has a good deal to say about the Rook 

 question, and does not seem quite satisfied that their bene- 

 ficial actions balance those detrimental to agriculture. 

 Although during the early ploughing they undoubtedly 

 destroy and consume the grubs of many noxious insects — 

 crane-fly, wire-worm, and cockchafer, yet at the same 

 time they do much damage. When the frost comes they 

 attack the wheat-stacks, pull out the grain and straw, and 

 allow the damp to enter. They also grub up potatoes and 

 grain after it has been sown, and do much damage in this 

 way. Mr. Gurney is also very severe on the Wood-Pigeons 

 which have increased so enormously in every part of England 



