198 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



they are objects of amusement. The quills, when the bird is about 

 eight days old commence to burst and allow the enclosed feather to 

 unfold gradually enveloping them in a soft fluffy coat like that of their 

 parents. They are fed largely upon green worms, and tent caterpillars, 

 too, furnish a large part of their diet so that, far from being a creature 

 of evil omen to mankind, they are one of the most beneficial of the 

 birds. 



NEW BOOKS. 



THE AMERICAN NATURAL HISTORY, by W. T. Hornaday, Di- 

 rector of the New York Zoological Park and author of "Two Years in 

 the Jungle" etc. Published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York; 

 450 pages; cloth; illustrated; $3.75. 



This new addition to nature libraries will take the place that has long 

 been occupiedb y Wood's Natural History as the most popular work 

 on the subject. Its author has probably had more experience among 

 the large game of many countries than has any other man in America 

 and is exceptionally well qualified to write upon the subject. The work 

 is interesting and accurate from cover to cover and the text is embel- 

 lished with many drawings and photographs from live subjects. Of 

 course it is somewhat limited in scope as it is impossible to touch upon 

 more than one or two individuals of each family in a single volume. 

 Anyone who has not the means to have a complete library upon all 

 the subjects of natural history will surely turn to this as the brook they 

 want while those who already have extensive libraries will welcome 

 this as a most valuable addition to their collection. 



WITH THE BIRDS IN MAINE, by Olive Thorne Miller. Pub- 

 lished by Houghton, Mifflin & Company, Cambridge, Mass. 295 pages; 

 cloth. $1.10 net. 



In its many chapters, this volume entertainingly treats of nearly all 

 the more common and many of the rarer birds found within the pine 

 tree state. We predict that this book will receive a warm welcome 

 from all bird lovers as have all the previous books from the pen of this 

 well known author. Besides being very interesting reading, the reader 

 will have instilled into his mind many new facts, habits and fancies of 

 bird life. 



WONDERLAND. (Descriptive of the Northwest) by Olin D. 

 Wheeler. 



This annual production of the Northern Pacific Railway is even better 

 this year than any of the previous numbers. Its descriptions are vivid 

 and the illustrations from photographs are numerous and of an unusual 

 quality. Its chapters include "The Haunts of Wild Game," "The 

 Lignite Coal Area of North Dakota," "The Yellowstone Park," "irri- 

 gation in the Northwest" and "The Travels of Lewis and Clark," the 

 latter in anticipation of the exposition that is to be held next year in 

 commemoration of this advent. This handsome book containing 116 

 pages is sent to any address upon receipt of six cents to cover cost 

 of mailing. Address, Chas. S. Fee, General Passenger and Ticket 

 Agent, St. Paul, Minn. 



