138 Short Notices. 



(15) We have received the following publications from 

 the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington : — 

 ' Farmers* Bulletin/ No. 230 ; ' Game Laws for 1905 ' ; 

 ' Game Protection in 190-1/ and ' Some Benefits the Farmer 

 may derive from Game Protection/ both by T. S. Palmer, 

 Assistant, Biological Survey, U.S.A. ; Bulletins 21 & 24 

 Biological Survey. ' The Bobwhite and other Quails of the 

 U.S. in their Economic Relations,' and the ' Grouse and 

 Wild Turkeys of the U.S. and their Economic Value,' both 

 by Sylvester D. Judd, Assistant, Biological Survey. These 

 pamphlets are very interesting and serve to show the great 

 importance attached to agriculture and its adherent sub- 

 departments in the United States. The following extract 

 from the letter of the Chief of the Biological Survey 

 (Dr. C. Hart Merriam), transmitting the report on Grouse 

 and Turkeys to the Secretary of Agriculture, will be of 

 interest to anyone : — " From the earliest settlement of the 

 country to the present time these Game-birds have been 

 of great economic consequence. Their value as food was 

 early recognized, and they played an important role by 

 furnishing the pioneers with no small part of their fare. 

 When found by the Spaniards domesticated among the 

 Indians of Mexico, the importance of the Turkey was at once 

 perceived, and the bird was soon carried all over the world. 

 It is only in comparatively recent times, however, that the 

 economic value of Grouse and Turkeys as insect destroyers 

 has been recognised. The results of the present investi- 

 gations should lead to a wide knowledge of the essential part 

 these birds play in checking the increase of noxious weeds and 

 insects and the importance of preserving them and of increasing 

 their numbers." The pamphlet is illustrated by a coloured 

 and a plain plate and gives complete records upon the 

 natural history, feeding, preservation, and breeding of each 

 species in detail. 



The other pamphlet on the Quails is equally interesting ; 

 in the words of Dr. Merriam : — "The chief purpose of the 

 present paper is to consider the Quails in their economic 

 relations to the farmer — relations not so well understood as 



