^°H9^^] Rece7tt Literature. 28 1 



tliologists, wliose names appear in the report, give tlie reinarkal)le figures 

 wliich infiuence Mr. IIornacia3''s estimates. 



Game and plume birds are unquestionaljly on tiie liigli road to 

 extermination, and certain species of our small birds are decreasing, but 

 the general destruction in the latter class is probably not nearly so great 

 as Mr. riornaday's figures imply^ 



This side of the question is of such especial importance to ornitholo- 

 gists that it seems desirable to empha ize the difficulty of reaching 

 accurate results from such data, — esj-ecially as sentiment often uncon- 

 sciously leads us to make extreme ■ tatements. 



The estimates on page 95 to which we take exception do not, however, 

 detract from the importance and beneficial effect of this valuable report, 

 and it is earnestly to be hoped that Mr. Hornaday's closing suggestions, 

 both as to birds and mammals, may be seriously Considered by our legis- 

 lators, especially as to the suppression of promiscuous egg collecting and 

 traffic in eggs, birds, and game. — W. S. 



Sketches of Some Common Birds.' — The author has here brought 

 together a series of bird biographies most of which have been published 

 previously in periodicals. They treat at considerable length of fifty-five 

 species and, issued in book form, make a valuable contribution to our 

 knowledge of the life-histories of our more common birds. 



They are based on observations apparently all made in central Illinois 

 and evidently' extending over a considerable term of years. Mr. Silloway 

 writes with the enthusiasm of a bird-lover and the care of a discriminating 

 bird-student. He presents facts which we do not recall having seen before 

 in print, but to our mind is rather further from the mark than most 

 authors when he writes of birds' notes. Thus he states that the Bobo- 

 links of his region are not superior as songsters to the Horned Larks or 

 Dickcissels, the American Bittern's booming cry suggests to him the 

 syllables "boo-hoo," and while his biography of the Least Bittern 

 shows that he has had excellent opportunities to study this interesting 

 species, he seems unfamiliar with its coo^ qua, and tut-tut-tut notes, saying 

 that he has "never heard an individual utter a call or cry of any kind." 



The book deserves an index and in supplying it we trust that the author 

 will also give a prefatory note stating where and when his observations 

 were made. 



The illustrations are half-tone reproductions of interesting photographs 

 of birds and nests from nature. — F. M. C. 



Oological Abnormalities.- — Having devoted much time to securing sets 



* Sketches | of | Some Common Birds | By | P. M. Silloway | Cincinnati, 

 Ohio I The Editor Publishing Company | No. 327 Pike Building ( 1S97. 8vo. 

 PP- 33i.pll- 17- 



^Gleanings from Nature, No. i. Oological Abnormalities. By J. Warren 

 Jacobs. Published by the Author, Waynesburg, Pa. 1898. 8vo, pp. 36, half- 

 tone pU. iv. 



