2o4: Recent Literature. [April 



cephala festina) are presented by V. L. Wildermuth. 1 Thirty-one stomachs 

 representing 8 species of Arizona birds were examined and specimens of 

 the alfalfa hopper found in 10 stomachs. The species of birds eating this 

 insect were the Killdeer, Black Phcebe, and Sonoran Red-winged Black- 

 bird. A record for the Nighthawk is quoted from Biological Survey records. 



Bird enemies of midges, especially the giant midge (Chironomus plumo- 

 sus) are mentioned in various recent papers by A. C. Burrill. 2 The species 

 of birds mentioned are the Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Kingfisher, Sand- 

 pipers, Red-winged Blackbird, English Sparrow, and Palm Warbler. 



In his ninth report 3 as state entomologist of Minnesota, Professor F. L. 

 Washburn, includes an article on " Useful Birds found in Minnesota." 

 Paragraphs containing brief descriptions of appearance and habits, and the 

 more important economic information about 21 species of birds form the 

 bulk of the report. Discussion is included also of bad birds, birds of 

 doubtful utility, and protection of planted corn from crows and other 

 animals.— W. L. M. 



Two Recent Papers on Bird Food by Collinge. — In " Some Observa- 

 tions on the food of nestling sparrows," 4 Professor W. E. Colhnge pre- 

 sents a comparative study of the food of juvenile Passer domesticus taken 

 in fruit-growing and in suburban districts. The report is based on exami- 

 nations of more than 280 stomachs, and is a convincing demonstration of 

 the powerful influence of availability in controlling the choice of food by 

 birds. The illustration of this factor is the occurrence of kitchen refuse 

 in 53 out of 87 stomachs of suburban sparrows, and in only one out of 200 

 birds collected in fruit-growing regions. 



The results of the study, on the whole, are favorable to the sparrow. 

 Professor Colhnge " is of the opinion that if this species were considerably 

 reduced in numbers, the good that it would do would probably more than 

 compensate for the harm, especially in fruit-growing districts." 



The second paper in hand is a brief summary of the economic importance 

 of British Wild Buds. 5 The commoner species are classed in the follow- 

 ing groups : 



1. Distinctly injurious — House-sparrow, Bullfinch, Sparrow-hawk, 

 Wood-pigeon, and Stock-dove. 



2. Too plentiful, and consequently injurious — Missel Thrush, Black- 

 bird, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Starling, and Rook. 



3. Injurious, but not plentiful — Blackcap. 



i Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. Ill, No. 4, Jan. 15, 1915, p. 360. 



* By the Wayside, Vol. 13, No. 7, March, 1912, pp. 50-51 ; Vol. 14, No. 6, 

 February, 1913, p. 44; Bulletin Wis. Nat. Hist. Soc, Vol. X, Nos. 3-4, April 18, 

 1913, pp. 145-146; Vol. XI, Nos. 1-2, June, 1913, p. 66. 



3 Fifteenth Rep. State Entomologist of Minn., 1913-1914, pp. 1-19, Co!. Pis. 

 1-3. Also issued as Circular No. 32. 



* Journ. British Board of Agriculture, Vol. XXI, No. .7, October, 1914. 

 6 Nature. Jan. 7, 1915. 



