Recent Literature. 133 



The Rob-white and Other Quails of the United States in their 

 Economic Relations. By Sylvester D. Judd. 



This excellent paper upon the life histories of the quails is ac- 

 companied by a colored plate of Bob-white, and an engraving of 

 Gambel Quail, both by Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Dr. Judd makes out 

 a clear case for the whole quail group, and clearly shows that 

 from every standpoint the birds should be encouraged to in- 

 crease. L. J. 



Special Report on the Decrease of Certain Birds, and its Causes, 

 with Suggestions for Bird Protection. By Edward Howe Forebush. 

 Prepared under the direction of the Massachusetts State Board of 

 Agriculture. 



In this excellent paper Mr. Forebush carefully reviews all the 

 possible causes for decrease of birds in Massachusetts, showing 

 that man is the most responible, and points out ways and means by 

 which the destruction may be checked, if not make an increase 

 possible. L. J. 



Birds of the vicinity of the University of Indiana. By W. L. 

 McAtee. September, 1905. From the Proceedings of the Indiana 

 Academy of Sciences, pages 65 to 202, including half-tones of 32 

 nests with eggs. 



This paper treats of 225 species of birds, which is 70 per cent, 

 of all of the birds found in the state of Indiana. When it is known 

 that the territory over which these 225 species has been found 

 is but ten miles in diameter, with the city of Bloomington as a 

 center, it is a remarkably large list, and speaks well for the care- 

 ful study given to the bird fauna of this region. Migration tables 

 for each species are given, most of them covering several years. 

 One can not avoid noting the great disparity between the spring 

 and fall records, which seems to be common to most migration 

 records. Future work on the migrations should seek to correct 

 this disparity. Copious notes upon the breeding of the summer 

 birds add materially to the value of the paper. The paper does 

 not pose as one containing only new things, but contains many 

 references to former publications. It is much more than a local 

 faunal list, and should prove valuable to students of birds every- 

 where, but particularly so to those residing in that part of In- 

 diana. L. J. 



The Horned Larks and their Relation to Agriculture. By W. L. 

 McAtee. Bulletin No. 23, the Biological Survey, U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture, 37 pages, with two plates and several text cuts. 



This paper brings into prominence the fact that this group of 

 birds is wholly beneficial to agriculture. The curious fact is 

 brought out that the California form Otccoris alpestris actia, eat 5 

 40.0 per cent, of grain, whereas all of the other forms eat but 12.2 

 of grain. But the California birds are not therefore harmful be- 



