ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 855 



which are claimed to favor its attaclcs. As a result of these investigations, 

 the conclusions are reached that R. inflata is common even on sound trees 

 throughout the pineries of Fontainebleau ; that the development of the fruiting 

 bodies is favored by the fertilizing constituents of ashes left by forest fires 

 and woodmen's fires; and that it is at present doubtful whether the disease 

 is caused by invasion of the pine roots by the mycelium of R. inflata which, 

 according to the author, occurs rather after the weakening of the tree by the 

 disease, the reason of which he claims to be at present unknown. 



Experiments in spraying' with polysulphids and other fung'icides in 1911, 

 E. Pantanelli {Btaz. Sper. Agr. Itnl., J,5 {1912), No. 3, pp. 161-190).— The 

 author's experiments resulted in the following conclusions: 



The polysulphids of calcium, barium, and zinc with sodium have shown an 

 eflScacy equal or superior to that of Bordeaux mixture in controlling Exoascus 

 deformans and other fungus diseases of peach and apple. They have also been 

 used with success against Oidium of rose, oak, and euonymus, against Ex- 

 obasidium azalew, etc. These polysulphids and combinations thereof with 

 Bordeaux mixtui'e, acetixte of copper, and nitrate of silver are recommended as 

 efiicacious also against Peronospora and Oidium of the grape. The polysul- 

 phids of barium and zinc with sodium are said to show a stimulating action 

 on vegetation, esi3ecially that of peaches, and to be harmless to both leaves and 

 flowers, whereas those of calcium are fatal to the foliage of the peach. The 

 question of relative cost is also discussed. 



[The mechanical reduction of spray particles], P. Larue (Rev. Vit., 

 37 (1912), No. 967, pp. 879-8S1, figs. 5).— This is a report on experiments made 

 with nozzles of various- forms, but having orifices mainly cylindrical with a 

 conical flare. 



It is stated that no conclusions have been drawn as to the best form, but 

 that a suitable smallness of droplets could not be attained at a shorter distance 

 than 50 cm. from the nozzle. This fact is said to be an obstacle to the employ- 

 ment of devices for spraying stems, branches, and lower leaf surfaces with the 

 maximum of economy as regards liquid and labor. 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOOY— ENTOMOLOGY. 



Distribution and origin of life in America, R. F. Scharff (London, 1911, 

 pp. XVI-\-Ji97, pis. 21). — The chapters of this work are devoted to the fauna 

 of Greenland, the fauna of northeastern North America, the animals of the 

 Canadian Northwest, the fauna of Alaska, the Rocky Mountains and their 

 inhabitants, the animals of the Eastern States, the fauna of the Continental 

 Basin, the Southeastern States and Bermuda, southwestern North America 

 and its fauna, the fauna of Central America, the West Indian Islands and their 

 Inhabitants, the fauna and flora of the Galapagos Islands, the animals of the 

 northwestern States of South America, the fauna of eastern South America, 

 and Argentina and Chile. 



A bibliography of the principal works consulted in its preparation, consisting 

 of 32 pages, and a general index are included. 



Food of some well-known birds of the forest, farm, and garden, F. E. L. 

 Beal and W. L. McAtee (U. 'S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 506, pp. 35, figs. 16). — 

 This bulletin deals with 20 birds selected because of their economic importance 

 to farmers and fruit growers of the respective regions they inhabit. With the 

 exception of 3 species of sapsuckers, all the birds treated are beneficial and 

 should be recognized and protected. The species considered are, the three- 

 toed woodpeckers (PlcoMes arcticus and P. americanus) ; California wood- 

 pecker (Melanerpes formicivorus hairdi) ; Lewis woodpecker (Asyndesmus 

 70257°— No. 9—13 5 



