Publications Reviewed. 57 



to July, 1910. It seems to iis unfortunate that the A. O. U. no- 

 menclature should not have been consistently followed. Fortunately 

 there is no doubt about what form is meant in any case because 

 both the vernacular and scientific names are emploj-ed. For in- 

 stance, while one might be in doubt about the form intended by 

 the use of Jnnco hyemalis the doubt is at once dispelled when we 

 read " Slate-colored Junco." the vernacular name being as dis- 

 tinctive as the repetition of the hyemalis in the scientific name. 

 The report is most timely and welcome. l. j. 



A Biological Survey of the Sand Dune Region on the South 

 Shore of Saginaw Bay, Michigan. Prepared under the direction 

 of Alexander G. Ruthven, Chief Field Naturalist, Michigan Geo- 

 logical and Biological Survey. Publication 4, Biological Series 2. 

 1911. 347 pp., 1 map; XIX plates. 



The part of this report relating to the birds was prepared by 

 Norman A. Wood and Frederick Gaige. The time spent in the re- 

 gion covered was from June 13 to Avigust 27. 1908. " It may be 

 seen from this itinery that three distinct localities were studied: 

 the sand region between Sand Point and Hat Point, Stony Island, 

 and the clay country at Rush Lake. In the sand region the habi- 

 tat conditions are dominated by the sandy soil. The ridges are 

 covered with open growths of jack pine and the swamps with 

 dense growth of maple, cedar, etc., or with grasses and sedges. 

 The clay country at Riish Lake, on the other hand, is largely 

 taken up with open fields." The listed species are 128 in number, 

 the most of them with copious and interes^ting annotations. S3 

 are given as breeding in the region, with four additional species 

 as doubtful breeders. 



The statement is made that migrants began to appear alx)ut Au- 

 gust 1. This seems strange when we remember that at Point Pe- 

 lee. Pelee Island, and Cedar Point, the migrations were well ad- 

 vanced by that time, the first migrating Shore Birds having been 

 recorded as early as the first of July. The later beginning here 

 on the east side of Saginaw Bay may probably be accounted for 

 by a large body of water to the north and east and the rather 

 Isolated position of this land mass. 



These detailed studies which the University of Michigan is un- 

 dertaking are welcome additions to our knowledge of living 

 forms. L. J. 



The Home-life of the Osprey. Photographed and Described 

 by Clinton G. Abbott, B.A., Associate of the American Ornitholo- 

 gists' Fnion. with some Pliotographs by Howard H. Cleaves, As- 



