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NEWS FROM THE MAGAZINES. 
Science Progress for April, 1933, summarises recent advances in 
science, and has articles, essays and reviews of recent scientific literature. 
The Scottish Naturalist for May and June has articles on ‘ Changes 
of Distribution of British Grey Geese ' ; ‘ Notes on the Status of Birds 
in Scotland in 1932 ’ ; ‘ Some Observations on the Nesting Habits of 
the Blackbird ; ‘A Rare Shark New to Scottish Waters * ; and ' Some 
Perthshire Diptera.’ 
The Journal of the Ministry of Agriculture (April and May numbers) 
contains numerous articles on agricultural problems and practice. The 
April number has an interesting contribution from Mr. W. B. Alexander, 
Director of the Oxford Bird Census, on ‘ A Census of House Martins : Are 
their numbers decreasing? ’ This article should be read by all ornitho- 
logists, and others interested in methods of estimating density of avian 
population. 
The British Mycological Society Transactions , Vol. XVII, Part IV, 
18th March, 1933. This issue is to hand and it contains valuable 
articles of both biological and systematic importance, including ‘ The 
British Species of the Genus Diaporthe Nits, and its Segregates,’ by 
L. E. Wehmeyer, and ‘ A Contribution to the Life-History of Sard aria 
fimicola (Four-Spored Form), with Special Reference to the Abnormal 
Spores,’ by Winifred M. Page. Dr. C. L. Shear contributes an article 
on ‘ The Manuscript of James Bolton’s leones Fungorum circa Halifax 
Sponte Nascentium.’ and J. Ramsbottom supplies an ‘ Index to Berkeley 
and Broome’s Notices of British Fungi.’ This number also includes the 
Index to Vol. XVII ; it is published by the Cambridge University Press, 
London, price 7/6. 
The June number of The Journal of the Ministry of Agriculture contains 
several articles of interest to naturalists. W. P. Pycraft has a very 
useful contribution on ‘ The Kestrel,’ the information being arranged 
under the following headings : Description and Habits, Food of the 
Kestrel, Value to Agriculture. It is to be hoped that these records will 
be read by many farmers, landowners and keepers. A short extract 
from the article will give some indication as to the line taken by the 
author : ‘ Had the diet of the Kestrel, and the other falcons mentioned, 
been better understood, they would not in the past have been regarded 
as “ vermin ” and relentlessly destroyed for alleged ravages on game- 
preserves. Among the more understanding estate owners and experienced 
gamekeepers, it is realised that the policy of extermination is not 
justified ; and, where a more enlightened attitude prevails, Kestrels 
have been allowed to nest in the immediate neighbourhood of the coops 
where pheasant chicks were being reared, and seldom has a chick been 
taken. The Kestrel’s real attraction to the rearing-field is furnished 
by the mice which gather there to eat the scattered grain. On rare 
occasions, probably because other food was scarce, or, accidentally in 
mistake for normal prey, a chick may have been snatched up, but there 
has been little foundation for the charges of havoc wrought among chicks 
of hand-reared game. A Kestrel, having taken a chick, may develop a 
liking for them and make repeated visits, but, where an understanding 
attitude prevails, the marauder is regarded as a “ rogue ” and shot, 
and no complaint can be made about putting an end to such depredations.’ 
The Entomologist lor June contains articles on ‘ A Possibly Extinct 
New Zealand Mayfly,’ by M. E. Mosely (with plate) ; ‘ The Light 
Trap as an Adjunct to the Exploration of a Fauna,’ by R. Adkin ; ‘ New 
Species of Notiobiella from Africa and Seychelles ( Neuroptera 
hemerohiidee ) , ’ by D . E . Kimmins ; ‘ Rhopalocera of the Mullet Peninsula, 
Co. Mayo,’ by S. B. Hodgson ; ‘ Notes on Braconidce alysiides,’ by C. 
Morley ; and numerous short notes and observations. Among the 
species noted by Morley are Chasmodon apterus Nees., from Barnard 
Castle, and Alloea contracta Hal., from Bubwith, East Yorks. 
The Naturalist 
