Recently published Ornithological Works. 369 



it by Hartlaub — its original describer. But we know that 

 the localities of the a Maison Verreaux," from which Hartlaub 

 received his specimen, are not always to be relied upon. 



We thank M. Dubois for this valuable contribution to 

 the Ethiopian Avifauna, but, as he himself admits, our 

 knowledge of the birds of this vast tract of land is still quite 

 in its infancy. 



37. Ilauer, Soos, and Csorgey on the Rook. 



[Die landwirthschaftliche Bedeutung der Saatkrahe. Reprinted from 

 Aqnila, xi. (1904), pp. 353-359, with two maps and a table.] 



This memoir consists of three articles, in Hungarian and 

 German, on the old question of the utility of the Rook, 

 written for the Hungarian Central Ornithological Office at 

 the instigation of Herr Otto Herman, who, in his Preface, 

 emphasizes the need of checking laboratory work by field- 

 observations. Herr B. Ilauer opens the discussion with an 

 account of a full year's investigation conducted ou his estate 

 at Kisharta during 1902, when he examined the contents of 

 the stomachs of a large number of birds. His conclusion is 

 that the Rook is a true friend to the farmer ; it may do a little 

 harm in spring and autumn, but this is far outweighed by 

 the destruction of worms, insects, and grubs injurious to 

 the crops. Moreover, the grain found in the stomach may 

 often be obtained from animals' droppings or stack-refuse, 

 as is invariably the case in winter. Herr L. Soos, after 

 premising that observers vary greatly in accuracy, and that 

 returns from districts only a few miles apart often acquit or 

 condemn the Rook in toto, comes to the same conclusion 

 as Herr Hauer, and elaborates the views held in different 

 parts of the country, with the aid of an explanatory map. 

 He thinks, however, that damage may be done to maize, 

 especially in the south. Herr T. Csorgey is even more 

 emphatic as to the necessity of obtaining and tabulating 

 information during every month of the year. He advocates 

 the use of circulars on which the names of observers, dates, 

 and other particulars are to be carefully recorded. 



SER. VIII. VOL. VI. 2 B 



