52 
THK CONDOR 
'TT 
I Vol. IV 
birds named for states. Thus a glance through 
the checklist shows thirteen species referred 
substantivch’ to California, while five are 
modified by Californian. Similarly we find 
Canada Jay and Canadian Warbler. These 
names are inconsistent somewhere and one 
form of name should u.sed be throughout. Cer- 
tainly either Canada Grouse or Canadian 
Ruffed Grouse should be changed. 
Just one more point and I will close. In 
spite of our checklist, which is supposed to 
regulate the use of names, there is a growing 
disregard of the A. O. U. trivial names. In 
some cases older names are used and in others 
new names are coined. Sierra Junco for Thur- 
ber’s Junco, Valley Quail for Valley Partridge. 
Turkey Buzzard for Turkey Vulture are ex- 
amples from recent publications. I cannot do 
better than to quote a paragraph from Dr. 
Merriam’s letter as clearly stating my own 
feeling in the matter: 
“Your inquiry with respect to the A. O. U. 
tendenc}' in common names gives me an op- 
jiortunity to state that I place no weight what- 
ever on the fact of the adoption or rejection of 
a particular name, or form of name, among 
the common names of birds as used in the A. 
O. U. checklist. In other words, 1113’ position 
is and has always been that the A. O. U. rul- 
ing on points of scientific nomenclature should 
carry great weight, but that in matters of com- 
mon Knglish names of species every man is at 
liberty to use whatever name he pleases. What- 
ever one’s views niav be on this matter, the 
fact remains that so large a number of writers 
do use common names different from those in 
the Code that it is absolutely necessary in 
many cases to give the scientific name if the 
record is of any value.” 
Respectfulh^ 
RiCH.vRn C. McGRrcooR. 
San Francisco, Feb. 7, igor . 
PARASITltS IN BIRDS. 
Editor The Condor: — In Vol. II, page gi 
of The Condor I note a communication re- 
garding taiieworms in young mountain (juail, 
and in Vol. Ill, page 15 a communication on 
further tapeworm observations. Let me say 
that these observations are not unique; so far 
as statistics are to hand (juail are moderately 
frecjuently infected in various jiarts of the 
world. The most accurate statistics at hand, 
in a recent paper on the jiarasites of birds in 
the Rhine provinces, Germany and Switzerland 
shows that out of six hundred thirt}' (630) 
birds examined only one hundred eighty (180) 
or 28 per cent were free from parasites, while 
231 or 35 per cent harbored tajieworms in 
varying numbers. Other authorities state that 
in Europe the true partridges are infected in 
six out of seven cases, or in eight out of eleven 
cases. The same is true of allied species. It 
may positivel}' be said that these species are 
not dangerous to man further than that, if 
present in sufficient numbers, the}’ are detri- 
mental to the general health of the bird. In 
various parts of France and German}’, tape- 
worm epidemics among game birds have fre- 
quently been noted. I have, however, a sonie- 
W’hat extensive summary of the results of 
these studies which will appear in the present 
number of the Proceedings of the Nebraska 
Ornithologists’ Union. To this will be add d 
the records of collections made here from 
various kinds of birds and by many observers. 
I will be glad to identify species for your 
correspondents, if they will send me specimens. 
It is not always possible to give an accurate 
identification from a single specimen where 
the sjiecies is imperfectly known, and it is 
necessary that the tapeworm should have both 
head and ripe segments. Specimens may be 
sent in alcohol preferably after preservation in 
corrosive sublima’te mixture, or in 5 per cent 
solution of forniol into which the parasites 
may be put immediately after removal from 
the host. The accumulation of-data regarding 
these forms is of great scientific and economic 
importance. I shall gladly avail myself of all 
the help which ycur correspondents may be 
able to give. Very truly yours, 
Henry B. Ward. 
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebr. 
Publications Reviewed 
L.^w.s Regulating the Tran.sport.\tion 
AND S.'VLE of G.\HE. By T. vS. Palmer and PI. 
W. Olds. Bulletin No. 14, Biological Survey 
jip. 88 and table of closed seasons. 
This publication is by far the most complete 
and jiractical compendium of game laws yet 
given the public, covering as it does all the 
statutes now in effect, including federal, state, 
or in many instances county law’s. Full informa- 
tion concerning market hunting, shipment of 
game, transportation of live game for propaga- 
tion, close seasons and numerous other points of 
importance are dealt wdth at length, accompan- 
ied by numerous tables and maps in detail. It is 
impo.ssible to review at length such a valuable 
addition to our knowledge of the game laws, 
and we advise the reader to jirocure a copy of 
this publication and to keep it where it may be 
consulted freely. By this means will each in- 
dividual appreciate the vast amount of compi- 
lation necessary to produce such a complete 
digest as well as the amount of solid informa- 
tion it contains. — C. B. 
