REVIEWS AND EXCHANGES 
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7 'he South-Eastern Naturalist, being the Transactions of the South-Eastern Union 
of Scientific Societies for igoo. Archer & Co., 35, Avondale Square, S.E. 
Price to non-members, 2s. 
The South-Eastern Union is to be congratulated on having secured the 
reversion of the name best fitted for their Transactions, on having a new editor in 
Mr. Tutt, to relieve the pressure of work upon the secretary. Dr. Abbot, and on 
having published an interesting record of another good year’s work. The most 
obvious need of the Union is a greater number of subscribing members, in addition 
to the delegates of affiliated societies. In addition to many papers of varied 
interest to naturalists, this annual volume contains one directly Selbornian, on 
“ The Protection of Wild Birds in the South-Eastern Counties,” by J. II. Allchin, 
Bentlif Curator of the Maidstone Museum. 
The National Home-reading Union Magazine. Vol. xii.. No. l, October 8, 1900. 
Some of the younger members of the Selborne Society may be glad to be told 
of the existence of this Union and its magazine, now in their twelfth year. If 
gush does seem sometimes to predominate over reason, it is better than an absence 
of enthusiasm, and Richard Jefieries’s books, though never meant to instruct the 
mind, are certainly as full of wholesome guidance for the emotions and observing 
faculties as any that could have been chosen for home reading in Nature-study. 
The whole list of books recommended affords a most valuable guide, and can be 
obtained by any seeking direction in their reading, from the Secretary, Surrey 
House, Victoria Embankment, W.C. 
North American Fauna, No. 18 : Revision of the Pocket Alice of the genus 
Perognathus. By Wilfred H. Osgood, United States Department of 
Agriculture. 
This is another of those valuable conspectuses for which we have of late been 
indebted to the United States Department of Agriculture. In sixty-three pages 
we have descriptions of over thirty species, besides sub-species, accompanied by 
two plates of skulls, and two maps showing geographical distribution. Whilst 
fully recognising the systematic completeness of the work, we cannot help wishing, 
from the point of view of general zoology, that the craniology may be supple- 
mented by some general osteology and myology. 
Food of the Bobolink, Blackbirds, and Crackles. By F. E. L. Beal, B. S., Bulletin 
No 13, United States Department of Agriculture. 
This is a report based on the examination of the contents of the stomachs of 
over 4,800 birds, belonging to nine American species. Though the ravages of 
the bobolink [Dolichonyx oryzivorns) in the rice fields of the Southern States are 
recorded in its name, and those of the “ blackbirds ” in the cornfields of the Upper 
Mississippi are also only too well known, the quantity of injurious insects con- 
sumed by several of these species fully compensates for the grain they destroy. 
The birds themselves are figured, and full diagrams given, showing the propor- 
tion of the various articles of food to each other in the case of each species ; so 
that, if it helps to secure a more just discrimination among farmers between their 
Iriends and their foes, the sacrifice of this somewhat appalling list of birds may 
be excused. 
Received : — Board of Agriculture Leaflets, Nos. 64, 65 and 66, on White 
Root Rot on fruit trees (Roseilinia necatrix), the Small Ermine Moths (Hyfono- 
meuta), and the Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1900, respectively ; Annaes de 
Sciencias Naturaes, vol. vi., Oporto ; The Victorian Naturalist for September ; 
and Knoivledge, Science Gossip, The Naturalist, The Irish Naturalist, The 
Animals' Friend, The Animal World, Our Animal Friends, and Humanity 
for October. 
