^^^oi'I''^^] Recent Literature. 553 



he found there. The number of 'island races' described from the Canaries 

 is considerable and our author is thoroughly up to date in his recognition 

 of them and in his use of trinomials in their designation. — W. S. 



The New Nature Library.' — It .seems but a few years ago that the 

 only popular works on general natural history were those of Rev. J. G. 

 Wood and a few others who wTote from a British standpoint and who had 

 but little to say of American species. The publication of a Nature Library, 

 exclusively American, was therefore an exceedingly happy idea. The 

 volumes constituting the original library are familiar to a large number of 

 nature lovers, and ornithologists who, to be good ornithologists, should 

 know something of the other classes of animals as well as of plants, have 

 found them a valuable series of reference volumes. The new thin paper 

 edition reduces the bulk of the set about one haK and makes them handier 

 for consultation. It is to be regretted that in getting out a new edition 

 the groups overlooked in the previous one could not have been included — 

 the salamanders for instance among the vertebrates, and the beetles 

 among the insects, as well as the whole series of lower marine invertebrates. 

 Had the moUuscs been restricted to North American species as was done in 

 all other groups these might easily have been added without much increase 

 in bulk. However the volumes will guide many a student and answer 

 many a question for the amateur for years to come. — W. S. 



Recent Publications on Economic Ornithology. — Two recent 

 bulletins of the U. S. Department of Agriculture deal with birds. ' Five 

 Important Wild-Duck Foods ' by W. L. McAfee^ is pubUshed in response 

 to a demand for a similar publication which appeared some time ago. In 

 these days of bird refuges and sanctuaries it is important to know what to 

 plant in order to furnish food for birds of all kinds. In this paper the 

 ' Delta Duck Potato ' and ' Wapato ' both species of Sagittaria, the ' Chufa,' 

 Cyperus esculentus, ' Wild Millet ' Echinochloa crus-galU and the ' Banana 

 Water Lily ' Nymphaea mexicana are discussed. ' Birds in Relation to 

 the Alfalfa Weevil ' By E. R. Kalmbach^ will be of value to aU growers of 

 forage plants. While at present restricted to northern Utah the pest is 

 spreading and it is well to remember the part birds play in its destruction 

 and also to know that .young chickens and turkeys are an excellent check 

 to the weevils if allowed to feed in infested fields. 



Mr. H. P. Attwater * has compiled an excellent Bulletin for the Texas 

 Department of Agriculture entitled ' Use and Value of Wild Birds to Texas 



1 The New Nature Library. Vols. I-VIII. Doubleday Page and Co. New 

 York. Cloth, .$31.50. 



2 Five Important Wild-Duck Foods. By W. L. McAtee. Bulletin 58, U. 8. 

 Dept. Agr., pp. 1-19. Feb. 7, 1914. Price, cts. 



3 Birds in Relation to the Alfalfa Weevil. By E. R. Kalmbach. 107. Bull. 

 U. S. Dept. Agr., July 27. 1914, pp. 1-64. 



* Use and Value of AVild Birds to Texas Farmers and Stockmen and Fruit and 

 Truck Growers. Compiled by H. P. Attwater. 1914. Biill. No. 37, Texas Dept. 

 of Agr., pp. 1-61. Distributed by the Commission of Agriculture, Austin, Tex. 



