May 17, 1912] 
tional,” As a result of long observation we 
know that shielding is a common practise with 
nesting birds. It is probably something more 
than a heat-reflex, since it is most character- 
istic of the later period of nest-life, when it 
succeeds the more familiar brooding “ habit.” 
This spreading over the young, or shielding 
‘attitude, is useful like the other instincts, but 
whether it is “intentional” or not is quite 
aside from the main question. We might 
even have to qualify any sweeping statement 
that brooding was intentional. “ Spreading,” 
when away from the nest, is undoubtedly a 
reflex, and is often apparently due to heat, but 
birds will spread in a similar manner to dry 
off when wet. 
Young ospreys are fed at long intervals, not 
oftener than twice or three times a day, though 
the rate of feeding possibly may vary some- 
what with age. At one nest which the author 
carefully watched, meals were served at 7 P.M. 
and at 4.15 a.m. and 7 p.m. on the following 
day. At night the male guards the nest, while 
its mate broods. 
The osprey is said by fishermen to descend 
four or five feet in the water to strike the 
flounder, which is often seen in its talons. 
Fish are always carried head foremost, either 
the bird’s right or left foot being directed 
forward. It will be interesting to note that 
the largest capture which Audubon directly 
observed, was a weak-fish, weighing upwards 
of five pounds. This bird, he remarked, 
was barely able to rise from the water, and 
when shot at it immediately dropped its 
quarry. Moreover, it was this large and per- 
feet specimen which Audubon introduced into 
his plate. 
Nest-building begins in May and additions 
to the structure are made throughout the sea- 
son. A nest once built and occupied is com- 
monly held as a rightful and individual pos- 
session, and the structure tends to increase in 
bulk from year to year. The writer, however, 
finds that this is not invariably the case, and 
much more exact knowledge on the history of 
such nests is greatly needed. A nest of the 
osprey which was removed from Gardiner’s Is- 
land to the New York Zoological Garden 
SCIENCE 
781 
weighed 400 pounds and it is thought that 
the largest nests may even reach the weight of 
half a ton. At this island the eggs are laid 
early in May, and two to three in number. 
Incubation lasts from 24 to 28 days, the young 
ospreys emerging in close furry down. Nest- 
life lasts from 5 to 6 weeks, and is over by 
early August. 
We do not for a moment believe that ospreys 
or any other wild birds suffer the “ mental 
anguish ” about their young which the writer 
generously attributes to them, but we are not 
disposed to be overexacting with work con- 
scientiously done, and especially when a good 
moral lesson is enforced. 
Francis H. Herrick 
WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY 
A Text-book of Botany for Colleges and Uni- 
versities. By members of the Botanical 
Staff of the University of Chicago, JoHNn 
Merte Coutter, Ph.D., Professor of Plant 
Morphology; CHARLES Rem Barnes, Ph.D., 
Late Professor of Plant Physiology; Henry 
CHANDLER Cowes, Ph.D., Associate Pro- 
fessor of Plant Ecology. Vol. II. Ecology. 
New York, Cincinnati and Chicago. Amer- 
ican Book Company, octavo. Pp. x-+ 485 
to 964-+-17. 
A little more than a year ago the present 
writer noticed the first volume (Parts I. and 
II.) of this notable contribution to the Amer- 
ican text-books of botany (Scirncr, January 
6, 1911), and suggested the probable early ap- 
pearance of Part III. This saw the light 
about the holidays, and has been before the 
botanists of the country long enough to have 
already taken its place as one of the standard 
texts in its special department of botany. No 
doubt the first feeling of every botanist was 
one of surprise at the quite different mode of 
treatment given to the subject from that 
which has heretofore been accorded it. Some 
things hitherto regarded as ecological are en- 
tirely left out in Dr. Cowles’s treatment or 
given very little emphasis. No doubt many 
an “ecologist” will rub his eyes as he looks 
about him in certain chapters for something 
familiar. Se 
