218 The Wilson Bulletin — No. G5. 



NOTICES OF RECENT LITERATURE. 



Ou the "Fundamental Bars" in Feathers. This term, adopted by 

 Dr. Oscar Riddle, of the University of Chicago, applies to certain 

 bars other than color bars, which may be found in many, perhaps 

 most feathers. In their most pronounced form they are clearly de- 

 fects in the formation of harbule or even barb elements. The subject 

 has been studied by Drs. C. O. Whitman and R. M. Strong, of the 

 University of Chicago, with special reference to the occurrences in 

 pigeons and doves, and by Dr. J. E. Duerden. Professor of Zoology, 

 Rhodes University College, Grahamstowu. South Africa, with 

 special reference to its occurrence in Ostriches and its possible erad- 

 ication because of its injury to the ostrich plume industry, and by 

 Dr. Oscar Riddle, of the University of Chicago, from a purely ex- 

 perimental stand point. The writer has also given some attention 

 to the subject. The conclusion arrived at by all who have been 

 named above is that these "Fundamental Bars" are due to malnu- 

 trition of the bird during the formation of the feather, and that in 

 at least pronounced cases of such barring, all of the feathers of the 

 plumage which are in process of formation during the period of mal- 

 nutrition will be so barred, often in varying degree. It must be 

 clear that the cause of malniitrition may be various. Experiment- 

 ally the bars may be produced by starving the bird. Impaired health 

 of the bird, due to whatever cause, has also been proved to produce 

 bars. L. J. 



Food Habits of the Grosbeaks. By W. L. McAfee, U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, Bureau of Biological Survey, Bulletin No. 32. 



In a detailed discussion of 92 pages, covering all of the Grosbeaks 

 of the United States, the author concludes that while some of the 

 species eat fruits and grains to some extent, their valuable services 

 in destro.ving injurious insects far outweighs what little they de- 

 stroy for the fruit-grower and the farmer. Scare-crows and wire 

 nettings may be effectually employed to lessen their depredations 

 without resorting to destruction of the birds. l. j. 



