Publications Rixiaxia). 113 



I'UHLICATIOXS KKCKIVKD. 



A Prt'liiiiiiiary Review of the Birds of XcljViiska, with syiiojisi's. 

 By Lawrence Bruner. Robert H. Wok-t)tt. Myron H. Swenk. 



While this long promised "Birds of Nebraska" comes to us as a 

 "Preliminary Review." and therefore mucli ditt'erent in character from 

 whatone might l)ele(l to exjject, seems to l)e welladai)te(l to iis avowed 

 purijose. "A Working List." While it is i)reliminarv in character, the 

 claim of the authors that it "is Indieved to represent exactly the state 

 of our knowledge at the i)resent day." seems to he borne out l)y an ex- 

 amination of th(> list of si^ecies and annotations. The book is really a 

 .series of artificial keys, each key followed by an annotated list of the. 

 species covered by that key. The keys are intended for work with the 

 specimen in hand, and to the writer's mind, will pro\-e somewhat diffi- 

 cult to those unfannliar with this method of identification. They be- 

 long to the older, rather than the newer sy.stem. However, proi)ei-ly 

 used, they will identify. There is a complete index, l)ut we miss a 

 summary of any sort. Such a summary as we find in "The Birds of 

 Colorado," would l)e a valualile addition. The book is bound in cloth 

 and makes a verv welcome and valuable addition to faunal literature. 



L J. 



North American Fauna. No. 28. November 24, 1904. A Biologi- 

 cal Reconnaisance of the Base of the Alaska Peninsula. By Wilfred 

 H. Osgood. 



In this paper of 86 pages, including index, we are given a glimpse 

 of the physical features of the region treated in two maps and eleven 

 half-tones, and in the wofd pictures which occupy a prominent part of 

 the introduction. Some 43 mammals are given as occurring in the re- 

 gion, and 137 l)irds are listed. In compiling the lists, previous work is 

 drawn upon It is of interest to note that the bird list contains no 

 hew si)ecies or sub species. One born to such work cannot avoid a 

 feeling of slight envy of those who are fortunate enough to get out 

 into such remote and interesting fields while lie congratulates the 

 author upon his good work. L. .J. 



A Discussion of the Origin of Bird Migration. By P. A. Travener. 

 From The Auk, Vol. XXI, No. 3, July, 1904, pp. 3-22-3:i;{. 



The author discusses the whole question of migration. l)uf strongly 

 •m])hasizes one point in previous discussions which has remained 

 ol)scure. It is that the necessity for the northward movement was at 

 first brought about land the same necessity continues to tlie jiresent 

 time) l)ythe fa(rt that duringthe winterthe trojiics contain all thobird 

 life they c-an support without the enormous increased demand for food 

 which would result from the appearance of nestfulls of young. The 

 southward nio\cment began because returning cold destroyed 

 the food north. Of course the laws of adaptation and the survival of 

 the fittest must l)e l)rought in to comi)lete the argument. The jjaper is 

 a valuable one in bringing into prominence a factor which must hav(^ 

 exerted a determining influenoe at the beginnings of this vast move- 

 ment, y^. J. 



