° i9i5 J Recent Literature. 519 



As a pioneer publication on economic ornithology for Brazil, this brochure 

 is worthy of attention by those interested in the value of birds in their 

 relation to agriculture. Chapters are devoted to the dangers attendant 

 on extensive deforestation, the function of certain useful birds and animals, 

 the breeding of wild forms in captivity, birds that are useful, animals 

 friendly to agriculture, the usefulness of hummingbirds and bees, predacious 

 insects, and the economic services of domesticated birds. 



Grave dangers are foreseen in the extensive destruction of forests in many 

 areas, not only to the native fauna but to climatic conditions in general. 

 After a few notes on the value of certain mammals the author takes up the 

 question of the birds useful to agriculture, sketching briefly the services 

 of the various orders and families and giving an account of a few common 

 species in each group. Attracting birds about fields and houses is recom- 

 mended by the placing of pans of water and boxes containing grain and 



The Black Vulture is said to do harm in carrying germs of various epi- 

 zootics, on the authority of Dr. H. von Ihering. The other two vultures 

 found (Cathartes aura and C. urubitinga) are apparently not included in 

 this statement. They have been seen destroying snakes. More than sixty 

 species of woodpeckers are found in Brazil. The author remarks that they 

 constitute a " commissao sanitaria phitophathologica " for the forest trees. 

 Attention is drawn to the destruction of injurious ants by Colaptes campes- 

 tris. The Anis are said to destroy many cattle ticks (a belief not yet sub- 

 stantiated in stomach examinations in the Biological Survey). They 

 feed on other insects and lizards as well. The Guira Cuckoo (known 

 locally as Almo de gato) also lives on insects. The illustrations are in the 

 main from photographs of mounted birds. The drawing (p. 35) labelled 

 Ani is apparently some species of Mololhrus. 



In an appendix (pp. 106-118) is a short account of the wild pigeons of 

 Brazil. It includes a discussion of their habits, nidification, food and range. 



Though we may hesitate in endorsing fully some of the statements made 

 in regard to the food of certain species, the author is to be commended for 

 his efforts in behalf of the birds native to his country. Our knowledge of 

 economic conditions in regard to Tropical American species is slight and 

 it is hoped that the present contribution is the forerunner of more detailed 

 investigations — A. W. 



Third Report on Food of Birds in Scotland.— The report upon in- 

 vestigations of the food of birds in Scotland in 1913-1914, by Miss Laura 

 Florence, has been published. 1 It catalogs the stomach contents of 891 

 birds, the total number now examined being 2897. As usual the report 

 is made up 9f detailed analyses of individual stomachs, with brief summa- 

 ries for each species. No general conclusions are drawn. Miss Florence 

 is now at Stanford University preparing herself for a career in Economic 



1 Trans. Highland and Agr. Soc. Scotland. Fifth series, Vol. 27, 1915, pp. 1-53. 



