v " l l , ) |; ! xx | Recent Literature 137 



\ v.. Mi- ( !<•(>. ( J. Embody records some original data by J. T. Lloyd and 

 \ \ Allen, relating to the l>ir<l enemies of these Crustacea. Ii is stated 

 thai amphipods were Found in the stomachs of the Virginia rail, sora, red- 

 winged blackbird, swamp sparrow, long-billed marsh wren, spotted sand- 

 piper, and kiiij^ cider duck. The las! named !>inl contained 72 specimens 

 of Qammaru8 faaciatus. The Biological Suxvey lias identified amphipods 



ill the stomachs of .".(» species of birds, including <> species of shorebirds, and 



1 1 of ducks. Most of the other birds are marsh-frequenters or visitors like 

 those mentioned by Mr. Embody. The list, includes: the seaside, sharp- 

 tailed, and soiik sparrows, catbird, robin, northern butcherbird, common 

 tern, meadow lark, starling and rusty blackbird. 



A recent paper 1 by Hartley II 'I'. Jackson, comments especially on the 



Sho\ eller I >UCk as an enemy of amphipods, and also lists numerous species 

 of fish which prey upon t hese crustacea. \Y . I;. M. 



Injurious African Birds. The Fourth Report 8 of the Wellcome 



Tropica] Research Laboratories contains two articles dealing with damage 



to grain crops by birds. The first by Harold II. King (p. 98) briefly states 



the importance of I hi' matter It is said that in one province, the losses 



equal one third of the grain harvested, representing i >ney value of 



£70,000. 



The second article (pp. l">7 177) by \. L. Butlei is entitled " The finches 

 and weaver birds of the Sudan, being notes on the group containing the 

 birds injurious to grain crops." The author says " the damage seems to be 



done entirely by I he sparrows ( Passer) and t he exl reinely abundant weaver 



birds of the genera Hyphantornis, Xanthophilus, Quelea, and, in a smaller 

 degree Pyromelana." (p. b">7.) Reichenbach's Weaver (Hyphantornis 

 Uxnioptems)" appears to be the most abundant weaver in thecountry, and 

 it congregates in Hocks which must, literally, often number millions. Few 

 travellers on the White Nile can have failed to notice the immense flights 



of these birds, which look at a distance like great drifting clouds of smoke, 

 and which pass overhead with a roar of innumerable wings like the rush of TV 

 hurricane. This species and Qltelea OStMopiCQ are the most destructive 



birds on the White Nile." (p. 175.) 



Mr. Butler's paper treats '_■:; species of finches, 53 of weaver birds, and 



in a postscript, one lark. The last named damages grain in the unusual 



way of hovering in the air and picking off single grains, but the birds come 

 in such vast Mocks that fully .Ml per cent of the grain is sometimes consumed. 

 — VV. L. M. 



> Bull. Wis. Na1 Htsl Soc, Vol. 10, Nos. 1 and 2. June. 1912, pp 19-60. 

 • Khartoum, 19] i. 



