108 book notices continued. 



North American Fauna, No. 14. United States Department of 



Agriculture. 



Contains the natural history of the Tres Marias Islands, Mexico. 



These islands are situated about 65 miles west of San Bias, Mexico, 

 and are thus south-east of Cape St. Lucas and a considerable distance from 

 it. Soundings show that there is no deep ocean channel between these is- 

 lands and Mexico, thus they are true continental islands. 



The group consists of four islands, San Juanita, Maria Madre, Maria 

 Magdalena, Maria Cleopa. The largest, Maria Madre, is about 8 by 15 miles 

 and rises over 2000 feet above the sea, in. fact, all the islands, excepting San 

 Juanita, which is flat, are mountainous, rising in successive slopes from the 

 coast to the center. They are evidently of volcanic origin. The fauna and 

 flora appear to indicate that these islands were at no distant geological period 

 one island, but also that this was separated from the neighboring coast of 

 Mexico of which it once formed a part. 



The general .account of the islands, of which the above is an abstract, 

 is by E. W. Nelson, who has also written the reports on mammals and birds 

 both of which are extremely interesting and valuable contributions to science. 

 One of the most noteworthy features in Mr. Nelson's account of the birds and 

 mammals of these islands is their extreme tameness. The birds were not 

 molested in any way by the inhabitants, and consequently were unsuspicious 

 often allowing members of the expedition to walk within a few feet of them. 

 We have had occasion before to refer to the tameness of birds in localities where 

 they are undisturbed. Even in Jamaica, an island which is thickly populated, 

 the birds are exceedingly tame. Surely this is a reproach to us, and in it we can 

 read a lesson that should teach us wisdom in regard to treating our own birds in 

 such a manner that they will have confidence in us. 



Other papers of value are embraced in this report, completing, as far as is 

 known, the natural history of the Tres Marias Islands. 



The Collecter for April and May contains some exceedingly interest- 

 ing, historical sketches, one of which is of some of the noted men of Cam- 

 bridge in early colonial times. Walter B. Benjamin, publisher, N. Y. City. 



