Sho7't Notices of Ornliliologlcal Puhiications. 221 



The English Sparrow (^Passer domesticus) was introduced 

 into the United States in 1850, and bv 1875 had spread over 

 the whole area east of the Mississippi. 



Dr. ElHot (,*oues made, in 1880, an urgent appeal to the 

 people to exterminate the English Sparrow for the i'oUo wing- 

 reasons : — 



1. They do not perform the work for which they were 

 imported. 



2. They attack, harass,, fight, drive away, and kill native 

 birds much more insectivorous than themselves. 



The bird has established itself as such a pest that concerted 

 action is being taken all over the States to exterminate it. 



This should be a warning to us not to import any exotic 

 species without very careful deliberation. 



22. Annual Report of Transvaal Museum for Year ended 



30 June, 1906. 



The Director and his Assistants are certainly to be con- 

 gratulated upon the progress which this institution — the only 

 one of its kind in the Transvaal — has made during the last 

 year or two. 



The exhibits are in excellent condition, and so far as the 

 South African Division is concerned — which has, of course, 

 the most interest for us — are fairly representative at the 

 present moment. 



According to the Report " 148 birds were mounted, 42 

 made into skins, and 5 nests prepared for exhibition '' during 

 the year. 



The bird-skin and egg collections have been enriched by 

 the excellent collections of Mr. li. H. Ivy of Grahamstown, 

 including amongst the former several rare species, and the 

 latter several new to science. 



23. 8^/i Annual Report, Giza Zoological Gardens, Eggpt 



(for year 190GJ, by the Director, Capt. Stanley S. 

 Flower. 



The total number of species of Birds exhibited in the 



