Vol.xxxvij Recent Literature. 137 



in most of the Acts of Parliament upon the subject have been largely of a 

 selfish nature and not for the good of the country." 



" 2. That the majority of these Acts have been ill-considered and often 

 hastily prepared, many of them have been repealed and others frequently 

 amended or modified." 



"3. That no attempt has been made by those who advocate the pro- 

 tection of wild birds, to understand the problem presented by wild bird 

 life. Blindly, and often strongly prejudiced, they advocate protection for 

 all birds, and protection only." 



" 4. That such an attitude is calling forth a deep resentment from those 

 who have to live by the products of the soil, many of whom having waited 

 in vain for repressive measures, have now taken to destroying wholesale all 

 bird life." 



" 5. That the irresponsible advocacy of uniform protection is indirectly 

 contributing more than anything else to the wanton destruction of many of our 

 most useful birds. ' Some of the very greatest friends that our nation has 

 are being destroyed without mercy .... a defensive force upon which most 

 of our prosperity depends.' " 



" 6. That the immediate need of the present is for a wide and compre- 

 hensive Act that will give protection to all non-injurious or beneficial 

 birds, and provide adequate repressive measures for those species which 

 have become too numerous and destructive." — W. L. M. 



Chapman's 'Our Winter Birds.' 1 — Dr. Chapman has the happy fac- 

 ulty of accurately feeling the pulse of the bird-loving public and supplying 

 just what they need almost before they realize their wants. It was so with 

 the appearance of his 'Hand-book' many years ago and his 'Bird Life' 

 and 'Warblers' in more recent years. Still more recently appeared a little 

 monograph, one might almost say a primer, on bird migration under the 

 title 'The Travels of Birds,' and now follows a similar little book on 'Our 

 Winter Birds,' just the thing for school use and for beginners in bird study. 



On account of the comparative scarcity of birds in winter there seems to 

 be a special charm at this season in rounding up the whole bird population 

 of one's neighborhood, as evidenced by the popularity of 'Bird-Lore's' 

 Christmas lists, and this little book will do wonders in teaching the public 

 what birds may be seen in the cold months of the year and doubtless 

 prevent many a mistake in identification. 



On the inside of the covers are small figures in colors of the common 

 residents and winter visitants from admirable paintings by Mr. E. J. 

 Sawyer, which do away with the necessity of long descriptions and permit 

 the author to devote practically all the text to the habitat, habits and 

 characteristic actions of the species. 



The text is divided into four parts, 'Introduction,' 'Home Birds,' 'Field 



1 Our Winter Birds. How to Know and How to Attract. Illustrations by Edmund J. 

 Sawyer. D. Appleton and Company, New York and London. 1918, 12mo. pp. i-ix — 

 1-180. Price $1.25 net; by mail $1.35. 



