ilooft jBtetos anfi 3&etrieto£ Cassinia: Proceedings of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, No. IX, 1905. The opening article in 'Cassinia' is a sketch, by Spencer Trotter, of Charles Lu- cien Bonaparte, illustrated by a half-tone of the distinguished French ornithologist. Both Audubon and Wilson "were poet and artist rather than scientist. It was Bona- parte who first placed American ornithology on the firm basis of science." The summer birds of three of the coun- ties of Pennsylvania — two in the north- eastern corner and one on the southern bor- der of the state — are treated by as many writers. In Monroe county Cornelius Wey- gandt found a number of species belonging to the Canadian fauna and a few of the Carolinian. The colonies of Cliff Swallows were of interest ; fifty-one nests were found on a single barn. E. Seymour Woodruff also records a mixture of Canadian and Car- olinian birds from Milford, Pike county. The Myrtle Warbler was noted there as early as August 20. Of interest in the account of the June bird-life of Fulton county, by Witmer Stone, are the notes on the Wild Turkey, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Bewick's Wren, Blackburnian Warbler, and especially the Prairie Horned Lark ; this being, as Mr. Stone believes, the southernmost summer record of this bird east of the Alleghanies. An interesting article by R. F. Miller tells of the breeding of the Florida Galli- nule within the city limits of Philadelphia. Two Purple Grackle roosts in the vicin- ity of Philadelphia are described by San- ford Omensetter and C. J. Peck, respec- tively. In September and October as many as 50,000 to 75,000 birds, it is estimated, visit the Overbrook Roost every night. Here, as in other localities, many Robins roost with the Grackles, but no Red-winged Blackbirds have been observed in their com- pany. From the records of sixty observers, Mr. Stone has compiled a report on the spring migration of 1905 in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, the dates of arrivals at sev- enteen stations in the vicinity of Philadelphia being given in tabular form. The abstract of the proceedings of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club for 1905, the Bibliog- raphy and ' Bird Club Notes ' close this in- teresting number. — W. DeW. M. Wisconsin Bird Study Bulletin, 1906. Issued by C. P. Cary, State Superin- tendent. Prepared by Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Mitchell. Edited by Maud Bar- nett. The Department of Public Instruction of the State of Wisconsin continues to show its active interest in bird study by issuing this attractive pamphlet. It treats of eleven common birds at some length, and gives colored plates of ten of them. — F. M. C. Book News Mr. A. H. Estabrook, of Clark Uni- versity, has inaugurated an inquiry into the present status of the English or House Spar- row, and asks us to publish the following questions. All information should be sent directly to Mr. Estabrook: "Circular of inquiry with reference to the present status of the English Sparrow prob- lem in America. " 1 . Are you familiar with Bulletin No. 1, 'The English Sparrow in America,' pub- lished by the Agricultural Department in 1889; and do you agree with the facts there presented, and with its conclusions? "2. Is the English Sparrow present in your locality? How numerous? Are they increas- ing or decreasing in numbers? "3. What is being done to exterminate them? Please outline methods which you deem effective. "4. What influence have you observed the English Sparrow to have upon native birds? " 5. Would public opinion in your local- ity favor the adoption of effective measures to exterminate this species? (69)
