452 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



The injurious birds of France, E. D'Aeenberg (Les Oiseaux Nuisibles de 

 France. Orleans, 1911, vol. 1, pp. 109, pis. 21). — This first volume deals with 

 vultures, eagles, hawks, and owls. 



Crows and the damage they cause in Denmark, J. E. V. Boas {Tidsskr. 

 LaiHlhr. Phniteavl, IS (1911), No. 1, pp. 109-137, pi. i).— This is an investiga- 

 tion of the character and extent of the damage done by crows in Denmark. 

 The author finds that they are unquestionably the source of enormous damage 

 to agriculture, while the good they do is insignificant. Remedial measures and 

 legislation against crows are briefly considered. 



The physiological effects of low temperatures, Pictet (Abs. in ScL Amer. 

 Sup., 12 (1911), No. 1878, p. J,23).— The author has found that the eggs of the 

 silkworm can be cooled to —40° C. without affecting their viability. The eggs 

 of birds were killed at a temperature of — 2 to — 3°. 



Report of the entomologist of the Arizona Horticultural Commission, 

 A. W. Morrill (Ariz. Hort. Com. Ann. Rpt., 3 (1911). pp. 11-33, figs. 13).— 

 This report for the year ended June 2.8, 1911, is divided into 2 parts, part 1 

 consisting of a review of the activities in insect control, etc., and part 2 dealing 

 with insects notably injurious. 



Among the pests that were of special importance during the year were a 

 species of Harrisina and a leaf hopper (Dicraneura cocJcereUi), which attacked 

 the grape; E nth rips tritici, which killed many young peach and plum trees, 

 seriously damaged others, and almost entirely destroyed the blooms of later 

 varieties of peaches, plums, and apricots in many orchards in the Salt River Valley 

 and also injured alfalfa ; a rose beetle ( Macrodactylus uniformis) , which attacked 

 fruit and vegetable crops: the melon capsid (Pycnodercs quadrimaculatus), 

 which seriously injuried melons and late squashes; a lace bug (Corythuca sp.), 

 which injured vegetables at Yuma ; the beet leaf hopper ; the variegated cut- 

 worm (Peridroma margaritosa saucia), which injured alfalfa; the clover seed 

 chalcis fly, which injured clover and alfalfa seed; and the eastern peach tree 

 borer, which was found to infest shipments of nursei*y stock ; etc. 



In remedial experiments conducted it was found that the flower thrips could 

 be controlled by the use of lime-sulphur or a nicotin solution. 



Agricultural defense (An. Soc. Rural Argentina, Agr. and Live Stock, 1910, 

 pp. 153-160, figs. 2). — This is an account of the woi'k being carried on in 

 Argentina by the Institution of Agricultural Defense, which was originally 

 organizetl in 1897-98 as a commission for the extinction of the locust. Au 

 account is given of the work conductfid with the migratory locust, the West 

 Indian peach scale (Aulacaspis [Diaspis] pentagona), leaf-cutting ants (Atta 

 spp.), etc. 



Second report on economic biology, W. E. Collinge (Rpt. Econ. Biol., 2 

 (1912), pp. VII +70, figs. 15). — The more important pests of the year are briefly 

 considered under the headings of animals injurious to farm and garden prod- 

 uce, fruit trees, and forest and ornamental trees, plant diseases due to fungi, 

 animal parasites and diseases, etc. 



Studies on the life history of the mangel or beet fly (Pegomyia betce), 

 of Clonus scrophularia\ a new pest of mangels and beets, and of the locomotion 

 and length of life of the young of Pulvinaria vitis ribesiw are included in the 

 report. On smooth white paper or glass P. vitis rihesicB traveled nearly 8 ft. 

 in a period of 2 hours in a temperature between 78° and 84° F.' On a teak 

 boarded surface in the same length of time, at a slightly higher temperature, 

 the rate of progress was just over 4 ft. in 2 hours. The larvse continued to 

 live in a temperature of up to 105°, but higher than that the rate of mortality 

 was great. Three larvae lived in a temperature of 105°, without any food, for 

 a period of 20 days. 



