VOl 19of m ] Recent Literature. 241 



Economic Ornithology. — The food of the Horned Larks forms the 

 subject of ' Bulletin No. 23 ' of the Biological Survey, by Mr. W. L. McAtee. 1 

 After a few paragraphs on their distribution and habits, some twenty pages 

 are devoted to an exposition of their food habits and economic relations, 

 and several pages more to the food habits of the California Horned Larks 

 in comparison with those from other parts of the country. The food of 

 Horned Larks outside of California consists of about one fifth insects and 

 four fifths vegetable matter, the latter chiefly seeds of worthless or noxious 

 weeds. The California Horned Larks are found to be almost entirely 

 vegetarian, subsisting largely upon wild oats and waste grain, and are 

 thus negligible as a source of injury to crops, and of no special benefit 

 as insect destroyers. While "the charges made by fanners that the 



Horned Larks eat newly sown grain are confirmed the insects they eat 



compensate many fold for the seed grain taken." The conclusion is: 

 "The horned lark by its services to agriculture earns a right to live, 

 and deserves protection at the hand of man. " The frontispiece, in black 

 and white, shows a group of 'Horned Larks feeding on Amaranth,' while 

 plate ii illustrates 'Seeds of Certain troublesome weeds eaten by Horned 

 Larks'; the text-cuts represent various species of noxious insects these 

 birds help to hold in check. 



The economic value of the Grouse and Wild Turkeys of the United States, 

 by the late Dr. Judd, 2 treats of the food habits of thes^ birds, and also of 

 the 'preservation and propagation' of the Prairie Hens and the Ruffed 

 Grouse. They are all vegetable feeders, but also destroy many noxious 

 insects. Except for the propensity of the Ruffed Grouse to extend its 

 browsing proclivities to the buds of fruit frees, especially of the appletree, 

 they are quite harmless to agriculture, and are of considerable economic 

 value as destroyers of weed seeds and harmful insects. Their commercial 

 and other value as game is of great importance, and has led to the exter- 

 mination of a number of species over considerable portions of their former 

 ranges, notably in the case of the Prairie Hen and Wild Turkey. The 

 Heath Hen, which formerly ranged over Connecticut and the eastern parts 

 of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, is now quite extinct 

 except on the small island of Marthas Vineyard, on the coast of Massa- 

 chusetts; the Prairie Hen has disappeared over much of its former range 

 in Ohio and Kentucky, but has greatly extended its range westward and 

 northward into Minnesota and Manitoba. Dr. Judd advocates the re- 

 stocking of portions of its former range, which he believes can be readily 



1 The Horned Larks and their Relation to Agriculture. By W. L. McAtee, Assist- 

 ant, Biological Survey, U. S. Depart, of Agriculture. Biological Survey, Bulletin 

 No. 23. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1905. 8vo, pp. 37, with 2 plates 

 and 13 text cuts. 



2 The Grouse and Wild Turkeys of the United States, and their Economic Value. 

 By Sylvester D. Judd, Assistant, Biological Survey, U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture. Biological Survey, Bulletin No. 24. Washington: Government Printing 

 Office, 1905. 8vo, pp. 55, with 2 plates. 



