the ducks and geese, and probably few of the limicoline species, are probably one tenth as numerous now as they were 250 years ago, while a great depletion has also occurred among the gulls and terns. This great diminution is, of course, not limited to the state of Massachusetts, but likewise characterizes most of the Atlantic states and some of the older states of the interior. The reduction has mainly been brought about by the destruction of forests, the progress of agriculture, and the excessive use of the gun.-Bulletin Nuttall Ornithological Club, September.

CATALOGUE OF ALL THE BIRDS KNOWN UP TO THIS DAY.

For three years M. Boucard has had this volume in prep aration, which has been published in London. 2456 genera and 11,030 species of birds are mentioned, though he thinks a large proportion of these genera and species should be abol ished. The catalogue begins with the Ostriches, as he believes that they approach most closely fossil types, while the Trochilidæ are the most recent, and perhaps the most perfect. He proposes a good many changes, among others three new orders. While he enumerates the names of leading European ornithologists from Linnæus down to Gulliver, no American name is mentioned in the preface. He says that he has examined more than 100,000 skins, and determined more than 50,000, of which he possesses the greater part.Journal de Zoologie, V., No. 4.

DOMESTICATING THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN.

According to Mr. James A. Storm, of St. Josephs, prairie chickens, or pinnated grouse, are more easily tamed than any birds of his acquaintance. He has had them eat from his hand in the space of five or six days from the time they were caught. They will also breed while confined, if provided with a suitable run. He proposes this year to try the experiment of domesticating and breeding them, and thinks they can be raised to great advantage. One object of his experiment is to obtain a cross between them and the bantam. This, he thinks, will give the bantam more stami na and hardness, making it less liable to disease, as well as tending to keep it of the diminutive size so much sought after. If crossed by the Dominique bantam, he thinks the

original markings of the prairie chicken will be thereby retained.

ADDITIONAL REMAINS OF THE Moa.

It is probable that the gigantic fossil bird of New Zealand, known to the natives as the Moa, and scientifically as the Dinornis, Palapteryx, etc., will become a very common object in natural-history museums, as new discoveries of bones in large number are continually being made. The latest record is that of fifteen specimens found along the beach, about sixty miles to the north of Auckland, a more northern location than has hitherto been assigned to this group. With the bones were found several human skulls and a complete human skeleton, a rude stone hatchet, and some obsidian chips, etc., furnishing another confirmation of the well-established fact of the co-existence of the Moa with man. It will, perhaps, be remembered that among the most interesting objects in the American Museum of Natural History, in the Central Park, is a series of skeletons of this bird, procured from Dr. Julius Haast, of Christchurch, New Zealand.-12 A, February 3, 273.

THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS.

During the cold period which lasted from the 12th of December, 1874, up to the end of that month, it was remarked in England that a great number of birds belonging to species which are not in the habit of leaving their own country were found collected, as if they meditated seeking a milder climate. Unusual flights of migratory birds were equally noticed. Evidently these birds were endeavoring to escape from the temperature which was too severe for them. A comparison of the observations of naturalists with the weathercharts published in Europe and America makes it now seem certain that the weather immediately prevailing, and not that which is about to come in the near future, is the element which decides the movement of the greater number of migratory birds.

FOSSIL BIRDS IN AMERICA.

Professor Marsh continues to find objects of interest in the immense collection of fossil vertebrates gathered by himself

and his employés in the West during the past ten years. We have already referred to his discovery of a new form of pterodactyl, characterized by the entire absence of teeth, and their probable replacement by a horny sheath like that of the bill of modern birds.

He now announces two additional fossil birds possessing teeth implanted in sockets. One is a new species of the first division, Hesperornis, and the other forms the type of a new genus, Lestornis (L. crassipes), the remains of which indicate a large swimming bird, fully six feet in length from the bill to the end of the toes.-4 D, June, 1876.

ADDITION TO NORTH AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY—PYRRHOPHŒNA

RIEFFÈRI.

A few years ago the only species of humming-bird known with certainty to occur within the limits of the United States were the ruby-crowned, of Eastern North America, and the rufous or Nootkan hummer, of the Pacific coast. Since then quite a number of additions have been made by Mr. Xantus, Captain Feilner, Dr. Heerman, Mr. Henshaw, and others, a number of these being species occurring in Mexico, and detected across the United States border. The most recent addition of the kind is in the discovery by Dr. Merrill, of the United States army, in Texas, of Pyrrhophona rieffèri, taken not far from Brownsville.

There are about thirty species of humming-birds known to occur on the table-lands of Mexico, nearly all of which will be found to belong to the fauna of the United States.

THE HABITS OF BIRDS.

Ornithology has advanced greatly in this country during the past few years, and one of its longest strides has been in the direction of a knowledge of the migrations of birds, and of the causes which bring about these seasonal and united movements. But to ascertain what influences act with most force much more information is necessary, collected over wide areas and through successive seasons. The Forest and Stream suggests a series of points upon which observations, to be published, are especially useful and desirable. The queries are expected to bring replies that shall give the comparative abundance of birds in the observer's region, the

dates of arrival, departure, nest-building, laying of eggs, and hatching of young; the effect upon the relative abundance of particular species in retarding their arrival or hastening their departure that sudden changes of the weather, storms, and early and late seasons appear to have; and parallel notes upon the appearance of the quadrupeds, fishes, and reptiles of the region, and upon the times of flowering of plants, are also solicited. The importance of collecting such data is evident; when a sufficient amount of them is accumulated students will have the material for new advances in biology.

NEW FOSSIL GIANT BIRDS.

Professor Marsh continues his important articles upon the fossil vertebrates of the United States in a paper, printed in the American Journal of Science, upon the Odontornithes, or birds with teeth, in which he reviews the characters of certain genera, as Hesperornis, Ichthyornis, and Apatornis. He gives the group the rank of a sub-class characterized by the possession of teeth implanted in the jaw, and arranges them in two orders-the one, Ichthyornithes, with teeth in the sockets, vertebræ biconcave, sternum with keel, and wings well developed; the other, Odontolca, with teeth in grooves, vertebræ as in recent birds, sternum without keel, and wings rudimentary. The last-mentioned order has as its type the genus Hesperornis regalis, which was of gigantic size, the length from the apex of the bill to the end of the toes being between five and six feet. The rudimentary wings prove that flight was impossible, while the powerful swimming legs and feet were peculiarly adapted to rapid motion through the water. The tail appears to have been much expanded horizontally, as in the beaver, and doubtless was an efficient aid in diving, perhaps compensating for the want of wings, which the penguins use with so much effect in swimming under water.-4 D, June.

A TAME SERPENT.

A curious history is given by Mr. Buckland in Land and Water of a pet boa-constrictor, seven and a half feet in length, belonging to Mr. Mann, and which had become warmly attached to that gentleman and his wife, evincing its affection

in the most decided manner. In one instance the snake had been left for about six weeks in charge of a friend, and during this interval it was very quiet, and moped a good deal, as if missing its protectors. On their return, while still invisible to the snake, when its name was called by Mrs. Mann, it sprang forward with the greatest eagerness, and wound itself around her shoulders, caressing her in the most excited manner, and then moved to Mr. Mann, and twisted itself around him under his coat, but in neither case exerting any uncom fortable pressure.

The supposed cause of the death of this serpent is almost as curious as its manners in life, and is related by Mr. Mann as follows: During his own serious illness he was confined to his bed, and unable to respond to the caresses of the serpent. After a failure or two on its part to secure its accustomed attention, it retired to its bed, and, refusing food and water, died in a day or two, and as Mr. Mann believed verily from distress. Many interesting facts are given by Mr. Mann in regard to this remarkable serpent, who states that, although he has had many pets of different kinds, and some of them tolerably clever, he had never seen any animal that could compare with this boa for affection, quick sense, and goodhumor.-2 A, June 10, 42.

NEW ORDER OF PTEROSAURIA.

Professor Marsh, in the June number of the American Journal of Science, gives an account of a new order of Pterosauria, or winged saurians, embracing the pterodactyls. He finds, on examination of the specimens obtained by him in 1871 and 1872, that they really are not the equivalents of the pterodactyls of Europe, as they differ therefrom in the absence of teeth. In his opinion the jaws were probably incased in a horny covering like that of the bills of birds. In several other respects the jaws of this genus are more like those of birds than of any known reptiles.

The vertebræ are similar to those of European pterosau rians, and the atlas and axis are united. There are four phalanges in the wing finger, and the metacarpal that supports it is longer than one half of the fore-arm.

The head of one of the species of this new genus, which he calls Pteranodon longiceps, has a length of thirty inches from