518 Recent Literature. Loct. 



than with the Cranes, although it represents a family distinct from the 

 Rallidae. This conclusion illustrates how difficult it is to arrive at any 

 generally acceptable classification of birds, so great do the opinions of in- 

 dividuals differ. Dr. P. Chalmers Mitchell in a recent investigation of this 

 same problem on the basis of osteology comes to a diametrically opposite 

 opinion! (Abst. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, May 25, 1915). The Stone 

 Plover Dr. Shufeldt finds to be probably not closely allied to the 

 Bustards as has sometimes been claimed. On the other hand it shows 

 clearly the relationship between the Limicolce and the Longipennis, and 

 "so far as osteology goes, beautifully bridges across one of the gaps, for we 

 find both pluvialine and larine characters intimately blended all through 

 the skeleton." Dr. Mitchell's views upon this point would be interesting 

 for comparison. — W. S. 



Recent Publications of the Biological Survey. — Prof. Cooke x in a 

 report on the shorebirds points out their value as game and the importance 

 of preserving them from extinction. The Wilson's Snipe, Woodcock, 

 Upland Plover and Eskimo Curlew are the species especially considered 

 and their former abundance and rapid decrease in numbers are reviewed 

 and the causes pointed out. As an illustration of the unchecked slaughter 

 of these birds in the southern States the record of a gunner in Louisiana is 

 cited, who in 20 years from 1867 to 1887 killed 69,087 Wilson's Snipe! 



Mr. Alex. Wetmore 2 has been making a field study of the mortality of 

 ducks, shorebirds, herons, etc., in the neighborhood of Great Salt Lake 

 where large numbers of these birds have died under apparently similar 

 conditions to those which attended like mortality at Tulare and Owens 

 Lakes, California. 



The cause of the trouble has not been positively determined but seems in 

 all probability to be alkaline poisoning from the water. The increase in 

 irrigation it is suggested has taken up vast quantities of alkali from the 

 soil and in dry seasons the water naturally becomes heavily charged with 

 it. Investigations by experts fail to show that bacteria, nematodes or poison 

 from smelting works have had serious effect upon the birds. 



Another valuable paper recently issued is a new edition of Mr. McAtee's 

 'Important Wild-Duck Foods,' 3 which is in great demand among breeders 

 of wild fowl.— W. S. 



Da Costa on the Economic Value of the Birds of Sao Paulo, Brazil. 4 



1 Our Shorebirds and their Future. By Wells W. Cooke. Yearbook U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture for 1914, pp. 275-294. 



2 Mortality Among Waterfowl around Great Salt Lake, Utah. (Preliminary 

 Report.) By Alex Wetmore. Bull. 217 U. 8. Department of Agriculture. May 

 26, 1915. 



'Eleven Important Wild-Duck Foods. By W. L. McAtee. Bull. 205 U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture, May 20, 1915. 



4 Os Pequenos Amigos da Agricultura. Por. J. Wilson Da Costa. Published 

 with the aid of the Secretary of Agriculture of Sao Paulo, 1914, pp. 1-11S. illus- 

 trated. 



