82 



The Canadian Field-Naturalist 



[Vol. XXXIII 



BOOK NOTICES AND REVIEWS 



The Game Birds of California. Contribu- 

 tions from the University of California, Museum of 

 Vertebrate Zoology. By Jos. Grinnell. Harold 

 Child Bryant and Tracy Irwin Storer. Univ. of 

 Cal. Press, Berkeley, 1918, large 8 vo. pp. i-x plus 

 1-642, 16 colored plates and 94 text figures. Price, 

 cloth, $6.00 net. 



This is one of the most notable bird books and 

 one of the handsomest examples of popular book- 

 making that has been published under the auspices 

 of a public institution in some time. It is a credit 

 to the University and Museum in whose name it 

 appears, as well as to the printer who executed it 

 and the artists and authors who illustrated and 

 wrote it. It contains a greater mass of game bird 

 life histories both original and compiled probably 

 than any other work generally accessible. The 

 colored illustrations consist of some of the best work 

 from the brushes of Louis Agassiz Fuertes and our 

 talented countryman, Major Allan Brooks. The 

 many line drawings scattered throughout the text 

 to illustrate critical points are exceptionally accur- 

 ate, clean and clear. The intrcduction states that 

 the work was undertaken to meet the varied re- 

 quirements of the sportsman, the legislator and the 

 naturalist and was made possible through the fin- 

 ancial munificence of a patron who refuses to make 

 his (or her) name known. California is to be con- 

 gratulated on having such public-spirited citizens. 



In an opening chapter dealing with the Decrease 

 of Game and Its Causes it is definitely proved that 

 game has decreased and an analysis is made of the 

 contributing factors. Tables of game that have 

 passed through the hands of dealers have been ob- 

 tained directly from their own books and are pre- 

 sented in evidence. These numbers are ample evi- 

 dence of the drain on wild life that market hunt- 

 ing entails. Other agencies of decrease are logic- 

 ally and calmly discussed giving due weight to 

 their effects pro and con with convincing restraint. 



The next chapter, on the Natural Enemies of 

 Game Birds, discusses the effects of vermin and 

 other enemies and incidentally corrects a number 

 of common preconceptions of their relative values. 



The Gun Club of California is a chapter all 

 conservationists should read. Arguments are given 

 on both sides to show that the subject is not a 

 simple one to be answered offhand. Parallel col- 

 umns giving detrimental and favorable effects are 

 contrasted and the result summed up in the final 

 paragraph, saying: 



"It would appear that the institution of well re- 



gulated gun clubs, occurring as it has, at a critical 

 stage in the adjustment of natural to artificial con- 

 ditions, is to be looked upon as a propitious rather 

 than an adverse factor in the conservation of our 

 duck supply. Whether or not, as further changes 

 result from the increased human population, this 

 valuation of the preserve will persist, remains to be 

 seen" 



The History of the Attempts to Introduce Non- 

 native Game Birds in California, is an illuminating 

 chapter, and deserves study by all who contemplate 

 such introductions elsewhere. 



The Propagation of Game Birds is an equally 

 important chapter and includes a valuable biblio- 

 graphy on the subject. 



The last chapter of the introductory part gives 

 the history and present status of legislation relating to 

 game birds in California. 



The Key to the Game Birds of California seems 

 an admirable instrument. It is clear and concise 

 and notable for the absence of obscure or technical 

 terms and is such that any one of ordinary intel- 

 ligence should be able to get results with it. 



The main part of the book is, of course, oc- 

 cupied with the detailed treatment of the various 

 species in their systematic order. The descriptions 

 of plumages are unusually complete and clear, para- 

 graphs on Marks for Field Identification, Voice, 

 Nest, Eggs, General Distribution and Distribution 

 in California of each one are given, and all are 

 admirably arranged, paragraphed and picked out 

 by distinctive type for ready reference. 



The discussions of the species include much or- 

 iginal material, but also the most complete series 

 of excerpts from other authors dealing with the 

 life histories and other pertinent matter of the var- 

 ious species that can anywhere be found under cne 

 cover. 



The method of such a tripartite authorship where- 

 in each does that for which he is specially fitted is 

 the ideal one in dealing with a broad subject where- 

 in no one man can be an equal authority in all 

 directions and the course is here amply justified 

 by the results 



This book should appeal especially to bird stu- 

 dents, sportsmen and conservationists of western 

 Canada as whilst it deals most particularly with 

 California, the bulk of it is equally applicable to 

 British Columbia and it forms the work that most 

 nearly fulfills far western needs that has so far been 

 published. 



P. A. Tavekner. 



ERRATA 

 Page 51, Vol. XXXIII, Sept., 1919, delete word "late" in bottom line of right column. 

 Page 57, Vol. XXXIII, Sept., 1919, I 1 th line, left column, for "crescentic spot of purple," 

 read "crescentic spot on purple." 



