Book News and Reviews 35
general habits, together with a brief review of the Orders of Birds.
Part III of the work, “Animal Ecology,” treats of animals in relation to their environ- ment and may be read with profit by all students of birds in nature—F. M. C.
The Ornithological Magazines
THE CONDOR.7The closing number of the third volume of ‘The Condor’ is de- voted chiefly to articles on geographic dis— tribution. The most important paper is Barlow’s ‘List of Ihe Land Birds of the Placerville»Lake Tahoe Stage Road.’ This paper, occupying thirty-four pages and illustrated by five plates and six figures, contains notes on I30 species of summer birds of the central Sierra Nevada. It is based on observations made during six different trips and is supplemented by the field notes of W. W. Price, who has visited the same region regularly for the past nine years. The list proper is prefaced by a description of the country, an account of the life zones, and a brief review of recent Work in the region. It is a distinct contribution to the literature of California ornithology, and one which makers of local lists might well take as a model.
Notes of a different character but always of interest are those recording the occurrence of birds in new or unusual localities. Among the more important ‘records’ in this number are Thompson‘s notes on the Pacific Kittiwake near Pass Robles, and the Snowy Owl in Santa Cruz county; Beldi ing‘s capture of the Saw-whet Owl at Lake Tahoe; Swarth’s record of the Magnolia Warbler at Los Angeles; and Emerson’s notes on the Black and White Creeper in Monterey county, Calif., and the Redstart in the John Day valley, Oregon. Grinnell separates the Least Vireo of southern Cali~ fornia as a distinct subspecies (Vireo puril» Iru albatru) and briefly reviews the distri- bution of the Cedar Waxwing on the Pacific coast. The latter bird he considers ‘ a mi- gratory species breeding in the Humid Transition zone of British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, wintering in the Upper and Lower Sonoran zones of Southern and Lower California.’
The illustrations are more numerous than usual, among them being two striking half- tunes of Gulls on the wing reproduced from ‘ Camera Craft ’ In this connection may be mentioned the announcement that the plans for the next volume contemplate improved illustrations and a new cover. It should be a matter of satisfaction to the members of the Cooper Club and also to readers of ‘The Condor' to learn that the journal is now self~sustaining and its assured—T. S. P.
THE OSPREY.7The three (August, Sep— tember, and October) numbers of ‘The Osprey‘ which have appeared slnce our last notice Contain much of interest. Dr. Gill's continued article on ‘ William Swainson and His Times’ has reached the eleventh part, but that on the Fishhawks was concluded in the September issue. \\'illiam Palmer, in ‘Some Birds of Kissimmee Valley, Florida,‘ gives quite full and interesting annotations on many of the species, and in adopting Maynard's name of purpurea reopens the question of the subspecil‘ic name of the Ground Dove. The paper by F. Firm, of the Indian Museum, beginning in the Au» gust and ending in the October number, gives us a very clear idea of how exten— sively birds are used as pets in Calcutta. Paul Bartsch concludes his article on ‘Camping on Old Camp Gruunds;‘ M. 5. Ray gives a paper on ‘Birds About Lake Tahoe;‘ A, J. Prill, one, ‘A Visit to Otter Rock, Pacific Ocean,‘ and john Wt Daniels, Jr., two, on the ‘ Prairie Warbler’ and ‘Blue Grosbeak.‘
We have heard, semi~otficia|ly, that many improvements will enter into the coming volume. Besides having better paper and new ten-point type, each number will con- tain twenty-four full line pages, and the reproduction of illustrations will be in charge of an experienced plate printer, so as to in- sure the best possible results. It is under- stood that the next volume will commence a new series. We fail to see the desirability of breaking up publications into series, for it makes quotation more complicated, reference hunting more tedious and the care of indi- vidual volumes more dil'licull ,withoutotfering any corresponding advantages—A. K. F.
permanence
