178 YEARBOOK, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE [Vol. III. 



During recent years, and especially since 1920, when Dr. Barrett 

 was elected Director of the Museum, more attention has been paid to 

 the binding of serial publications which had accumulated for many 

 years through the regular exchange system. Before another year 

 will have passed, all the books contained in the libraiy will be bound, 

 and thereby be made more useful to the scientific workers in the Mu- 

 seum. 



The active interest of the Director in library work, has permitted 

 the accomplishment of all this and thanks are due to him since through 

 his intercession the Public Museum Board has so generously supplied 

 the necessary funds. Since 1921, not quite two years, $3,435.95 has 

 been expended for binding, while $2,676.91 was paid for the purchase 

 of new scientific books. 



It is greatly to be regretted that the World War has caused so 

 many scientific societies and museums to discontinue the exchange 

 of their publications because they have not the necessary funds from 

 which to pay the present enormous price for the printing of their publi- 

 cations. 



Comprehending this deplorable situation, the Museum has con- 

 tinued to send them its pubHcations, hoping that the time will soon 

 come when they will be able to resume their publishing. 



A BLACK HERRING GULL 



By Robert A. Bean^^ 



The occurrence of an unusual color phase among birds, such as a 

 white crow or robin, or a black Herring gull, would, by the casual 

 observer, be regarded with wonder, and little more would be thought 

 about it, but to the bird lover or scientist it is of great interest. 



Much has been written, but there is still much to be learned about 

 the factors which bring about variation from the normal color type. 

 The extremes of color variation, are albinism or the white phase, 

 and melanism, the black phase. It is supposed that ill health or other 

 factors bring about a degeneration or lack of color pigment, which 

 gives rise to the white crow, which would normally be black. Melan- 

 ism may be brought about by over pigmentation which some writers 

 attribute to various causes, one of which may be extreme humidity 

 as found in tropical regions. 



The report that a black Herring gull was seen in the Milwaukee 

 River resulted in its immediate capture by members of the staff of 



^-Assistant to the Director, Washington Park Zoological Garden. 



