16 T°H°e A\U D)U-BiOoN; “BW ith Essig 
maples and balsam may die as climate changes occur. . . In the examination 
of 220 stomachs of red-shouldered hawks, poultry was found in the stomachs 
of three, but mice were found in the stomachs of 102... Over 23,000 weed 
seeds were counted in the stomachs of three Mourning Doves, further proof 
of their value. . . It is estimated that over 40 million dollars are spent each 
year in this country cleaning up our parks and highways, our picnic grounds 
and camp areas. Litterbugs are costly! Several chapters of the Izaak 
Walton League have painted giant oil barrels a forest green and are dis- 
tributing them in local parks and forest areas. We congratulate them on a 
fine idea! 
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Book Reviews 
ATTRACTING BIRDS TO YOUR BACKYARD, by William J. Beecher, Ph.D. All- 
Pets Books, Inc., Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. 68 pages, paper covers, $1.00. 
Available from the Illinois Audubon Society through the Book Service Com- 
mittee. With cover illustrations and 14 black-and-white plates by the author. 
Those of us who have known Bill Beecher as a fellow member of the 
I.A.S. Board of Directors for many years were pleasantly surprised to 
learn that he possessed such unpublicized talents as a flair for drawing and 
an easy, smooth-flowing literary style. Both of these gifts are revealed in 
his first booklet for public sale, which fittingly enough deals with birds and 
environments. 
This little book provides a practical guide for the nature lover who wants 
to enjoy birds around his doorstep. After preliminary chapters on bird baths, 
trees and shrubs attractive to birds, and some ornithological lore, Beecher 
gets into the meaty data of how to bring birds into a small town, suburban, 
or city back yard. There are also sections on park birds and winter birds. 
Each category includes a thumbnail biography of the half dozen or so birds 
typical of the various associations. The drawings of recommended back- 
yard plantings and bird houses are particularly helpful. 
In spite of its core of solid facts, the book is simply written and a pleasure 
to read. It will prove valuable for the old home-owner and the suburban 
newcomer alike. This will undoubtedly give you many ideas to work on as 
you carry out your landscaping program during the long summer days. 
Paul H. Lobik, 4835 Wabansia Ave., Chicago 39 
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STRAY FEATHERS FROM A BIRD MAN’s Desk, by Austin L. Rand, (Doubleday 
& Company, Garden City, New York. $3.75) 
Dr. Rand is curator of birds at the Chicago Natural History Museum, 
and in his travels far and wide has picked up many important facts con- 
cerning bird life histories and related subjects. On the cover of the book is 
stated: “Fascinating and unusual sidelights on the lives of birds,’ which is 
an understatement of considerable degree. There are eighty brief stories, 
(a few do not directly concern birds) each of which is a keen psychological 
study of some interesting facet in bird life, beautifully written and well- 
documented. To mention a few titles: Birds using tools; birds as brigands; 
