422 Recent Literature. an 
by his corps of assistants. Full-length text-figures illustrate 22 of the 
species treated. This opportune compilation cannot be too widely 
distributed, as it carries convincing evidence of the great economic 
importance of bird life to agriculture. 
Another important and instructive paper recently issued under the 
same auspices is Dr. T. S. Palmer’s ‘Extermination of Noxious Animals 
by Bounties.’ 1 Reference is made to both mammals and birds, and the 
conclusion is reached that this method of attempting the extermination 
of noxious animals is both expensive and futile. The objections to the 
system are (1) that the expense is out of all proportion to the benefit 
gained; (2) the impossibility of maintaining bounties in all parts of an 
animal’s range; (3) the impossibility of maintaining equal rates in all 
States; and (4) the impossibility of preventing fraud, as the payment of 
bounties on animals imported from outside areas, or especially raised tor 
the purpose, or for ‘counterfeit scalps,’ innocent species being palmed 
off on the ignorant official for injurious ones. This is especially liable to 
occur in the case of birds, and notably where bounties are offered for the 
House Sparrow. The statistics here given show that during the last 
twenty-five years not less than 3,000,000 of dollars have been expended 
for bounties within the United States, with the result that not a single 
species has thereby been exterminated, and, in most cases, with little 
benefit. As the custom of offering bounties is, however, apparently on 
the increase, this timely exhibit of how the scheme works ought to be of 
advantage as regards the future. The matter of holding the really 
noxious species in check by other methods is also intelligently discussed. 
—jJj. A.A. 
Whitlock’s Review of Herr Gatke’s Views on the Migration of Birds.” 
—In this extended critique of Herr Gatke’s ‘ Heligoland,’ the writer dis- 
claims “any feelings towards Herr Gitke but those of the warmest admir- 
ation and respect.” He says he “looked forward to the appearance of 
Herr Gatke’s long-expected work with the greatest interest. On its first 
perusal, the novelty of the author’s statements greatly impressed me, and 
after careful study I found them very difficult of acceptance.” He then, 
he says, formed the plan of writing a paper on it for one of the current 
ornithological journals, but he soon found the subject too great to render 
this practicable, and hence this separate form of publication. His “sole 
aim has been to place the other side of the question ” before his readers. 
Of Herr Giatke’s work he says: ‘“‘The opinions he expresses, on the 
1Vearbook of the U. S. Department of Agriculture for 1896 (1897), pp. 
55-68. 
> The Migration of Birds | A Consideration of Herr Gitke’s Views | By | 
F. B. Whitlock | Author of “Birds of Derbyshire,” etc., etc. | (All rights 
reserved) | London | R. H. Porter | 7, Princes Street, Cavendish Square, W. | 
1897.— 8vo, pp. vi+ 140. (Price, 3s. 6d. net.) 
