DEC. 4, 1921 ABSTR.\CTS: ORNITHOLOGY 495 



This report describes the character of the rocks and their hydration and 

 decomposition products, also the character and classification of the chrome 

 ores and the nature of the gangue minerals. 



The chrome ores are believed to have been formed by the local concen- 

 tration of suspended grains and crystals of chromite during the cooling of 

 the molten peridotite magma after its intrusion into the gneisses. Con- 

 vectional circulation was probably the chief agent in the process. The chance 

 of large bodies of deeper-seated ore having been formed at the same time 

 is thought to be very small. R. W. Stone. 



BIOLOGY. — A new classification of animals. Austin H. Clark. Bulle- 

 tin de rinstitut Oceanographique (Monaco), No. 400, pp. 1-24. 20 

 September, 1921. 



This paper is an amplification of the short note on the steps in the evolution 

 of animals published in this Journal,^ and also includes a consideration of the 

 corresponding steps in the evolution of plants. A key is given to all of the 

 animal phyla, in which the larger plant groups are also included, and finally 

 there is a list of the ph3da and higher groups accepted by the author. Several 

 of the higher groups and one of the phyla (Calyssozoa) are here proposed for 

 the first time. ' A. H. C. 



ENTOMOLOGY.— Z^w^^z-^/oM of flies by flight. F. C. Bishopp and E. W. 

 Laake. Journ. Agric. Res. 221: 729-766. 1921. 

 This paper discusses the dispersion of flies by flight and experiments listed 

 and described show that under rural and urban conditions many species of 

 flies have marked powers of diffusion. The house fly spread a maximum 

 distance of 13.14 miles from the point of release. It is noted that the species 

 tested often pass feeding and breeding grounds and from the experiments there 

 are certain facts which indicate that they have marked migratory habits. 

 The relation of the direction of dispersion and the direction of the winds is 

 discussed and it is stated that no correlation could be determined because 

 when the experiments were conducted. the wind conditions were considered 

 as choppy. The evidence gained by the experiments justifies the conclusion 

 that passing vehicles on highways are not a dominating factor in the dispersion 

 of the flies used. There is no marked difference between the dispersion of 

 males and females. The facility with which flies travel many miles empha- 

 sizes the importance of the general application of sanitary measures looking 

 toward the suppression of fly breeding. S. A. RohwER. 



ORNITHOLOGY. — A new ptarmigan from Mount Rainier. W. P. Taylor. 

 Condor 22: 146-152. 1920. 



A new ptarmigan from Mount Rainier is here named Lagopus leucurus 

 rainierensis. Harry C. Oberholser. 



ORNITHOLOGY.— TFa/^r/owZ in Nebraska. H. C. Oberholser. Bull. 

 U. S. Dept. Agric. 794: 2-35. 1920. 

 The principal waterfowl breeding ground in Nebraska is the sandhill region, 

 which occupies the middle portion of the State. The most important groups 

 of lakes are those of eastern Cherry County, Brown County, Garden and 

 Morrill Counties, and those at the head of the North Loup River. All these 



1 This Journal 11: 207-208. IMay 4, 1921. 



