610 Recent Literature. [ ( A ^ t k 



Report on the Economic Value of Eight British Birds.— In a 



recent report l Professor Walter E. Collinge further shows his reliance on the 

 volumetric method of analyzing the contents of birds' stomachs, and throws 

 a clearer light on the economic relations of eight species of British birds. 

 The Jackdaw although having a bad name like most of the Crow family, 

 is found, on the whole, considerably more beneficial than injurious. Only 

 occasionally is combating it warranted. The Starling has increased enor- 

 mously in England during the past 15 years and consequently has been 

 forced to change its feeding habits. Repressive measures calculated to 

 bring the bird back to its normal abundance are needed; then it is prac- 

 tically certain the species could again be classed as useful. The Chaffinch 

 is not of decided economic importance, one way or the other. It destroys 

 some fruit buds and grain, which it seems to pay for by an equivalent con- 

 sumption of injurious insects. Vigorous methods either for or against 

 the bird are not indicated. The Yellow Bunting, like the Chaffinch, has an 

 almost neutral economic significance. The Great Tit and the Blue Tit 

 are shown to be heavy consumers of injurious insects. Both species differ 

 from the American Titmice in doing some damage to fruit, but the conclu- 

 sion as to their general economic tendencies is, as would be expected, dis- 

 tinctly favorable. Two thrushes are reported upon, of which the Song 

 Thrush is shown to damage fruit, at times, but to compensate for it by 

 insect destruction, and the Fieldfare is shown to be almost exclusively 

 beneficial. — W. L. M. 



The Ornithological Journals. 



Bird-Lore. XXI, No. 3. May- June, 1919. 



The Warblers of Central New York. By Arthur A. Allen (concluded). 



Notes from A Traveller in the Tropics. IV. Peru. By Frank M. 

 Chapman. — An interesting account of familiar species with figures of the 

 White-throated Song Sparrow (Brachy&piza capensis) and the Flightless 

 Grebe of Lake Titicaca (Centropelma micropterum) . 



Purple Finches. By Mrs. H. F. Straw. — Interesting notes on habits. 



Two Thrushes. By T. A. Taper. — Olive-back and Hermit with obser- 

 vations on nesting. 



The migration and plumage notes refer to the Blue, Green and Steller's 

 Jays, with plate by Fuertes, while the Audubon leaflet treats of the Least 

 Bittern, the plate being by Horsfall. 



Bird-Lore. XXL No. 4. July-August, 1919. 



Nature and England. By Frank M. Chapman. — An impressive pen 

 picture of England in spring time and her people recovering from the strain 

 of war. 



1 Some Further Investigations on the Food of Wild Birds. Journ. Board Agr. [London], 

 25, No. 12, March, 1919, pp. 1444-1462, 9 figs, (diagrams). 



