Bulletin of the Michigan Ornithological Club. 



43 



Vol. II, No. 6. December, 1897. 



In the plate figuring Allen's Humming Bird, by far 

 the best in this issue, one can fairly see the beautiful 

 iridescence of the living bird. The sober colored female 

 and dainty nest are also nicely brought out. The one 

 of the Verdin is also very good. This issue gives a very 

 interesting account of the A. O. U. meeting. — W. E. M. 



BOOKS. 



A List of the Birds of Maine. By Ora W. Knight, 

 B. S. (Prepared under the auspices of the United 

 Ornithologists of Maine.) Bulletin No. 3 of the Uni- 

 versity of Maine. 184 pp. Kennebec Journal 

 Print, Augusta, Maine. 



An annotated list of much value. Alter the remarks 

 by the author giving the standing of the species in the 

 state, occur the "County Records," these latter being 

 by various observers, some of them well known. As a 

 general thing, nothing is said concerning the habits of 

 the birds, but under several species — especially Leach's 

 Petrel, Crow, Yellow Palm Warbler and Ruby-crowned 

 Kinglet — a few good notes are given. 320 species are 

 given: 26 permanent residents, 114 summer residents, 

 and 74 migrants; the rest are occasional visitors and 

 stragglers. 



A hypothetical list — containing 27 species — an incom- 

 plete bibliography, and a good index are appended. A 

 chapter is devoted to "Fauna! Areas." Very few typo- 

 graphical errors occur, and altogether the work is a 

 credit to its compiler. — W. E. M. 



Sketches of Some Common Birds. By P. M. Silloway. 

 Cincinnati, Ohio. The Editor Publishing Company. 

 Cloth, $1.50. 



This neatly bound volume consists of a series of fifty- 

 four "sketches," each of which treats of the life and 

 habits of one of the common species of central Illinois 

 birds; the notes will cansequently apply to nearly all 

 parts of the eastern United States. Technical descrip- 

 tions are avoided, but such vivid accounts are given of 

 the birds in their natural haunts, their habits and peculiar 

 characteristics as we see them in the field, that the most 

 casual observer could hardly fail to recognize them after 

 reading these sketches. The style is easy and popular; 

 well calculated to inspire the reader to observe for himself. 



In the matter of arrangement it varies somewhat from 

 the usual methods. The birds are divided into eight 

 sections, according to the nature of the places where 

 they are usually found. There are certain objections 

 and difficulties to this system, as some species are not 

 restricted to any one of these localities, but may be found 

 as commonly in one as another- The Bronzed Crackle, 

 lor instance, cannot be classed strictly as a bird of the 

 orchard, but the author recognizes this for he says, 

 "They are at home in the maples ofihe streets of the 

 towns, in the evergreen trees of the lawns and gardens, 

 and in the groves and orchards of rural districts." 



A more serious defect is the want of an index, which 

 would greatly increase the utility of the book for reference. 



Eighteen full page plates of birds, nests and young — 

 all from life — illustrate the sketches. The accompanying 

 cut of a Downy Woodpecker is one that appears in con- 

 nection with the notes upon that species. 



The beginner will find this book especially helpful. 

 Instead of dry, scientific discussion, he will find here 

 interesting reading as well as instructive. But the more 

 advanced student will also find these sketches very 

 pleasant reading, especially during the winter months; 

 they afford the same pleasure that it does to sit by the 



winter fireside and read over your own notes of rambles 

 afield in by- gone summers. — L. J. C. 



The Blue Jay ajtd its Food. By F. E. L. Beal, U. 

 S. Department of Agriculture, 1896. Reprint 



This is another of the excellent works issued by the 

 Department of Agriculture. From the examination of 

 nearly three hundred stomachs, Mr. Beal concludes 

 "that the Jay does much more good than harm." It is 

 doubtful if we shall ever be able to say that a native 

 American bird is harmful. It is only man's importations 

 that prove so. — W. E. M. 



The following books are announced by the publishers: 



The Gallinaceus Game Birds of North America. By 

 Daniel G Elliott. Second Edition :* 111ns , pp. 220. Francis 

 P. Harper. $2.50. 



Bird Neighbors. Neltje Blanchan; introduction by John 

 Burroughs. Hlus. in colors, 4 to. pp. 234. Doubleday & 

 McClure Co. $1.25. 



Song Birds and Wafer Fowl. By H. E. Parkhurst. Hlus., 

 12 mo.', pp. 286. Chas. Scribner's Sons. $1.50. 



Wild Neighbors : Outdoor Studies in the United States. 

 By Ernest Ingersoll. Macmillan. $1.50. 



* 



Audubon and his Journals. By Maria R. Audubon. 

 (With notes by Elliott Cones.) Hlus., 2 vols., 8 vo. $7.50. 



Recreation announces a set of bird and animal photos from 

 life for their coming volume. 



The Birds of North America. By Jacob H. Studer. 

 Hlus. in colors! Studer Bros., New York. $40.-45. (Sub- 

 scription price, $20.-22.50.) 



Chapters on the Natural History of the United States. 

 Robt. W. Shufeldt. Hlus.; large octavo. About 400 pp. 

 Studer Bros., New York. $3.50, net. 



Mr. A. B. Durfee, while deer-hunting in northern 

 Michigan, sprained an ankle, which has laid him up 

 for several weeks. He secured two fine deer. 



Mr. LynnB. Gilmore, formerly of Blooming Valley, 

 Pa , and now of Empire, Colo., writes that he finds 

 himself in a locality favorable to bird study. 



The annual meeting of the American Ornithol- 

 ogists' Union was held at the American Museum of 

 Natural History, New York City, from November 

 8-1 lth. 



Mr. E. W. Durfee, who is now at Washington, 

 Arizona, finds time to do a little collecting. The 

 last lot of birds he sent home contained a Road- 

 runner, an Arkansas Kingbird, and an immature 

 Gambel's Quail. 



Dr. Morris Gibbs is the author of a series of articles 

 in the American Field entitled, "The Game Birds of 

 ths Great Lakes." 



Mr. B. H. Swales, formerly of Detroit, has removed 

 to Pasadena, California, where he has entered busi- 

 ness. We cannot help but to regret the loss of this 

 active worker in the ornithological field, from our 

 midst, but we trust that Mr. Swales will still remain 

 with us in spirit if not in person. The Bulletin 

 hopes to receive notes from him occasionally, from 

 his ornithological work, which we are sure he will 

 pursue in his new field for bird study. 



Have you paid your dues? Beginning with the 

 January number, the rule that all members must 

 have paid dues to receive the Bulletin, will be 

 rigidly enforced. 



The Osprey moves this month to New York City. 

 We wish it success in its new quarters. 



