756 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



iuterestiug animals of the country. A govei-nnient reserve has been established 

 for the protection of game and much is hoped for this movement in the future. 



Trapping rabbits at tanks or dams (Jour. Dept. Agr. »S'o. Aust., 10 (1907), 

 No. 12, pih S3:i. Sil'i, flfiH. 2). — A description and illustrations are given of a 

 device for trajiping rabbits when they seek watering i)]aces. 



The international convention for the protection of birds concluded in 

 1902; and Hungary. O. Hermaj* {Budaixsi, (hjvt., 1907, pp. TV/ + 2-^ ) .— The 

 international convention regarding the protection of. birds was concluded in 

 Paris in 1902 and was put into operation in Hungary in lOOi*. 



A copy is given of the text of the Hungarian law together with lists of 

 birds which should be protected, and the results which have followed this 

 national movement to protect birds are briefly outlined. 



Attention is called to the fact of the decrease of useful birds and the in- 

 crease in the numbers of destructive insects. These two phenomena are be- 

 lieved to be definitely correlated. 



Economic ornithology in relation to agriculture, horticulture, and forestry, 

 F. V. Theobald {Kvi. Protj. Tirciitictli Cent., 2 (1907), A'o. 6, pp. 263-2S.}). — 

 The economic status of the conmion species of birds in England has not been 

 determined with sufficient accuracy. The author calls attention to the fact 

 that in some countries in which birds are shot at all times of the year insect 

 and other pests are no worse than where birds are protected by law. The 

 sparrow, bull finch, sparrow hawk, and certain other species are condemned 

 as injurious, while the kestrel, owls, tits, and most gulls are beneficial, or at 

 least not injurious. Further study of the feeding habits of these birds is 

 necessary before more definite statements can be made regarding their economic 

 importance. 



American economic entomology, R. Lydekker (&ci. Prog. Twentieth Cent., 

 2 (1907), No. (), pp. 211-223). — A general I'eview is given of the work of the 

 Bureau of Entomology of this Department with particular reference to the in- 

 vestigation of cotton boll weevil, mosquitoes, San Jose scale, gipsy moth, forest 

 insects, bees, etc. 



Insect notes for 1907, Edith M. Patch (Maine f^ta. litil. I.'/S, pp. 261-282, 

 pis. 3). — Mention is made of the present status of the gipsy and brown-tail 

 moths in Maine. During the year great damage was done to hardwood forests 

 by lleterocanipd ffiittivittd. Biological and economic notes are also given on 

 the forest tent caterpillar, apple-tree tent-caterpillar, cherry-tree tortrix, and 

 various othei- orchard insects, grasshoppers, strawberry weevils, cucumber 

 beetles, rose chafers, sawflies, gall insects, etc. The tarnished plant bug was 

 present in enormous numbers during the previous fall, but in May following 

 it was found by examination of its hiding places that it had been largely de- 

 stroyed by the attacks of ground l)eetles. A number of experiments were made 

 in feeding ground beetles, particularly Pterostnelivs liieubhimlits, on various 

 species of insects. The ground beetles were found to l)e extremely voracious. 



Insect and other cotton pests and the methods suggested for their destruc- 

 tion, G. C. Dudgeon (BuI. Imp. Inst., 5 (1907), No. 2, pp. i-)0-166).— Biological 

 and economic notes are given on boll worm; Earias insiilana, E. fahia, cotton 

 worm, fall army worm, cutworms, various species of flies, locusts, ants, cotton 

 boll weevil, etc. 



Some factors in the natural control of the Mexican cotton boll weevil, 

 W. E. Hinds (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. Bui. 71,, pp. 79, pU. ■',, figs. 2).— The 

 present bulletin contains a record of a series of observations particularly on 

 four factors, viz., temperature, moisture conditions, natural enemies, and food 

 supply as affecting the control of the boll weevil, in the belief that a careful 



