1921.] 



Notices of Books. 



861 



Balance of utility or harm. The author of this book, however, has approached 

 his task in a fair and impartial spirit. 



In such a controversial subject it would be strange if some grounds, how- 

 ever small, were not found for criticism. The sparrow seems to get more and 

 the bullfinch less than a fair meed of praise, the aphid-eating propensities of the 

 latter not being mentioned. Also, the thistleheads on the frontispiece would 

 surely have been better shown with the seeds in a ripe condition ! 



What the author considers to be salient points about each bird arc given 

 shortly and concisely, and the plates and text figures lose nothing by being 

 produced in an artistic and attractive form. 



Ministry's Register of Dairy Cows with Authenticated Milk 

 Records. — The Fourth Volume of the Ministry's Annual Register of Dairy 

 Cows with authenticated- Milk Records is now available. It contains particulars, 

 including a list of the owners and breeders, of 5,147 cows in respect of which 

 certificates have been issued by the Ministry showing that they have yielded 

 8,000 lb. or over of milk during the milk recording year ended 1st October, 

 1920, or an average of 6,500 lb. for that year and one or more preceding 

 consecutive years. The existence of this register is not as widely known as it 

 ought to be, but a growing appreciation of its usefulness is indicated by the 

 fact that the number of entries in the fourth volume is about ten times that in 

 the first volume, and the number of owners whose cows are entered has 

 multiplied nearly eight times. # 



Sixteen recognised breeds or types are represented in the fourth volume, as 

 compared with only five in the first volume, and there are in addition 459 

 cross-bred cows (i.e., cows which do not conform to one recognised breed or 

 type) whose milk yields have justified their inclusion under the standard 

 required. Of the 5,147 cows entered in the fourth volume, 4,080 gave over 

 8,000 lb. of milk during the year, and the remainder were entered on an average 

 of 6,500 lb. or over. Of the 4,080 cows which were entered on the one year's 

 yield 2.115 gave between 8,000 and 9,000 lb. ; 1,050 between 9,000 and 10.000 

 lb. ; 534 between 10,000 and 11,000 lb. : 218 between 11,000 and 12,000 lb. ; 

 80 between 12,000 and 13,000 lb. : 44 between 13,000 and 14,000 lb. ; 17 

 between 14,000 and 15,000 lb. ; 9 between 15,000 and 16,000 lb. ; 7 between 

 16,000 and 17,000 lb. ; 2 between 17,000 and 18,000 lb. ; 2 between 18,000 and 

 19.000 lb. ; and 2 between 20,000 and 21,000 lb. 



The objects of this register are (1) to assist and encourage the breeding and 

 improvement of dairy cattle of any breed, type or cross by providing authentic 

 records of cows which have been proved to possess high class dairy qualifica- 

 tions. (2) to bring sellers and buyers together, and (3) to record particulars of 

 the breeding of cows so as to encourage the use of pedigree bulls for grading 

 up non-pedigree herds which may thus become eligible for recognised herd 

 books in due course. To enable a cow to be entered in a herd book, evidence 

 is needed to prove that the foundation cow was an animal of the breed to which 

 the herd book refers, and that her descendants were sired by pedigree bulls of 

 that breed. 



Many dairy farmers, before purchasing a cow, now insist on obtaining a 

 proof of her milk yield in the past, and there is no doubt that increasing 

 importance is being attached by them to the milk records of cows offered for 

 sale. To verify this statement, one has only to notice the enhanced prices 

 obtained for those cows (and progeny) whose milk records have been certifi- 



