652 EXPERIMEJTT STATION" RECORD. [Vol.38 



White pine blister rust (Rpt. Min. Lands, Forests and Mines, Ontario, 1916, 

 pp. Ufl-lJ/d, pi. 1). — A summary is given of the status of white pine blister 

 rust as it now exists in Ontario. A large number of infections of white pine 

 are reported to have been found in the Niagara Peninsula, especially in Pel- 

 ham, Thorold, and Grimsby townships, many being found on native pine. 

 The disease appears to have become firmly established and presents a serious 

 problem owing to the prevalence of both currants and white pine. 



Pure cultures of wood-rotting fungi on artificial media, W. H. Long and 

 R. M. Haksch {U. S. Dept. Agr., Jour. Agr. Research, 12 {1918), No. 2, pp. 33- 

 82). — The authors describe a method by which it is claimed that various wood- 

 rotting fungi can be differentiated from each other by their cultural characters 

 alone when grown upon artificial media, also a method by which the fruiting 

 bodies or sporophores of wood-rotting fungi can be produced from pure cul- 

 tui'es on artificial media. It is claimed that when cultural characters of closely 

 related but really distinct species are compared, marked and constant differences 

 in the character of the mycelium will be found on certain corresponding agars in 

 the series of cultures representing the two species, while if the fungi are really 

 of the same species, no constant differences will occur. 



Basing the conclusion on these facts, the authors state that unknown rots 

 can be identified by making pure cultures of the causative organisms from 

 diseased wood. 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY. 



Birds of America, edited by T. G. Pearson et al. {New York: The University 

 Society, Inc., 1917, vols. 1, pp. XV III +272, pis. J,0, figs. 213; 2, pp. XIV+2ni, 

 pis. 37, figs. 197; 3, pp. XVIII-{-289, pis. 34, figs. 182).— These volumes, which 

 comprise 1 to 3 of the Nature Lovers Library, contain precise and fairly 

 complete descriptions of the external physical appearance of about 1,000 spe- 

 cies and subspecies of American birds, based for the most part on Ridgway's 

 Birds of North and Middle America (E. S. R., 30, p. 851) ; popular characteriza- 

 tions, or life histories, of the species with especial regard for portraying their 

 interesting and distinctive traits; and data on the actual usefulness of birds 

 based on publications of the Bureau of Biological Survey of the U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. Under each species a technical description is given for 

 the use of the more expeiienced observer, which includes common names, 

 general description, color, nest and eggs, and distribution. This is followed 

 by a popular account in large type intended particularly for the layman. The 

 descriptions of birds not included in parts 1 to 7 of Ridgway's work were 

 written by R. I. Brasher. The order in which the birds are arranged is that 

 followed in the check-list of American Ornithologists' Union. 



Volume 2 contains an article by E. H. Forbush on Out-Door Bird Study 

 (pp. V-XIV) and volume 3 an article by W. W. Cooke on Bird Migration 

 (pp. V-XVIII). Color keys to water birds, land birds, and to warblers; a 

 glossary of technical terms; a bibliography; and an index to the three vol- 

 umes are appended to volume 3. 



Mammals of America, edited by H. B. Anthony et al. {New York: The 

 University Society, Inc., 1917, vol. 4, pp. XXII +335, pis. 6, figs. 224).— This 

 volume on American mammals is the fourth of the Nature Lovers Library. A 

 paper on American Game Protection (pp. XV-XXII) by T. S. Palmer, of the 

 Bureau of Biological Survey of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, is followed 

 by technical descriptions of the species, under each of which is given (1) the 

 animal's scientific name, (2) other names, (3) general description, (4) dental 

 formula, (.5) pelage, (6) measurements, (7) range, (8) food, (9) general 



