462 Recently published Ornithological JJ'orks. 



65. ' The Auk. 3 



[The Auk. A Quarterly Journal of Ornithology. Vol. xxi. Nos. 1 & -', 

 January aud April 1004.] 



The first important paper in the January number is by 

 Mr. Walter K. Fisher, who describes the manners and customs 

 of the Albatroses (chiefly Diomedea immutabilis Rothschild), 

 as observed on the Island of Laysan. It is profusely illus- 

 trated by photogravures, and many of the exemplifications 

 of the capacity of these birds for social flirtations and 

 quarrels, dancing, and sham fights are quaint in the extreme*. 

 Mr. A. C. Bent follows with descriptions and illustrations of 

 the nesting of the Roseate Spoonbill (Ajaja ojaju), White 

 Ibis (Guam alba), and other Herodiones in Florida, where 

 the birds are now protected. A continuation and conclusion 

 of this paper, with further illustrations, is to be found on 

 pp. 259-270 of the April number. Mr. Spencer Trotter's 

 remarks on some Nova-Scotian Birds form an interesting 

 contribution regarding a district which is little known to 

 ornithologists ; aud Mr. O. Widmann's paper on the Birds of 

 the Yosemite Valley demonstrates the efficacy of protection by 

 the exclusion of the use of firearms in that area. Records 

 of the occurrence of the Knot at San Diego, California, the 

 Ruff at Rhode Island, and a Sandcrling with rudimentary 

 hind-toes at Ipswich, Mass., are among the General Notes 

 for January. 



In the April number Mr. Breninger has an interesting 

 paper on the Birds of Sau Clemente Island, off Southern 

 California; Mr. Snodgrass writes on the Land-Birds of 

 Central and South-eastern Washington ; and Mr. Eifrig 

 makes a long contribution on the Birds of Allegany and 

 Garrett Counties, Western Maryland. An essay by Mr. W. 

 M. Wheeler on " The Obligations of the Student of Animal 

 Behaviour " is followed by some characteristic correspondence 

 between Audubon in his sixty-third year and Spencer F. 

 Baird at the age of nineteen; these letters being communicated 

 by Mr. Ruthven Deane. Other items are mainly of local 

 interest. 



* For further details see below, p. 466, and 'Ibis,' 1904, p. 145. 



