408 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



this, 2258 specimens were carefully examined, and it was 

 found that the contents of their stomachs were, on the 

 average, about half animal matter and half vegetable. 

 Of the animal component twenty-three twenty-fourths are 

 insects, and of these five-sixths are of noxious species. The 

 final verdict is, therefore, that upon the whole Crow Blackbirds 

 are so useful that no general war of extermination should be 

 waged against them. While it must be admitted that at 

 times they injure crops, such depredations can usually be 

 prevented. On the other hand, by destroying insects they 

 do incalculable good. 



72. Beat on the Food of Woodpeckers. 



[Preliminary Report on the Food of Woodpeckers. By F. E. L. Beal. 

 U.S. Dept. of Agricult. ; Ornitli. & Mamni., Bulletin No. 7, p. 7.] 



Dr. Merriam has set one of his staff to work on the food 

 of the Woodpeckers generally, and here we have a preliminary 

 report on the results of his investigations. This is based on 

 the examination of the stomachs of 679 specimens belonging 

 to seven species of the Eastern U.S. The crimes alleged 

 against Woodpeckers are that they destroy trees by '^sucking 

 sap,^' and make depredations on fruit and grain. One species, 

 the Red-head {Melanerpesformicivorus), has in some localities 

 developed a most abnormal taste. It is said to enter poultry- 

 houses and suck the eggs, and to prick-holes in the nests of 

 the cave-swallows to get at their contents. Another species of 

 Melanerpes{M. erythrocephalus) is commonly known in Florida 

 as the "Orange-borer," and does a certain amount of damage 

 in the orange-groves. But, as will be seen by Prof. BeaFs 

 careful tables of percentages, all the Woodpeckers eat a 

 large amount of animal food consisting mainly of insects 

 (though in one case the bones of a frog (!) were detected), 

 and they may be fairly classed as doing a great deal more 

 good than harm. 



73. Boucard's 'Humming Bird.' 



[The Humming Bird ; a Quarterly Scientific, Artistic, and Industrial 

 Review. Edited by A. Boucard. Vols. II.-V. 8vo. London, 1892-95.] 



' The Humming Bird,' of which we noticed the first volume 



