Publications Received. 121 



mourns his lack of opportunity to get away wliere there are birds 

 should read and study this admirable account of field work. 



The period of study upon which this paper is based began July 

 30, 1895, and closed July 24, 1902, during which time "visits were 

 made at frequent intervals and including every month in the year 

 except January." As a basis for determining the food of the birds, 

 the available food supply was carefully studied. Observations upon 

 the food habits were supplemented by the examination of 698 stom- 

 achs. The conclusions drawn prove that the English Sparrow, 

 Cooper and Sharp-shinned Hawks and Great Horned Owl are al- 

 ways injurious, the Crow usually so, and the Purple Grackle fre- 

 quently. The other species are mainly beneficial. 



The numerous illustrations are both valuable and instructive. 

 A map of Bryan Farm, and photographs of localities and special 

 conditions of vegetation and crops convey concrete ideas of the 

 conditions of study. Figures illustrating the percentages of dif- 

 ferent kinds of food eaten during the stages of growth of the young 

 are a valuable contribution to the life history of the several spe- 

 cies so treated. 



Dr. Judd is to be congratulated upon this valuable work, which 

 opens the way for similar studies everywhere. L. J. 



Birds of Fergus County, Montana. By P. M. Silloway, Principal 

 Fergus County High School. Issued by the authority and di- 

 rection of the Board of Trustees, Fergus County Free High 

 School. Lewiston, Mont., 1903. 



This pamphlet of 77 pages "is intended primarily to aid any 

 worker in this branch of natural history, and to extend the knowl- 

 edge of the common birds of this region. It is further hoped that 

 it will be a help to any person who may be interested in forming 

 the acquaintance of some of the birls which escape common ob- 

 servation. While possibly not free from errors, the list is believed 

 to be as complete as present information can make it, and hence 

 will serve as a basis for more detailed and extensive investigation." 

 "In order to make the list usable to general observers, brief de- 

 scriptions have been included, given in such terms as the ordinary 

 reader may understand." 



The frontispiece of an American Magpie is one of the seventeen 

 illustrations of birds or nests and eggs taken from life, the charac- 

 ter of which is good throughout. The pictures were taken by Mr. 

 E. R. Warren and Prof. M. J. Elrod, and speak well for the skill 

 and ability of these men. 



A small map of Fergus county is followed by a brief account of 

 the topography, giving the reader a good idea of the varied char- 

 acter of the county with its 6762 square miles — a small state in 

 itself. A partial bibliography of Montana birds proves that while 



