"96 Recent Literature. \j&n 



role played by numerous species is distinctly outlined, based on the exami- 

 nation of the contents of their stomachs. The report is made attractive 

 to the general reader not only by the valuable information it contains but 

 by a series of beautiful chromo-lithographic plates, from drawings made 

 by the well-known bird artist Fuertes. The species figured are the Red- 

 headed Woodpecker, adult and young; Northern Hairy Woodpecker, 

 White-backed Three-toed Woodpecker, Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 

 Black-backed Tree-toed Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black- 

 burnian Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Solitary 

 Vireo, Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Blue Jay, and American 

 Red Crossbill, all well adapted for striking effects. — J. A. A. 



Beal on California Birds in their Relation to the Fruit Industry.' — This 

 'Bulletin,' is based on investigations by the writer in California during the 

 fruit seasons of 1901, 1903, and 1906, covering a period of about nineteen 

 months. Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Chief of the 'Biological Survey, in his 

 'Letter of Transmittal' to the Secretary of Agriculture, says: "The 

 investigations embodied in this report were undertaken with a view to 

 the accurate determination of the economic status of every species of 

 California bird that inhal^its orchards, in order that it may be possible 

 for the fruit raiser to discriminate between friends and foes; and for the 

 added purpose of suggesting remedial measures for the protection of fruit 

 from destructive species." Professor Beal, in summarizing his results, 

 insists "that sound public policy everywhere forbids the destruction of 

 birds on a large scale for the purpose of protecting orchard fruits. Whole- 

 sale slaughter of birds in the supposed interest of the orchardist is fortu- 

 nately rare and often proceeds from a mistaken idea of their economic 

 relations. When it is understood that the damage by certain species is 

 local and exceptional, that the birds in question are on the whole benefi- 

 cial and that their destruction will be a loss to the State, the fanner and 

 the orchardist are usually willing to adopt less drastic measures in defense 

 of their crops and to spare the birds for the sake of the general weal." 



After discussing the causes and general conditions of depredations by 

 birds, the birds that injure fruit in California are passed in review and the 

 evidence bearing on the economic status of each is given in much detail, 

 based on the examination of their stomach contents. The House Finch 

 (Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis) is stated to have been the subject of 

 more complaint than all other species of birds together. Yet the exami- 

 nation of over 1200 stomachs shows that fruit is far from being its principal 

 food, which consists mainly of the seeds of weeds, and that a far greater 

 quantity of fruit is eaten by other species, as the Cedar Wax wing and the 



1 Birds of California in Relation to Fruit Industry, Part I. By F. E. L. Beal, 

 Assistant, Biological Survey, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Biological Survey, 

 Bulletin No. 30, Svo, pp. 100, with a colored frontispiece (California Bush-Tit) and 

 4 half-tone plates. Issued Nov. 11, 1907. 



