48 JOURNAI, OF MAINE ORNITHOIvOGICAL SOCIETY. 



that this flock was the forerunner of the Bobolink tribe. Do the 

 males always arrive before the females ? It has been my experience 

 in past years that this \?> probably the case. 



Soon after leaving^ the Bobolink caucus numerous Cliff 

 Swallows were noticed. They, too, had just arrived from their 

 southern abodes, and, judging by appearances, they were exceedingly 

 fatigued. They were perched by hundreds in low shrubs and 

 bushes between the Bicycle Path and a flooded meadow just beyond. 

 Some small willow bushes were each occupied by fifty or more 

 Swallows, whose drooping, half-spread wings and open beaks, through 

 which they drew spasmodic gasps of air, were a most eloquent 

 testimonial of the fact that they had just arrived from a long journey 

 and were exceedingly fatigued. O. W. Knight. 



We have received from the publishers, at the request of the 

 author, a copy of Ralph Hoffmann's "A Guide to the Birds of New 

 England and Eastern New York," with a letter asking for a review 

 of the same. Our space is limited this time, but a long notice need 

 not be written to make apparent to our readers the value of this 

 book. For the use of a beginner we regard this volume far and 

 away the best that the book market now affords. It is intended 

 principally as a help to identificatioil, and for this purpose it has high 

 merit. It tells clearly and with scientific accuracy the field marks 

 by which each bird may be recognized, just the little points of 

 peculiarity that we all employ in telling at a glance what bird we 

 have under our glasses. It does not take the place of Chapman's 

 Handbook, but it admirably supplements it. A student who has 

 the Handbook would do well to get Hoffmann's Guide. Every 

 owner of Hoffmann's Guide may have perfect confidence that he 

 will not be misled by it, and he may follow the suggestions given in 

 it with pleasure and profit. 



A Guide to the Birds of New England and Eastern New York, 

 by Ralph Hoffmann. i2mo, pp. 357. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 

 Boston. Price, $1.50 net. 



