174 EXPEKIMENT STATION KECOKD. 



There is a brief account of the mounted service in the militia and of police 

 in large cities. Specifications for saddle horses purchased in 1910 for the use 

 of the New York mounted police, a brief account of the horse breeding work of 

 this Department, and an outline of the plan for encouraging the breeding of 

 horses for the army, are also given. 



The restricted climatic environment of horses, C. E. Woodruff {Jour. 

 IT. S. Cavalry Assoc, 22 (1912), No. 90, pp. 1086-1103).— The significance of 

 size, immunity to disease, coat color, and skin pigments in adapting horses to 

 different climates is discussed. It is stated that a military horse fit for cam- 

 paigning in all climates can not be bred, as he must be able to live in the open 

 with little or no shelter. 



Watering- the heated horse, W. P. Hill (Jour. U. S. Cavalry Assoc, 22 

 (1912), No. 90, pp. 1017-1020). — It is maintained that it is a fallacy to believe 

 that it is harmful for a heated horse to drink water, as large amounts may be 

 drunk if the temperature of the water is not cold enough to chill the horse. 



Pigeon culture as an agricultural industry, V. P. Gonchaeov (Ezheg. Dept. 

 Zenil. [Russia], 1910, pp. Ji52-51tli, pis. 10, figs. 13). — The author describes the 

 different varieties of pigeons, and discusses breeding, housing, feeding, and 

 marketing. A bibliography of Russian and other publications, including peri- 

 odicals devoted to pigeon culture, is appended. 



Domestication of the fox, B. I. Rayneb and J. W. Jones (Amcr. Breeders 

 Mag., S (1912), No. 1, pp. 37— 'to, figs. 3). — An account of the silver fox industry 

 in Prince Edward Island, where there are at present about SO ranches stocked 

 with about 200 fine dai*k silvers, 300 silver-grays, and 400 light silvers, the total 

 skin value amounting to about $550,000, and breeding stock estimated at about 

 $1,500,000 at current prices. The methods of feeding, management, and sale of 

 furs are discussed. 



Biological investigations on pregnancy, E. Abderhalden and M. Kiutsi 

 (Hoppe-Seyler's Ztschr. Physiol. Chem., 77 (1912), No. .',, pp. 21,9-258) .—A. 

 preliminary note on experiments in the use of biochemical methods for diag- 

 nosing pregnancy in horses, rabbits, and guinea pigs. 



The experimental production of the maternal placenta and the function 

 of the corpus luteum, L. Loeb (Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc, 53 (1909), No. 18, 

 pp. U71-1474; Med. Rec [N. Y.], 77 (1910), No. 26, pp. 1083-1087; ZentU. 

 Physiol., 2J, (1910), No. 6, pp. 203-208; Proc 8oc. Expt. Biol, and Med., 7 

 (1910), No. 4, pp. 90, 91; Deut. Med. Wchnschr., 37 (1911), No. 1, pp. 17-21; 

 Arch. EnUvickl. Mech. Organ., 31 (1911), pt. 3, pp. 456--'i78, figs. 2; ZentU. 

 Physiol., 25 (1911), No. 9, pp. 336-3-'i3). — ^A series of studies on ovulation and 

 related topics. The maternal placenta could be produced artificially in guinea 

 pigs by the introduction of foreign bodies. The function of the corpus luteum 

 was thought to be that of synthesizing the uterine mucosa and to prevent 

 ovulation in pregnant animals. Also, by delaying the rupture of the follicle 

 even in nonpregnant animals the sexual period is prolonged. 



The size of the cell as a factor in form and function of domesticated 

 animals, K. von der Malsburg (Ar6. Deut. Gesell. Zilchtungsk., 1911, No. 10, 

 pp. 367, pis. 27). — Following a discussion of some biochemical, physical, and 

 morphological characters of cells, the author gives the average measurements 

 of the diameter of striated muscle fibers of horses, cattle, and sheep. 



In his opinion there is a correlation between the size of the muscle cells and 

 the different species, breeds, and types of live stock, although this is influenced 

 more or less by food, climate, and other ecological factors. He. therefore, sug- 

 gests the use of these average measurements as " histo-biological symbols " for 

 the different types and breeds of stock. 



