Book News and Reviews 



47 



type locality), to Yarrell, and Saunders, or 

 subsequent authors, a detailed paragraph 

 on distribution in England with data of 

 the occurrence of the rarer species, a 

 shorter paragraph on distribution abroad, 

 and, in the case of migratory species, a 

 statement of routes and times of migration. 



An analytical synopsis of the species in 

 the list according to the season or manner of 

 their occurrence is unfortunately wanting; 

 but it is evident that an exceptionally 

 large number (possibly, one-third) of the 

 469 species recorded are of wholly acci- 

 dental or extremely infrequent occurrence. 



Among this number are the Yellow- 

 billed and Black-billed Cuckoos, though 

 most British records of the smaller North 

 American land-birds are here considered, 

 no doubt wisely, to have been based on 

 escaped cage-birds. The Red-winged 

 Blackbird has been taken more than once, 

 but the individuals captured are believed 

 to have escaped from captivity, "the 

 species not being migratory;" a statement 

 which will surprise those who eagerly 

 await the arrival of the migratory host of 

 Red-wings in early March! 



The 'Hand-List' will, without doubt, at 

 once take its place as the standard work of 

 reference, and it may be particularly 

 commended to American bird students 

 who are so fortunate as to have in pros- 

 pect a visit to Great Britain. — F. M. C. 



Elementary Biology, Animal and 

 Human. By James Edward Peabody, 

 A. M., and Arthur Ellsworth Hunt, 

 Ph. B. The Macmillan Co., New York, 

 191 2. i6mo., xiv-194-212 pages, many 

 ills. Price, $1. 



It is astonishing what an amount of 

 definite and directive information the 

 authors of nature-study manuals manage 

 to compress within volumes which are 

 sold at prices placing them within reach 

 of everyone. The present volume, for ex- 

 ample, has not only a general review of 

 the animal kingdom, but devotes some 200 

 pages to human biology. 



Comparatively little space can, of 

 course, be devoted to any one group of 

 animals; but at least we are given the 

 essential facts of its structure and economy, 



and are told where the subject may be 

 pursued further. Thus of Birds (Chap. II, 

 pp. 62-100) we have suggestions for 

 methods of study, sections on the skeleton, 

 the feather, the egg and its development, 

 nesting, classification; with examples of 

 well-known types, migration, importance 

 of birds to man, destruction, and conser- 

 vation, with references. Surely, an, excel- 

 lent introduction to a study of bird-life. — 

 F. M. C. 



Book News 



The Massachusetts Audubon Society, 

 in conformance with its now long-estab- 

 lished custom, issues an attractive 'Audu- 

 bon Calendar.' The six 10 J^ x 8-inch 

 colored plates contain life-size figures of 

 the following species: Phcebe, Tree Swal- 

 low, Crested Flycatcher, Orchard Oriole, 

 Golden-winged Warbler, and Chipping 

 Sparrow. The accompanying text is from 

 Hoffmann's admirable 'Guide to the Birds 

 of New England and Eastern New York.' 



The Annual Report of Edward Howe 

 Forbush, State Ornithologist of Massa- 

 chusetts (Fifty-ninth Annual Report of 

 the State Board of Agriculture), as usual 

 evidences the activity of this official in 

 more widely diffusing a knowledge of the 

 value of birds to the commonwealth and 

 in arousing an increased interest in their 

 protection. 



'A Bird Almanac,' by Millicent Hinkley 

 and Nettie M. Sadler, published by the 

 Fine Arts Circle of the Fourth Presby- 

 terian Church of Syracuse, N. Y., pre- 

 sents, in attractive form, varied and sea- 

 sonable information in regard to events 

 in the bird world for each month in the 

 year. It is illustrated with photographs 

 and pen-and-ink drawings. 



'The Birds' Convention,' by Harriet W. 

 Myers, issued by the Out West Magazine 

 of Los Angeles, Cal., describes the adven- 

 tures of the birds' lives as related by them 

 in a convention they are supposed to have 

 held. Thirty- six illustrations from nature 

 form an attractive feature of the book. 



