88 Recent Literature. [j"ii. 



way that the Anatidae, the Shorebirds, the Rails and the Herons have 

 received attention in previous bulletins of the Department of Agriculture. 



A brief introduction treats of the economic importance of Gulls and 

 measures that have been taken for their protection. Then follows a 

 detailed account of the summer and winter range and dates of migration 

 for each of the 30 species and subspecies of Gulls, Skuas and Jaegers, 

 found in North America, with the name of the authority for each record. 

 A map showing the summer and winter range of each species is given with 

 several figures of the more common Gulls. 



Incidentally we note that Larus nelsoni remains one of the rarest of 

 birds, only four specimens having been taken, three on the coast of Alaska 

 and one at San Geronimo Island, Lower California. There has been no 

 record of the species whatever since the specimen obtained by E. A. 

 Mcllhenny at Point Barrow, Alaska, on Sept. 5, 1897, which is now in the 

 collection of the Philadelphia Academy. 



Prof. Cooke's publication is a welcome summary of our knowledge of 

 the distribution of the North American Laridse and will prove a valuable 

 work of reference. 



The title may be regarded as a little unfortunate as the Terns are much 

 closer allies of the Gulls than are the Skuas and Jaegers which belong to 

 another family. Limitation in the size of the ' Bulletins ' no doubt pre- 

 vented the inclusion of the Terns, but this fact might have been mentioned 

 and the close relationship of the two groups emphasized. — W. S. 



Gaige's ' The Birds of Dickinson County, Michigan.' ' — This list 

 is based upon observations made from June 30 to August 24. The region 

 is divided into several distinct habitats and the 88 species listed are con- 

 sidered with regai-d to their distribution in these habitats, with notes on 

 migration, food, nesting, habits, etc. An interesting feature of the paper 

 is the consideration of the effect of a severe forest fire upon the distribution 

 of the various species. It undoubtedly drove out many forest loving spe- 

 cies from the area which it covered, but opened up a new breeding area to 

 Woodpeckers, Tree Swallows, Chimney Swifts and Bluebirds, while Vesper 

 Sparrows and Goldfinches were drawn there to feed upon the seeds of weeds 

 and thistles which covered the burned areas, and Sparrow Hawks to devom- 

 the grasshoppers which appeared in abundance. Even migrant Shorebirds 

 were attracted by the cedar and tamarack swamps which the fire had con- 

 verted into open shallow pools. 



The paper contains much of interest and value, although it cannot be 

 expected to cover nearly all the birds of the county. The title on this ac- 

 count is perhaps a little misleading. — W. S. 



1 The Birds of Dickinson County, Michigan. By Frederick M. Gaige. Re- 

 printed from Sixteenth Report Michigan Academy of Science, pp. 74-91. 



