t7o
ard publications on the birds of their Mr. Swanh's list is based largely on observations made by him- self between April 25 and July 20. 189E; March 29 and September 5. [902. and Feb— ruary t7 and May 30. tgu}. His list of 195 species he believes to represent fairly the resident and summer resident birds. and thinks that further field work would adtl some migrants and an occasional straggler.
respective regions.
It contains no less than eleven of our seven- teen Humming-birds. His annotations are often extended. a page or more frequently being devoted to a single species
Mr. Allen summarizes our knowledge of the distributional bird He lists 283 species as having been positively ascertained to occur in the state. and in this connection comments on the necessitv for care in identification. saying.
status of Vermont
"The trained naturalist. who appreciates at what pains facts are determined. is con- tent to leave unrecorded that of which he is in doubt. of much greater value i it to establish one new fact in the life~history of a common bird than to record the accidental presence of a species far from its normal range." a remark which should be taken to heart by every student of birds with an opera-glass. Mr. Allen. in addition to an exceptionally tvell»annotated list, presents an
interesting historical introduction, a copious bibliography. and. what is too often lacking from local lists. an index. It is satisfactory to observe that the author has followed the A, O. l'. ‘Check»List‘ in nomenclature and classification rather than the income nient system employed in ‘The Birds of Massachusetts.‘ of which he tvasjoint authorr Mr. Todd also gives us a paper contain» ing all the information available concerning the bird-life of the area under consideration. He enumerates 237 species, with extended annotations. a descriptive introduction and hihliographyr The reviewer notes with surprise that the Dickcissel is admitted to the list on the authority of only a single ob- server. While vi ting the late George B. Sennett :tt Erie during the last of May and first of june. l890. he observed at least six individuals of this species which were evi- tlcntly breeding near the city—F. M. C.
Bird - Lore
BABY PATHFINDER To THE Bums. By HARRIET E. RICHARDS and EMMA G. r Cuhrhtrnos, Wt A. Butterfield. Boston. ,‘ 190+ Oblong. oamo. 1— r2; pages. ( numerous outline cuts in text. . This pocket booklet treats of no common
eastern birds. giving with each one a descrip- tion of plumage. characteristic habits. notes. I nesting site and breeding range. At least one species or each family is figured. Every other page is blank and is designed for field memoranda. a fact which, in connection with the book‘s small size. should commend its use as a tield book where more bulky vol- umes would be out of place.
Both authors have had extended experi- ence in studying birds through an opera- glass. and are. therefore, specially lined to administer to those who would name birds in nature—F. M. C.
0le Bums AND THEIR MARGARET COL'LSON VVALKen. can Book Company. tzrno. t—2oll pages, ta colored plates. numerous hall»tones.
NesTLrtth. By Ameri -
l
i
i
This book seems admirably adapted tor the use of the primary teacher who would arouse in her pupils an interest in our com- mon birds.
Twenty common birds are dealt with bio- graphically. Stories and poems concerning them are interspersed at intervals. ‘
Fourteen coloritypes from mounted birds facilitate identification, and. with numerous photographs of nests. eggs and young birds. chiefly by Herrick and Dugmore, should hold the child’s interest and stimulate it: curiosity, We note that in republishing Ernest Seton‘s verses. ‘The Myth of the Song Sparrotv,‘ the author has failed to say . that they originally appeared in Bren-Loss. I
—F. M.Cr
NOTES on THE Herons at THE DISTRICT or By PAUL BARTSCH. Smrth~ Vol. XL. Wash—
COLUMBIAt sonian Miscell. Colls. ington. 1903.
Nine species of Herons have been recorded 'trem the District of Columbia. tour of them as breeding. and Mr. Bartsch hen: tells of the status of these birds and gives us the rc- sults or his experiences with them. Specially interesting are his studies on a colony of
