ECONOMIC ZOOLOCtY — ENTOMOLOGY. 1143 



Aiiioriran niakcs of niacliiiios have been found inferior to some obtained in 

 lOurope, which are especially adapted to the distribution of sulphur. 



Rose canker, I'. Sokaukk (Ztschr. I'fianzcnkrank.. 11 ( lUdl). So. 1. itp. 22-32, 

 I'lx. 2). — A form of canker observed on Crimson Kamblcr and other roses which 

 :\pi)ears as a result of frost injury near the base of .the stems is described. A 

 similar injury is also reported upon various spir.-eas. 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY. 



Recent progi-ess in the study of variation, heredity, and evolution, R. H. 

 Lock (Loiidf/ii: ./. Miirnij/. J!)()6, /ip. .\'\'-\-2!>!), jils. .'>, fhjs. .'/?'). — In this volume 

 an attempt is made to sun)marize some of the results of recent investiji;ations 

 bearing upon the subject of heredity for the purpose of Indicating, wherever 

 l)ossible, their value to the breeder of animals and plants. Especial attention is 

 given to natiu'al selection, biometry, nuitation, ^lendelism. and cytology. Ex- 

 amples chosen to illustrate various features of evolution and heredity are 

 drawn both from the plant and animal kingdoms and from the work of recent 

 and also some of the older investigators. 



Mammals of the Mexican boundary of the United States, E. A. Mearns 

 (['. S. \<it. Miift. Bui. :>G. i)t. 1. pp. XV+.').iO. pis. ?.?. fifjs. 126). ^The biological 

 section attached to the international boundary survey between Mexico and the 

 I'nited States made observations on the mammals and plants of that region. 

 A list is given of the trees observed along the Mexican boundary line together 

 with a general account of the botanical features of this region and the flora. 

 'J"he greater part of the volume (pp. 149-501) is occupied with a detailed dis- 

 cussion of the mammals of the region belonging to the orders Marsupialia, 

 Edentata. Ungulata, and Glires. Particular attention is devoted to the ground 

 squirrels and mice. 



Useful birds and their protection, E. H. Forbush (Husfdii: Mass. Bd. Agr., 

 mm', pp. XX+'iS7. pis. 56. figs. J7i).— The Massachusetts State Board of Agri- 

 culture, in recognition of the economic importance of birds in the control of 

 insect pests, provided an appropriation for the preparation of a volume covering 

 the general habits of birds and their protection. The subject matter is largely 

 based on the facts and conditions observed in Massachusetts, but also applies 

 in large part to other sections of the country. 



The subjects discussed in the volume include the general value of birds to 

 man ; their utility in orchards, woodlands, fields, and gardens, the natural 

 checks which operate to diminish the multiplication of birds, and practical 

 methods for the protection of all useful birds. 



An ornithological cross-section of Illinois in autumn, S. A. Forbes {BuI. 

 lU. State Lab. Xat. Hist., 7 {1901). Art. 9, pp. 30.')-33o).— The purpose of the 

 observations reported in this article was to determine the relative frequency of 

 different species of birds, the feeding habits of which are fairly well known. 

 For this purjKise two of the assistants of the author were instructed to travel 

 across the State of Illinois from east to west, noting the species and number 

 of individuals of birds which could be observed within a strip of land 150 ft. 

 wide extending across the State. The area covered by these observations was 

 3.519 acres, and the total number of birds identified was 4,804, of which 1,620 

 were English sparrows and 3.184 native species. The observations showed the 

 presence of 874 birds per square mile, or 1.3() per acre. 



A number of tables are presented, showing the relative^ frecjuency of the IS 

 most important native birds of Illinois, the number of birds observed in fields 

 of different crops, and the apparent preference of birds for certain crops. It 

 5871— No. 12—07 4 



