232 Recent Literature. [aptH 



to be little influenced by weather conditions. Many species arrive with 

 great regularity, irrespective of bird waves. It is believed that through 

 study of weather maps 'bird waves' can be predicted with some cer- 

 tainty. — J. A. A. 



Montgomery's 'The Protection of Our Native Birds.' 1 — This admira- 

 ble essay considers, successively, (1) the reason for protection, (2) data on 

 the destruction of birds, and (3) the means for their protection. Under 

 these several divisions the author summarizes the leading features of the 

 subject, especially the value of birds to agriculture. Among the means 

 for the protection of birds, he urges emphatically "the spread of accurate 

 knowledge concerning the practical value of the birds, and especially 



among farmers Common-sense talks before farmers' granges and before 



the meetings of ranchmen may prove more efficacious than printed matter," 

 inasmuch as the bulletins prepared by experts seem rarely to reach the 

 farmers, "being consigned to the waste paper baskets of congressmen." 

 The wide distribution of this important presentation of the subject among 

 the people of Texas should result in much good. — J. A. A. 



Oberholser's ' The North American Eagles and their Economic Rela- 

 tions.' 2 — This is a summary of the distribution and life histories of the Bald 

 Eagle (Haliceetus leucocephalus) and the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) 

 with a brief allusion to the Gray Sea Eagle (Halicetus albicilla), which has 

 in North America only a very limited range, being found, so far as known, 

 only in Greenland, on the shores of Cumberland Sound, and on Unalaska 

 Island. The food habits of both the Bald Eagle and the Golden Eagle 

 are considered at length; the former being regarded as "rather more 

 beneficial than otherwise," and the latter as "on the whole more harmful 

 than beneficial." Each species is illustrated by a plate, and the breeding 

 range of each is shown by means of two maps. — J. A. A. 



Cooke's the Distribution and Migration of North American Ducks, 

 Geese, and Swans.' 3 — Sixty-four species and subspecies of ducks, geese 

 and swans are stated to occur in North America north of Mexico, of which 

 24 breed in the United States. Five of the latter are confined to the 

 southern border of the United States and range thence southward, leaving 

 19 as regular and more or less common breeders over portions of the 



1 The Protection of Our Native Birds. By Thos. H. Montgomery, Jr., Professor 

 of Zoology, University of Texas. Bull. University of Texas, No. 79; Scientific Series 

 No. 6, 8vo, pp. 30. 



2 The North American Eagles and their Economic Relations. By Harry C. 

 Oberholser, Assistant Ornithologist, Biological Survey. Biological Survey, Bull. 

 No. 27 — 8vo, pp. 31, 2 pll. and 2 text figures, 1906. 



3 Distribution and Migration of North American Ducks, Geese, and Swans. By 

 Wells W. Cooke, Assistant, Biological Survey. Biological Survey, Bulletin No. 26, 

 8vo, pp. 90. 1906. 



