558 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The blood-sucking diptera, K. Grunberg (Die BUitsuugcnden Dipteren. 

 Jena, 1907, pp. 17 + i8<S', /?V/,s-. 127). — An attempt is made to give in convenient 

 form information concerning tlie appearance and economic importance of all 

 groups of blood-sucking diptera with particular reference to the German col- 

 onies. Several of the groups of diptera discussed are known to he agents in the 

 transmission of diseases. Other groups may be so concerned and should receive 

 more attention with this idea in mind. The insects studied by the author 

 include Psychodidu', ('ulicida\ ChironomidfP, Slmuliida^, Tabanidte, and various 

 other families. 



A type of Simulium reptans in the equatorial Congo, p]. Kouraud (Ann. 

 Inst. Pd.stciir. 21 (J 907), Xo. S, pp. 670, 6'77). — This European species of Simu- 

 lium is reported to be widely distributed in eipiatorial Congo. It lives among 

 vegetation but attacks cattle, antelopes, and elephants for the purpose of sucking 

 their blood. 



Insect collection, II. A. Surfack (Zool. Bid. Pcnn. Dept. Agr., o (1907), 

 No. 5, pp. 131-166, pis. 2, figs. 30). — A popular account of the m.ethods of col- 

 lecting and preserving insects as specimens and for study. 



Analyses of Paris green, C. S. Cathcart (Xew Jersey 8tas. Bui. 205, pp. 9). — 

 The advertised weight of packages of Paris green obtained in the open market 

 appear to include the weight of the I'aris green and that of the container. At 

 any rate the Paris green in such packages amounted to 6.1(8 per cent less by 

 weight than was claimed by the manufacturers. In 29 samples analyzed by the 

 author the average content of arsenious oxid was 57.31 per cent, that of water 

 soluble arsenic 1.98 per cent, and that of copper oxid 29.73 per cent. Twenty- 

 three of the samples are considered to be of high grade. 



FOODS— HUMAN NUTRITION. 



The tuna as a food for man, R. F. Hare and D. Griffiths (Neiv Mexico 

 Sta. Bui. 6'i. PI). 88, pis. 7, figs. 2). — Cactus fruit, particularly tuna or the fruit 

 of the prickly pear (Opuntia) is an important food stuff in Mexico and used to 

 a less extent in the southwestern I'nited States. The authors describe the struc- 

 ture and appearance of the fruits, methods of harvesting, keeping qualities, dried 

 tunas, and tuna products. These products and a number of samples of fresh 

 tuna fruits, the majority of them from Mexico, >vere analyzed, as well as a 

 sample of the fruit of another variety of cactus (Echinocereus stramineus) or 

 Mexican strawberry. 



The average weight of the Texas-grown tuna was 35.43 gm. and of the Mexi- 

 can samples 71.17 gm. In the Texas samples the edible portion was 28.44 per 

 cent of the total and contained 6.74 per cent total solids, 0.356 per cent total 

 protein of which 0.143 per cent was amid nitrogen, 2.94 per cent total sugar as 

 dextrose, and 0.30 per cent ash in soluble solids. In the case of the Mexican 

 samples the edible portion constituted 42.26 per cent of the total fruit and con- 

 tained 11.84 per cent total solids, 0.377 per cent total protein of which 0.276 per 

 cent was amids, 9.53 per cent total sugar as dextrose, and 0.36 per cent ash in 

 soluble solids. The character of the sugar and ash constituents and of other 

 chemical constituents was also studied. In general, analysis " of the whole 

 fruit as well as rind and pulp shows the amount of acid to be exceeedingly vari- 

 able in the different varieties of this fruit. In fact, it was found to be variable 

 for different samples of the .same variety, depending, no doubt, upon the degree 

 of ripeness of the fruit. . . . 



" The percentage of sugar varied a great deal for the different varieties, and, as 

 was to be expected. It varied at times for the same variety, dei^euding, no 

 doubt, ni)on the season and degree of ripeness. 



