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Bulletin of the Michigan Ornithological Club, 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



In Brw&h, Sedge and Stubble By Dwight W, Hunting- 

 ton. Part II. The Sportsman's Society, Cincinnati. 



The second sixteen pages of this beautiful work have 

 reached us, and after carefully looking it over, we 

 can but endorse what was said about it in our April 

 issue. 



A photographic study of the Canada Grouse and 

 a colored sketch, "Sunset in Dakota," accompany 

 the text, which is also illustrated by several other 

 halftones. The text completes the account of the 

 Sharp-tailed Grouse, includes that of the Pran-ie Grouse, 

 and makes a beginning on "The Grouse of the 

 Woods and Mountains." 



Part III has a photographic study of the Blue or 

 Dusky Grouse. The text is made up of an account 

 of the Ruffed Grouse and the Canada Grouse, or Spruce 

 Partridge as it is called. A really beautiful and 

 artistic thing in this part is the photograph of 

 a game piece made with a dead Grouse placed 

 against a background with a few sprigs of wild berries 

 and sumach. 



The photographic study m Part IV is of the 

 Ptarmigan. There is also a colored plate, "Blue 

 Grouse Shooting," by W. A. McCord, and as 

 usual numerous halftones are interspersed throughout. 

 After finishing that of the Dusky Grouse, this part 

 takes up the description of the Ptarmigan. — W. E. M. 



The Birds of hidiana. A descriptive catalogue 

 of the birds that have been observed within the 

 state, with an account of their habits, by Amos W. 

 Butler. Contained in the Twenty-second Annual Re- 

 port of the State Geologist, for 1897. 



This catalogue takes up 673 pages of the report of the 

 State Geologist of Indiana for 1897, and is besides being 

 the latest, the most complete account of the birds of that 

 state ever published. Previous lists are one by the same 

 author in 1890, and a "Catalogue of the Birds 

 of Indiana," by Dr. A. W. Brayton, published 

 in 1879 and now long out of print. 



A total of 321 birds are credited to the state; and 

 a hypothetical list of 81 species is added to this. A 

 concise description is given of each fauna, together 

 with an account of the range, and a description ot 

 the nest and eggs, followed by full notes on 

 the occurrence of the bird in Indiana, and sketches of its 

 habits, food, etc. Mr. Butler's twenty -one years' obser- 

 vations form the basis of this report, but he has also 

 had the assistance of the ornithologists of his own and 

 the neighboring States, and has made use of available 

 lists and periodicals. Good keys are given for the inden- 

 tification of species, and illustrations have been used 

 from the reports of the U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture. 



In the introduction are printed the Indiana laws rela- 

 tive to birds, an account of the situation and general to- 

 pography of the State, a sketch on Bird Migration, and 

 a Bibliography of Indiana Ornithology. — L. J. C. 



Bird Studies. An account of Land Birds of Eastern 

 North America, By W. E. D. Scott. With 166 il- 

 lustrations from original photographs. New York and 

 London: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 1898. Quarto, leath- 

 er back, in box, $.5.00 net. 



Among the many books on popular ornithology that 

 have appeared within the last few years "Bird Studies" 

 is entirely novel and holds a place of its own. It treats 

 of all the land birds of Eastern North America, giving a 

 short untechnical description and notes of each; in this 

 it does not differ essentially from many others except 



in the entire avoidance of all technical terms ordinarily 

 used; but in the matter of illustrations it is unique, as 

 much as one third of the book being taken up by these, 

 which are all reproductions from photographs and over 

 half of them full page plates. The author says that the 

 song and color of birds are two factors which will have 

 to be acquired by the student, but that form and color 

 pattern can be portrayed; and this fact he has well de- 

 monstrated. The photographs have been taken from 

 live birds, from mounted groups, from dead specimens 

 and from skins. We do not remember having seen the 

 latter two tried before and were somewhat surprised at 

 the good results obtained. Of the former, it is safe to 

 say that the novice will in many cases be unable to tell 

 the live birds from the mounted, and it would not be 

 strange if more experienced heads than his were some- 

 times puzzled. 



In dividing the birds treated in groups according to 

 the places which they commonly inhabit, it is question- 

 able whether the author has made a wise move — one 

 that will help the beginner more readily to find the 

 species desired, for a bird that is found "About the 

 House" in one locality, in another may be found only 

 "In the Woods," or fields. On the o;her side, if "all 

 the thrushes, or all the sparrows of the entire region, 

 were to be introduced or placed before the student in a 

 body" it would undoubtedly produce some confusion. 

 No "keys" or other means of easy indentification be- 

 sides the pictures are given, but as an appendix is added 

 a systematic list of all birds from the Quail and Grouse 

 to the last of the Thrushes. 



The book is beautifully printed on a heavy paper and 

 handsomely bound. The illustrations alone would 

 make it well worth the price. — L. J. C. 



Long-Tailed Duck at Greenville. 



On the 31st of January a boy brought me a fine male 

 specimen of a Long- tailed duck {Clangula hyinnlis). 

 This duck is seldom met with so far from the Great 

 Lakes and is the fii'st I have seen in seven years. It was 

 shot in the city on Flat River. Percy Selous 



Greenville, Mich. 



Mr. Ralph Fisher, a former Ann Arbor ornithologist, is 

 now located at Durango, Mexico. The University of 

 Michigan Museum recently received a fine lot of bird 

 skins from him, among which were two Avocets, a 

 Massena Partridge and a pair of Imperial Wood- 

 peckers. 



Mr. T. L. Hankinson, who graduated from the 

 Michigan Agricultural College last summer, is now taking 

 advanced work in Cornell University. Mr. Hankinson 

 writes that he likes the region about Ithaca very much 

 and puts in all his spare time collecting and observing. 

 We are promised an article in the near future. 



Mr. O. B. Warren has a paper in the January Auk 

 giving very interesting notes, together with four photo- 

 graphs, on the nesting of the Canada Jay near Mahon- 

 ing, Mich. 



Mr. B. Hall Swales, who went to California last 

 spring expecting to practice law, was forced to return on 

 account of ill health, and is now with the law firm of 

 Flowers & Maloney in Detroit. While in the West Mr. 

 Swales became a member of the Cooper Ornithological 

 Club, but he always retained his interest in the M.O.C. 

 and we heartily \\'elcome him back to take active work 

 with us again. 



