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IIS RecenJ Literature. [j ftn 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



Forbush on the Game Birds. Wild-Fowl and Shore Birds. 1 This 

 excellent report on the Water-Fowl and Game Birds of the Atlantic coast 

 lias boon written, the author tolls us. with a purpose — namely to sot forth 

 in an authoritative publication the facts in connection with the alarming 

 decrease in the numbers of these birds in recent years and the imperative 

 need of concerted efforts for their preservation. Those who read Mr. For- 

 bush's report, -and everyone interested in game protection should do so 

 — will agree that his purpose has boon admirably accomplished. Not only 

 in Massachusetts but in all of our eastern maritime states this book will 

 be available as an incontrovertible argument against those who come for- 

 ward to oppose legislative restrictions to gunning privileges, and who claim 

 that game is not decreasing or that spring shooting has nothing to do with 

 the problem, 



Mr Forbush cites reliable authors from early colonial times to the present 

 day in sketching the history of each species, and in the ma ; ty of cases 

 it is a history of decrease in numbers and abandoning of former brooding 

 grounds, if not of threatened or actual extinction over at least part of the 

 former range. 



In addition, scores of reliable correspondents have - -plemented the 

 accounts, by furnishing valuable unpublished information drawn from 

 their personal experiences. 



besides the history, each speeies is fully described in .11 the plumages 

 in which it appears on our coasts, and a resume is given of time of occur- 

 rence and present abundance in Massachusetts. The nomenclature fol- 

 lows that of the last edition of the A. 0. V Che it the various 

 vernacular names of the species are added, while the general range, usually 

 that of the Check-l.ist. is given. One unfortunate error in the Check-last 

 which is copied by Mr. lorbush. should have been corrected in the re- 

 cent supplement — namely the use of the name 'Rod-legged Black Duck' in 

 the Hypothetical last in connection with A - stristis The name 

 tristis was not proposed for the red-legged bird but for the 'ordinary 1 

 Black Puck. The former nan I being untenable, the oldest name 

 for ang form of Black Duck is mbrtpes; if there be but one form it should 



i A History of the Game Hirds. Wild-Fowl and SI Massachu- 



setts and Adjacent Suites Including I - Od which have dlsappt 



since the settlement of the country, and those which Me oov hunted for 



vattoas on their ! former abundance and recent decrease in 

 numbers; also the means tor conserving those still in existence Bj 1\ 

 Howe Fort - - » Ornithologist of Mass Illustrated with Drai 



b> w i Bancroft and the Author and Photographs bj Herbert K. Job and 

 others Issued by the Massachusetts Sta-.» tilture Bj 



of the Legislature, 1912, Roy. Svo. pp. i v.\ I 622 plates XXXV] 



