^"'ig^^^J /?ece«/ Literature. 2 1 IJ 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



Proceedings of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union. — The Proceedings 

 of the Second Annual Meeting of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, 

 held at Omaha, Jan. 12, 1901, makes an octavo pamphlet of about one 

 hundred pages, published at Lincoln, Nebraska, October, 1901, and forms 

 an interesting and valuable contribution to ornithological literature. 

 There is first an ' Abstract of Minutes ' of the meeting, followed by the 

 ' Constitution and By-laws ' of the Union, and a list of its members, which 

 number: Honorary, 4 ; Active, 63 ; Associate, 36; total, 103. 



The papers read at the meeting occupy pp. 13-101, and are illustrated 

 by 10 half-tone plates and several cuts in the text. The first paper is the 

 President's address, by G. S. Trostler, on the ' History of Ornithology in 

 Nebraska, and of State Ornithological Societies in General.' Concise 

 statements are given of the founding and present status of seven State 

 ornithological societies, including that of Nebraska, based on authentic 

 information evidently gathered at no little trouble. This is followed by 

 some twenty papers, mostly short, besides several pages of ' Miscellane- 

 ous Notes.' The longer papers include 'Birds in their Relation to 

 Agriculture,' by Lawrence Bruner (pp. 18-29); '^ Late Nest of the 

 Ruby-throated Hummingbird,' by Frank H. Shoemaker (pp. 34-38, with 

 3 plates) ; ' Young Rose- breasted Grosbeaks,' by Elizabeth Van Sant (pp. 

 38-42, with 5 plates) ; ' Birds that nest in Nebraska,' by Lawrence Bruner 

 (pp. 48-61), a briefly annotated list of 203 species and subspecies known to 

 breed, with a list (also annotated) of 40 others that very probably nest in 

 the State, and a nominal list of 60 other "possible breeders." A short 

 but very interesting paper on ' A Peculiar Disease of Birds' Feet observed 

 in Central Nebraska' (pp. 61 -63, i plate) is by Erwin H. Barbour. The 

 disease especially affects the Blackbirds, and is supposed to be caused by 

 a mite (Sarcoptes sp.), akin to that which produces horny excrescences 

 about the lips and nose of wild rabbits of the same part of the State. 

 ' Internal Parasites of Nebraska Birds,' by Henry B. Ward (pp. 63-70), is 

 a brief discussion of the general subject, and a statement of the results 

 of the author's investigations. Several short papers give observations on 

 the birds of particular localities, the results of collecting trips, migration 

 and breeding records, etc. The ' Proceedings ' are, in short, made up of 

 excellent material, well presented, and carefully edited, giving ample 

 evidence of ability, earnestness, and enthusiasm on the part of the 

 members of the Nebraska Ornithologists ' Union. The absence of an index 

 is the only point that seems open to criticism. —J. A. A. 



Reed's 'American Ornithology.' — Mr. Chas. K. Reed's 'American Orni- 

 thology, for the Home and School — a magazine devoted wholly to Birds' 



