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172 THE CONDOR Vol. XIX nia". Each yeaifs field-work serves to add materially to the store of facts upon which he can draw, and the manuscript has now reached considerable proportions. In his field work the past season Mr. Dawson has been assisted by Mr. C. I. Clay. At the behest of Mr. E. O. McCormick, vice-president of the Southern Pacific Rail- road, Mr. H. S. Swarth, of the staff of the California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology has recently been devoting his attention to the birds of the "Apache Trail", central Ari- zona. A trip was made through the region, and specimens were collected and notes gathered, to serve as a basis for a published account of the birds of that section. This will be non-technical in character, designed to stimulate interest in persons without special knowl9dge cf the subject, as well as to draw the attention of the experienced bird student to the exceptionally interesting bird life of a unique corner of the United S rate s. Bird students in the San Francisco Bay region have recently interested themselves in the matter of the destruction of water birds by crude oil poured out of tank steam- ers plying to and from San Francisco. Re- ports of the destruction of large numbers of California Murres have been received from government employees stationed on the Farallon Islands, and other species are known to suffer in less degree from the same cause. The tank steamers come to the port with salt water as ballast in their oil tanks. As they approach the Golden Gate they pump out this water, and some residue oil is unavoidably carried with it. This oil floats back and forth on the surface of the water, and, getting on the feathers of the birds which alight to feed there, direct- ly or indirectly causes their death. Com- mittees from the Audubon Association of the Pacific and Cooper Ornithological Club are co-operating in an attempt to devise some means of securing alleviation .of this menace to our coastal bird life. In connection with the Enabling Act now pending in Congress, to give effect to the migratory bird treaty between the United States and Great Britain, we learn that at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Game and Fish Commissioners, held at Washington, D.C., June 13, 1917, resolutions were passed re- ccmmending that this bill, as relating to the conservation of natural resources, be considered an important war measure, and urging its immediate passage. We are fur- ther informed that while there is good prospect of the passage of this bill, still there are difficulties to be met, especially in the House of Representatives, and it is urged that everyone use his influence with his Congressional representatives, to get un- divided support for the measure. Most of the bird migration along the Pa- cific coast lacks the impressive rush and wave-like movement that characterizes the migration in the eastern states, but that is no reason why the subject should be neg- lected here. Indeed, this is a good reason for paying particular attention to the ar- rival and departure of our migrant species in the spring and fall. The problems of mi- gration are even more complex here than in the East and we therefore have need of much more data in attempting to explain our part of this ever-baffling mystery. All of our bird students, including both collect- ors and sight observers, should keep note- books and record the first and bulk arriv- als of all the species which occur in their localities, and also, what is much more dif- ficult, the dates of their departure. It is only by combining many such sets of notes, gathered over a term of years, that we will be able to make any serious attempt toward the successful solution of the problem. PUBLICATIONS REVIEWED BIRDS OF TI-IE ISLANDS OFF THE COAST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. By ALFREI) BRAZIER HOWELL. :Pacific Coast Avifauna Number 12. Published by the Cooper Ornithological Club, June 30, 1917; pp. 1-127, 1 map. A valuable addition to the Pacific Coast Avifauna series has appeared in Number 12, which will prove of interest and great u?ility to the student of insular bird life, as well as of much importance as a book of reference to general ornithologists. In this publication Mr. Howell shows not only that he is familiar with island conditions and characteristics, but that he has worked most persistently and diligently to gather together all available data and information concerning the avian population of these islands. The bibliography is as complete as would seem possible, and yet there is a full synonymy accompanying the account of each species. In fact the .latter appears to be more complete than necessary, in connec- tion with such a bibliography; but, as the author has been willing to perform such a laborious task, the student of the book will have good cause to congratulate himself upon being saved a lot of trouble. Mr. Howell seems to have left no stone unturned within his reach that might have some fact or record hidden beneath it. There are probably other stones that have escaped his careful search, whose existence is known to none but the owners thereof, and which may cover valuable information. It will be a service to all students of insular