178 



THE OOLOGIST 



range, spring and fall migration and 

 eggs dates. This information is given 

 for each of the species so far as it is 

 known, and each separate species is 

 illustrated by nests, eggs, adult birds 

 and young wherever possible; though 

 under many of the species nothing ap- 

 pears by way of illustration except the 

 nesting site with the eggs, and a gen- 

 eral view of the nesting grounds. 

 There are two hundred and thirty-nine 

 pages with fifty-five half tone plates, 

 and eleven plates in color of the eggs 

 of the various species. Delineating 

 the eggs of thirty-six different birds. 

 The whole arrangement is ideal and 

 is accompanied by a comprehensive 

 index and a list of bibliographic 

 references. 



Our friend Bent has gathered with- 

 in these pages an almost unbelieve- 

 able amount of information and pre- 

 sents the same in a readily excessible 

 manner and in an attractive arrange- 

 ment at the disposition of the world; 

 and he is to be congratulated upon the 

 result of his years of work in the prep- 

 aration of this bulletin and by its pub- 

 lication he has placed all students of 

 ornithology, professional as well as 

 amateur over lasting obligation to him. 



Like all publications relating to a 

 growing science of course, all infor- 

 mation on the subject treated is not, 

 and in the nature of things could not 

 be included up to the very day of pub- 

 lication, but Bent, has come as near 

 doing this as we believe it would be 

 possible for anybody to do. 



The vast amount of work entailed 

 essential for such a publication can 

 only be comprehended by those who 

 have engaged in such an undertaking, 

 or by those who have been permitted 

 to get a slight insight during the work 

 of such preparation. 



We predict that it would be a jfong, 

 long time before anybody will equal if 



ever surpass this bulletin for actual 

 practical use and service. 



R. M. B. 



THE BIRDS OF NORTH AND 

 MIDDLE AMERICA, by Robert Ridg- 

 way. Vol. VIII of this splendid publi- 

 cation is at hand and covers the 

 species from the shore birds to the 

 Auks inclusive, also to the Jacanas, 

 Skimmers, Terns, Gulls and Skuas. It 

 is up to the usual standard of publica- 

 tion bearing Mr. Ridgway's name and 

 is not only a credit to the author, but 

 likewise to the Natural Museum which 

 puts it out. R. M. B. 



American Bittern 

 By H. H. Johnson, Pittsfield, Maine. 

 Every one who tills the land has an 

 interest in the economic value of the 

 birds, many of whom catch and eat, 

 worms, bugs and insects, the devour- 

 ing of which, directly affect the pro- 

 duction of the crop. The protection 

 thus afforded may be the saving of 

 some particular plant or crop. As il- 

 lustrated by Edward Howe Forbush, 

 who by placing food accessible to the 

 winter birds, he attracted them to the 

 orchard where they not only ate the 

 food provided, but also fed on the 

 eggs of the tent caterpillar, can- 

 kerworms and pupae of the codling 

 moth. Also, when spring came efforts 

 were made to attract the summer 

 birds to the orchard, which met with 

 success, and the remaining injurious 

 insects were completely destroyed. 

 Thus the trees and crop were saved 

 to the extent that this orchard and 

 one adjoining were the only ones 

 which produced any fruit that season. 

 Adversely, the distruction of the birds 

 may mean the complete loss of a crop. 

 Kalm states, in his Travels in Amer- 

 ica, that in 1749, after a great des- 

 truction of crows and blackbirds for a 

 reward of three pence per dozen, the 



