2 04 Recent Literature. XpSriS. 



Paulista, and on the literature of the subject. The nomenclature is 

 essentially that of the British Museum 'Catalogue of Birds'. The 

 synonymy of the species is given, with a brief mention of their distinctive 

 characteristics and distribution, and the character of their occurrence in 

 Sao Paulo. The number of species recorded as occurring in the State is 

 590, of which just one half are Passeres. — J. A. A. 



Dearborn's Birds of Belknap and Merrimac Counties, New Hamp- 

 shire. 1 — This neatly published list of 175 species is based on the personal 

 experience of the writer during the past ten years, supplemented by other 

 information from reliable observers, duly accredited. Although the list 

 is incomplete, it is evidently trustworthy so far as it goes, and is judi- 

 ciously annotated. The Loon {Gavia imber), Mr. Dearborn states, "has 

 plainly decreased within the last two decades. Twenty years ago they 

 bred every summer at one or more of the ponds which are the headwaters 

 of the Suncook River." They have, however, been so far killed or fright- 

 ened away by "wanton hunters" that none have nested there of late, 

 though they still breed at Lake Winnepisaukee. The Blue Bird was very 

 scarce in 1S95, following their destruction at the south by the severe 

 weather of the previous winter. They were more common in 1896, and in 

 1897 had nearly reached their normal numbers. "This sudden increase,'' 

 says Mr. Dearborn, "is rather puzzling, when one considers that ordi- 

 narily there is no perceptible increase from year to year." — J. A. A. 



Nash's 'The Birds of Ontario in Relation to Agriculture'. 2 — The 



principal groups are briefly reviewed in reference to their influence upon 

 agriculture. The seven pages devoted to the Birds of Prey are based 

 mainly on Dr. Fisher's well known investigations, conducted under the 

 direction of Dr. Merriam for the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The 

 Crows, Jays and Blackbirds are considered at some length, with a verdict 

 that they have little to recommend them from the economic standpoint, 

 their good deeds being in general quite balanced by their evil ones, while 

 the Blue Jay is rather strongly condemned, mainly on account of its fond- 

 ness for the eggs and young of birds much more useful than itself. The 

 Cow Bird is regarded as a pest, on account of the " terrible destruction " 

 of the small, insectivorous birds it chooses for its foster parents, each Cow 



'A I Preliminary List | of the | Birds [ of | Belknap and Merrimack Counties 

 I New Hampshire | with Notes | By | Ned Dearborn. | Presented to the 

 Faculty of the New Hampshire College | of Agriculture and the Mechanic 

 Arts as a Thesis | for the Degree of Master of Science, | June, 1898 | — | Dur- 

 ham I New Hampshire College | 1898. — 8vo, pp. 34. 



2 The Birds of Ontario in Relation to Agriculture. By Charles W. Nash. 

 Toronto. 8vo, pp. 32, with 33 half-tone plates, from drawings by the Author. 

 Reprinted from the Report of the Farmers' Institutes of Ontario, 1S97-98. 



