496 



Notes and Nexvs. [October 



birds in the National Museum, which is desirous of obtaining by ex- 

 change specimens necessary for the elucidation of the Japanese Avian 

 fauna. Specimens loaned to Dr. Stejneger in aid of his work will be re- 

 turned as soon as possible without expense to the owner. 



The Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammology of the U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture, Dr. C. Hart ISIerria^ii, Chiefof the Division, 

 has issued four circulars in reference to the work of the Division. No. i 

 is in relation to the 'Food-Habits of Birds'; No. 2 is 'On the English 

 Sparrow,' and is accompanied with a 'Schedule' of inquiries; No. 3 is 

 'On the Economic Relations of Mammals'; No. 4 is 'Instructions for the 

 collection of Stomachs,' of both birds and Mammals. Dr. Merriam's 

 chief scientific assistants are Dr. A. K. Fisher and Prof. Walter B. Barrows, 

 the latter recently instructor in Natural History at the Wesleyan Univer- 

 sity. Middletown, Conn. 



The a. O. U. Committee on the Protection of North American Birds 

 has resumed its meetings, and proposes to issue soon a short Bulletin 

 on the subject of its work, with special reference to legislation in behalf 

 of the birds. 



Professor Eugen von Boeck, Director of the Central School of Bolivia, 

 member of the International Ornithological Committee, and a naturalist 

 who for thirty _\ears has devoted much time to the study of the natural his- 

 tory of South America, died on the 30th of January, 18S6, in Cochabamba, 

 after a single day's illness from a choleraic attack. His researches were 

 mainly ornithological, and as early as 1855 he published in 'Naumannia' 

 a paper on the birds of Bolivia. His last contributions were papers on the 

 birds of the valley of Cochabamba, published in the 'Mittheilungen des 

 ornithologische Vereins in Wien' in 18S4. ^'^ '^'^^ time of his death he 

 was engaged upon a translation of Taczanowski's •Ornithologie du Perou.' 

 He was also the author of numerous briefer ornithological communica- 

 tions. Notwithstanding many other pressing engagements, he devoted 

 much time for many years to the study of South American ornithology. 



