550 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



A hypothetical list, which includes species that have been attributed to Michi- 

 gan but whose status is doubtful ; a list of books, papers, and short notes relating 

 mainly or entirely to Michigan birds ; a glossary of the technical terms used in 

 keys and descriptions; an outline of classification of North American birds; and 

 a list of contributors, are presented in appendixes. 



Hungarian partridge and pheasants in Missouri, J. A. Tolerton (Dept. 

 Game and Fish [Missouri], Bill. 1, 1911, jip. 100, pis. 2). — This bulletin consists 

 largely of reports received from correspondents relating to the experimental 

 raising of Chinese pheasants and Hungarian partridges in Missouri. 



Studies in bird migration, W. E. Clahke (London, 1912, vols. 1, pp. XVI-\- 

 323, pis. 9; 2, pp. VII+3-^G, pis. 16, fig. i).— These studies are said to be the re- 

 sults of many years' personal observations and researches, during which excep- 

 tional opportunities for acquiring special knowledge of the subject were afforded 

 the author. 



The food of birds, Lauea Florence (Trajis. Highland and Agr. Sod. Scot., 

 5. scr., 2^1 (1912), pp. 180-219). — In this paper the author presents details of a 

 year's investigations of the food of 616 birds, representing 73 species. The 

 majority of the birds examined were shot while feeding on agricultural land, 

 and the specimens were obtained chiefly in the northeastern counties of Scot- 

 land, although a small number sent from the southern counties and England 

 have been included. 



"During a week of severe frost in February (1910) a number of starlings 

 were examined, and in almost every case the food consisted of corn, seeds, and 

 fruits of weeds and wild plants. All the seeds, with the exception of the com, 

 were found in every part of the intestine in perfect condition, consequently 

 providing no sustenance for the birds, who were thus acting as distributors of 

 the seeds." 



Bird protection with particular consideration of the insect eating birds, 

 G. RoRiG (Fhigschr. Deut. Landw. Gesell., 1910, No. 11, pp. 1,6, figs. i5).— This 

 paper deals largely with the practical methods of fostering and protecting bene- 

 ficial birds. 



Notes on the bionomics of rats and ground squirrels, G. W. MoCoy (Puh. 

 Health and Mar. Hosp. Serv. U. S., Put). Health Rpts., 27 (1912), No. 27, pp. 

 1068-1072) . — The notes here presented are based on observations made in con- 

 nection with the eradication work conducted in California. They relate to 

 breeding and raising in captivity, life in captivity, breeding seasons, foods, and 

 the starvation of rats. 



Comparative investigations of the action of bacterial and chemical rat 

 destroying preparations, Aumann (Centhl. Bakt. [etc.], 1. Abt., Orig., 63 

 (1912), No. 2-3, pp. 212-221, figs. 2). — In observations and experiments extend- 

 ing from 1905 to 1910 in which 30 preparations were employed, the best results 

 followed the use of phosphorus (from 96 to 100 per cent mortality) and squill 

 (from 60 to 75 per cent mortality) preparations. With bacterial preparations 

 only unsatisfactory results (20 to 334 per cent mortality) were obtained. 



The rat guard used in the Philippine Islands, C. Fox (Pub. Health and 

 Mar. Hosp. Serv. U. S., Put). Health Rpts., 27 (1912), No. 23, pp. 907, 908, figs. 

 2). — A rat guard for ships' lines is described and illustrated. 



Crawfish as crop destroyers, A. K. Fisher ( U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1911, 

 pp. 321-32',, pi. 1). — Although crawfish have heretofore been generally sup- 

 posed to be of little agricultural importance, it has been found that in the 

 Houston clay lands in Mississip])i and Alabama, there are areas estimated at 

 not less than 1,000 square miles infested by crawfish on which it is almost 

 imix)ssible to raise any crops with profit. The formation they inhabit is a 



