108 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVII 
notable in extending increased protection 
to game animals in various ways. The in- 
stigation of the enforcement of the Federal 
Migratory Bird Law resulted in several 
states changing their laws to accord with 
that measure, and other states attempted to 
make their local laws more uniform. 
Of particular interest to ornithologists are 
the Regulations for the Protection of Mi- 
gratory Birds, which, as amended, are here 
presented in full. Tables giving the open 
seasons for various species of game in the 
States and Provinces are given, and data 
are also presented concerning the shipment 
of game, its sale, bag limits, and licenses 
for hunting and shipping game. 
Bird houses are not so extensively used 
in the West as is the case in the eastern 
United States, but Dr. Dearborn’s bulletin 
on “Bird Houses and How to Build Them” 3 
will doubtless stimulate interest along this 
important line of bird attraction. The 
author first comments on the increase in the 
number of bird houses in use and then pro- 
ceeds to give practical directions accom- 
panied by complete and detailed illustra- 
tions, with measurements, of many types of 
bird houses. All, from the simple tin can 
wired in a tree to the elaborate many- 
roomed “hotels” for martins, are well de- 
scribed. A table gives the best dimensions 
and height above the ground for houses 
intended for the various species. Plans for 
some food shelters are also given. The bul- 
letin closes with some remarks on the care 
of bird houses and gives some suggestions 
concerning the handling of bird enemies. It 
is hoped that bird lovers in the West will 
avail themselves of this bulletin and put 
the information which it contains to good 
use. 
Mr. Kalmbach’s work on “Birds in Rela- 
tion to the Alfalfa Weevil” 4 is the result of 
two periods of field work in north-central 
Utah in 1911 and 1912. This pest was only 
introduced into the region in 1904, so that 
the results are of more than usual interest 
in showing the ability of birds to adapt 
themselves to a new food species in a short 
period of time. Forty-five species of birds 
ranging from the California Gull to the 
Mountain Bluebird were found feeding on 
the weevil, although the majority of the 
species were ground-inhabiting passerine 
3 Dearborn, N., Bird Houses and How to 
Build Them. U. S. Dept. Agric., Farmers’ 
Bull. 609, 19 pp., 48 text figs, issued Septem- 
ber 11, 1914. 
4 Kalmbach, E. R., Birds in Relation to the 
Alfalfa Weevil. U. S. Dept. Agric., Bull. 107 
(Professional Paper), 64 pp., pis. I-V, 3 figs, 
in text. Issued July 27, 1914. 
birds. Among these, the sparrows and the 
blackbirds and their allies were the most 
effective agents in the destruction of the 
weevil. The English Sparrow is a very 
abundant species throughout much of the 
weevil infested area, especially in the out- 
lying districts, and in consequence of this 
a very detailed study of its food habits was 
made. In general it was found that the spe- 
cies was aiding in the destruction of the 
weevil, and it was recommended that the 
bounty on these birds be removed but that 
they be not placed on the list of protected 
species. In addition to the information con- 
cerning the alfalfa weevil there is a great 
deal concerning the other constituents of 
the food of the species studied. Five plates, 
two of which, a Western Meadowlark and a 
Brewer Blackbird are by Fuertes, and three 
text-figures illustrate the work. 
The paper of anonymous authorship on 
American thrushes 5 , which is stated to have 
been “prepared from data furnished by F. 
E. L. Beal”, is here reviewed because of 
Professor Beal’s remote connection with it 
and also to call attention to the evil results 
attending compilation by one not well in- 
formed or properly able to handle another’s 
findings. All of the other articles in the 
1913 Yearbook are signed by members of 
the various Bureaus of the Agriculture De- 
partment; but the author of this contribu- 
tion seemingly felt it necessary to suppress 
his identity. The quite “breezy” style of the 
article reminds one more of a newspaper 
“story” than of a product from the scien- 
tific offices of the Federal government. The 
article is also marred by lack of definite 
organization, and irregularity of treatment, 
in these respects comparing unfavorably 
with the other articles in this volume and 
with the contributions which have appeared 
from the members of the Biological Survey 
in previous Yearbooks. 
Statements concerning the insects found 
in the stomachs of the thrushes are sweep- 
ing in character, and, in general, exact 
quantitative statements are almost lacking. 
Rearranged, with superfluous matter elim- 
inated and sweeping statements reduced, 
the article could be of value in disseminat- 
ing information concerning these important 
and widely distributed birds, for the Year- 
book reaches a vast number of readers; but 
in its present form this cannot be fairly 
said of it.- — Tracy I. Stoker. 
’Anonymous. The American Thurshes Val- 
uable Bird Neighbors. Prepared from data 
furnished by Prof. F. E. L. Beal, Biological 
Survey. U. S. Dept. Agric., Yearbook, 1913, 
pp. 137-142, frontisp. and pi. XV. Issued 1914. 
