JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL .SOCIETY. 69 



The Plumages op the Ostrich. Smithsonian Report for 1910, 

 pp. 561, 571, with plates 1-8. 



This paper deals with the "chick plumage, juvenal plumage, 

 and adult plumage" of the Ostrich, and is reprinted (with other cor- 

 rections) from the Agricultural Journal of the Union of South Africa. 



191 1. Goldman, E. A. A New Kingfisher from Pan- 

 ama. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collection, 56, No. 27. 



This is a southern subspecies of Ceryle americana, named 

 isthmica, having a range from Guatemala to Panama, where the 

 type was obtained. 



1911. Henshaw, Henry W. Migration of the Pacific 

 Plover to and from the Hawaiian Islands. Smithsonian 

 Report for 1910, pp. 545, 559. 



This is a presentation of one of the very remarkable migratory 

 flights, of the many remarkable ones now known to be performed 

 by this order of birds, and it is considered and discussed from many 

 points of view. The points considered under the caption "Why the 

 Plover Migrates" are of very general interest, presenting, we 

 believe, the real reason why birds migrate; first, a failure of food, 

 and second, responding to physiological promptings, returning to the 

 place of birth to breed. 



191 1. Henshaw, Henry W. Report of the Chief of 

 the Bureau of Biological Survey for 191 i. Annual Report 

 of the Department of Agriculture. 



In this report of twenty pages, Mr. Henshaw has stated the 

 work accomplished during the year, and outlined that for 191 2. 

 The amount of work, both done and proposed, is large and important. 



191 1. McAtee, W. L. Three Important Wild Duck 

 Foods. Circular 81, Bureau of Biological Survey. 



Of the large variety of plants furnishing food for wild ducks, 

 Mr. McAtee considers three genera as of especial importance. 

 These are, to use his own order, wild rice {Zizania aqitatica), 

 wild celery (Vallisneria spiralis), and pond weeds {Potomagetcni) , 

 a genus having a large number of species and a wide distribution. 



Though many species of pond weeds are eaten, Potomageton 

 pectinatus, sago or fennel-leaved pond weed, and P. perfoliatus, 

 clasping-leaved pond weed, also known as redhead or duck grass, 

 are of especial importance. The illustrations show the distribution 

 of the plant discussed, figure of the species and of the parts eaten. 



