ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 449 



Observations on the oak mildew in 1908, Noffray (Bui. Soc. Nat. Agr. 

 France. 69 (1900), Xo. S, pp. 220-232). — Observations are reported on the oak 

 mildew, whic-h made its appearance in 1907 and became quite destructive in 

 190S. 



Tbe autlior concludes that the oidium stage present is not the summer form 

 of PhyUactinia siiffulta, as has been claimed. His observations were made 

 largely on the development and spread of the disease, and he states that in 

 general it is worse on coppice 3 years old or less, and that it rarely occurs 

 on trees in coppice that have attained 7 or 8 years. Apparently most of the 

 indigenous species of oaks are subject to attack, as well as the American 

 species when grown as coppice, but when grown isolated the American species 

 seem to be free from this i^est. 



The fungus injures the trees by checking the normal development, inducing 

 a great multiplication of branchlets during the summer, and through the 

 destruction of the leaves, preventing the ligniflcation of the extremities of the 

 branches. 



A new fungus on swamp cedar, H. J. Banker (BuI. Torrey Bat. Club, 36 

 (1909), No. 6, pp. 3 '/J -3^3, pi. 1). — A description is given of Steccherium 

 ballouii n. sp.. which has been found growing on the swamp cedar, proving 

 quite destructive. So far as present information goes, the fungus seems to be 

 confined to this one host plant, and it is likely to escape notice, as the sporo- 

 phores are borne high on the tree close to or in the canopy, and from ■ their 

 position, size, and coloring, and tendency to fall away from the deadened 

 wood, they are not readily detected. This species and one other (Echino- 

 dontiiuiv tinctorium) of the family Hydnacese are the only ones known to be 

 strictly parasitic. 



Carnation alternariose, F. L. Stevens and J. G. Hall (Bot. Oaz., //7 (1909), 

 No. 5. pp. -'i09-'il3, figs. 8). — The authors' attention was called to a disease of 

 cultivated carnations, and an examination of infected material showed that 

 the cause had been hitherto undescribed. 



The disease manifests itself as spots, mostly upon the leaves, but sometimes 

 upon the stems, especially at the nodes. These spots have an ashy whiteness, 

 the centers of which are more or less occupied by a black fungus growth. The 

 tissues are dried, somewhat shrunken, and thinner than healthy portions of 

 the leaf. When occurring at the nodes the finigus usually involves the bases 

 of both of the leaves, as well as the stem between them, and as the spots 

 increase the stem is penetrated, the tissue is killed, and the death of the distal 

 portion of the plant is caused. 



So far the variety Mrs. Thomas W. Lawson appears particularly subject to 

 the disease. 



A laboratory study was made of the fungus, and inoculations showed that 

 the disease could be readily transferred. The cause is determined to be 

 AUernaria dianthi n. sp., the cultural and other characters of which are 

 described. 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY. 



The Biota of the San Bernardino Mountains, J. Grinnell ( Univ. Cal. Pubs., 

 Zool., 5 (190H), No. 1, pp. 1-170, pis. 2.'i; abs. in Science, n. ser., 29 (1909), No. 

 7Jf8, pp. 700. 701). — This account is based upon collections made from the highest 

 mountain group in southern California by the author and his assistants during 

 the summers of 1905, 190G, and 1907. Four zones are represented in this region. 

 Lists are given of the plants, birds, mammals, and reptiles collected. More par- 

 ticular attention was given to the collection of birds, of which 139 si>ecies are re- 



