354 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 36 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY. 



The larger North American mammals, E. W. Nelson (Nat. Geogr. Mag., SO 

 (1916), No. 5, pp. 385-472, pi. 1, figs. 73). — ^This paper includes accounts of 57 

 large North American mammals and colored illustrations from paintings by 

 Louis Agassiz Fuertes of each of the animals considered. 



Interim report on the feeding habits of the rook (Corvus frugilegus), H. S. 

 Leigh (London: Econ. Ornitliol. Committee, Brit. Assoc. Adv. ScL, 1914, pp- 

 15). — "The results of this investigation, so far as it has progressed from the 

 consideration of 209 stomachs, show that a large proportion of the food of the 

 rook consists of grain, and that it is taken mainly in the autumn, winter, and 

 early spring months. The total amount of animal food is not so large as grain, 

 but reaches a high percentage during May, June, July, August, and September. 

 There is some evidence to show that a grain diet may be preferred, but there is 

 also evidence which shows that a great many insects (about half of which are 

 injurious) are taken by the rook particularly in its nestling stage, and that it 

 is therefore most important to have a good supply of birds during this phase in 

 its life history. It is difficult from the evidence yet obtained by this inquiry to 

 say whether the rook is on the whole a beneficial or an injurious bird, as the 

 material upon which the account is based is not sufficiently representative." 



The rat and infantile paralysis: A theory, M. W. Richardson (Boston Med. 

 and Surg. Jour., 175 (1916), No. 12, pp. 397-400; abs. in Jour Amer. Med. 

 Assoc., 67 (1916), No. 15, p. 1118).— The author presents facts and reports ob- 

 servations which support the theory that poliomyelitis is transferred by rodents 

 or by insects, or by both. In the transfer of the infection from rat to man the 

 agency of the flea is assumed, although possible contamination of food by rodent 

 excretions Is suggested. 



The animal parasites of man, the diseases which they transmit, and their 

 treatment, M. Beaxtn and O. Seifert (Die tierischen Parasiten des Menschen, 

 die von ihnen Hervorgerufenen Erkrankungen und Hire Heilung. Wursburg: 

 Curt Kahitzsch, 1915, vol. 1, 5. rev. and enl. ed., pp. X-'r559, figs. //07).— This 

 first volume deals with the natural history of the animal parasites of man, in- 

 cluding classified bibliography (pp. 451-545). See also the work of Fantham 

 et al. (E. S. R., 36, p. 152). 



A new and economically important tapeworm, Multiceps gaigeri, from the 

 dog, M. C. Hall (Jour. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc, 50 (1916), No. 2, pp. 214-223, 

 figs. 4). — M. gaigeri, of which the dog is the primary and Capra hircus the sec- 

 ondary host in India, is described as new. 



Report of the entomologist, R. H. Van Zwalttwenbubg (Porto Rico Sta. 

 Rpt. 1915, pp. 42-45). — In the search for a shade tree for coffee in which the 

 hormiguilla ( Myrmelachista ambigua ramulormn) can not colonize with guest 

 scales, 12 common native tree species were experimented with, but no tree suit- 

 able for shade was found in which the ants could not be forced to colonize. 

 Colonies of this ant seem to thrive better and cause more damage when the pink 

 scale (Coccus sp.) is the guest than when the mealy bug alone is harbored. 

 The coffee leaf weevil (Lachnopus sp.), which is very destructive to coffee at 

 the higher altitudes, has not been observed to occur at an elevation lower than 

 300 meters (984 ft.). In some districts it is the most serious pest of coffee. 

 It feeds on the edges of young leaves, but the greatest loss is caused through 

 feeding on flowers, young buds, and the newly-set berries. 



A common weevil, Paris torqunfns, was found breeding in the branches of 

 eggplant, in some eases killing the plants completely. Since its developmental 

 stages are passed within the stems of the plant it may be easily controlled by 

 removing and destroying them. A lace-wing (Corythaica monacha), which is 

 very common on the eggi^lant, causes the plants to curl and turn brown. 



