232 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XV 
Miscellaneous notes bearing on the cap- 
ture of one of the young by a garter snake, 
the stereotyped method of approach to the 
nest used by the parents, notes as to the be- 
havior of the nestlings, and a summary, con- 
clude the paper. 
The nest and nestlings being under con- 
tinual observation for 144 hours and 53 min- 
utes established an enviable record. If there 
are other ornithologists seeking for some- 
thing difficult to do and something much 
worth while, let them go and do likewise. 
Students of animal behavior will be inter- 
ested in the suggested modifiability of be- 
havior brought about by artificial conditions. 
Laboratory methods for the study of animal 
behavior are greatly emphasized at the pres- 
ent time. Such a paper as this, however, 
makes us ask the question whether first-hand 
information gained as this was is not vastly 
superior and more dependable than similar 
information which could have been gained by 
laboratory experiments. The artificial condi- 
tions which surround laboratory experiments 
on higher vertebrates, even though proper 
controls be used, usually make the results less 
dependable. The field method has the added 
advantage also of a comparatively small equip- 
ment. 
The limited amount of available informa- 
tion regarding the life-histories of our song 
birds becomes apparent only to those who at- 
tempt to search into the subject. To those 
who appreciate the dearth of material such 
papers as the one before us give encourage- 
ment and bring hopes that their advent but 
presages increased activity in this field. — H. C. 
Bryant. 
Life Zonf.s and Crop Zones of New Mex- 
ico. By Vernon B.a.ieey. (North American 
Fauna No. 35, Sept. 5, 1913, pp. 1-100, pis. 
i-xvi, 6 figs, in text). 
A great deal of valuable information is 
concentrated in the small compass of this 
publication, which is a brief but comprehen- 
sive survey of the subject. The life zones 
found in New Mexico are Tower Sonoran, 
Upper Sonoran, Transition, Canadian, Hud- 
sonian, and Arctic-Alpine. Each is treated 
separately, first with a general account of the 
nature of the country covered, this followed 
by nominal lists of the mammals, birds, rep- 
tiles, and plants peculiar to the division, and 
similar lists of the fruits, vegetaffies and 
other crops most apt to thrive. Following 
this classification of the life zones is a series 
of descriptions of the more important moun- 
tain ranges of the state. 
The ornithological matter contained in the 
publication is limited to nominal lists of the 
breeding birds of each zone, and similar lists 
of the species occurring in the various rnoun- 
tain ranges. Transients and winter visitants 
are not included, as having no bearing upon 
the subject of the report. We understand, 
however, that the animals of the state are to 
receive more detailed attention in future pa- 
pers, which they certainly deserve, as per- 
taining to a portion of North America which 
hitherto has not received its fair share of at- 
tention from naturalists. 
More explicit statements of the manner of 
occurrence of certain species may be expect- 
ed to explain what at present appear to be 
some rather puzzling discrepancies in the 
status of the same birds in New Mexico and 
at points farther west. Thus the Scott Oriole 
(Icterus parisonim) is here listed as Lower 
Sonoran, while in the experience of the pres- 
ent reviewer it is in Arizona and California 
most emphatically Upper Sonoran. Similar- 
ly the Cooper Tanager (Piranga rubra coop- 
cri), given as Upper Sonoran, is in Arizona a 
characteristic bird of the Lower Sonoran 
wooded river beds, while the White-rumped 
Shrike (Lanius 1. excubitoridcs ) , also here 
considered as Upper Sonoran, is in Arizona 
and California at least as almndant in the 
Lower Sonoran valleys. There are other 
similar cases. 
The doubtful inclusion of the Calliope Hum- 
mingbird (Stcllula calliope) among the breed- 
ing birds of the Canadian Zone of New Mex- 
ico is probabl}' another instance of the ex- 
tension of a hummingbird’s breeding range 
from the appearance of migrating individuals, 
usually adult males, at distant points before 
the breeding season is fairly over. 
On the whole, however, these lists of the 
birds, as well as those of the other com- 
ponents of the fauna and flora of the state, 
the carefully worked out results of extensive 
and painstaking field work by an admitted au- 
thority on the subject, may be taken as prac- 
tically final. The above comments by the re- 
viewer on certain species are directed not as 
criticisms of statements made, Init rather to 
call attention to the various conditions under 
which' species have been found in different 
portions of their habitats. 
The numerous plates and figures are well 
selected to illustrate the nature of the coun- 
try, while the accompanying colored map of 
the life zones of the state, of unusually large 
size, is apparently most carefully worked out 
as regards the finer details. — H. S. SwarTH. 
Bird Study Note Book. By Ceara Cozad 
KeEzEE. (Published b}^ the author, Garnett, 
Kansas). 
This title appears on the cover of a little 
note book carefully prepared to meet the needs 
of the growing number of students interested 
in bird life. It is arranged in columns ap- 
propriately headed for entering the name of 
the bird, date of arrival, residence (winter. 
