ZOOLOGY. 527 



Influence of environment in the origination of plant varieties, H. J. Webber 

 ( r. S. T)<pi. Agr. Yearbook 1SD6, pp. 89-106). — A popular article. It discusses the 

 effects of food supply, water, light, temperature, sea air, sea water, and change of 

 climate on inducing variations in plants. Many specific examples of variations 

 brought about through these agencies are noted. Illustrations are given comparing 

 the pyramidal form of red cedar trees grown on rich moist soil with the shrubby, 

 spreading, irregular form grown on dry, barren soils. Similar illustrations are 

 given comparing the cultivated and swamp forms of bald cypress, the alpine and 

 ordinary forms of dandelion, and the maritime, sand-dune, and cultivated forms 

 of sea grape. How to induce desired variations and the formation of varieties by 

 selection are discussed. 



Parasitism of Cucurbitaria berberidis (Jahresber. Ziircher. Bot. < it-sell., 1896, p. 7) 



Microphotography, A. L. Clement (Le Photomicographie. Paris: C. 21 end el, 

 1897, pp. 122, figs. 95). 



Some common poisonous plants, V". K. Chesnut ( U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1S96, 

 pp. 137-146, figs. 5). — The author believes that the number of poisonous plants in the 

 United States has been underestimated. All plants which have ever produced ill 

 effects are to be regarded tentatively as poisonous. The following plants are con- 

 sidered: Poison ivy (Rhus radicans), poison oak (II. diversiloba), poison sumac (Ii. 

 vernix), water hemlocks (Cicuta maculata, C. bulbifera, C. vagans, and C. bolanderi), 

 death cup (Amanita phalloides), and fly amanita (A. muscdria). Descriptions, illus- 

 trations, toxic effects, and antidotes, when known, arc given. 



ZOOLOGY. 



The blue jay and its food, F. E. L. Beal (U. 8. Dept. Agr. Year- 

 book 1896, pp. 197-206, Jigs. 3). — Contrary to the statements of reliable 

 observers that the bine jay (Gyanoeitta cristata) robs other birds of 

 their eggs and young, an examination of nearly 300 blue jay stomachs 

 did not show such a habit to be common. An analysis of the contents 

 of this large number of stomachs of birds, collected in every month of 

 the year from 22 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada, demon- 

 strates that fully three-fourths (75.7 per cent) of the bird's food con- 

 sists of vegetable matter, and that tlie proportion of animal food is 

 greatest during June, July, and August, and reaches its highest (QG 

 per cent, rising from 1 per cent in January) during August. 



In this amount of animal food, the proportion of injurious insects is 

 largely in excess of all other animal matter, including beneficial insects. 

 The greatest number of predaceous beetles were found in the stomachs 

 in July, when their proportion reached 10.25 per cent of the total food. 

 They consisted generally of the blunt-jawed genera, such as Harpalus, 

 Cratacanthus, and Stenolophus. 



Scarabaeids were found in maximum quantity (8.8 per cent) in Au- 

 gust and were mostly represented by the goldsmith beetle (Gotalpa 

 lanigera), the spotted grapevine beetle (Pelidnota punctata), the bril- 

 liant tumblebug (Phamvus carnifex), along with May beetles (Lacnos- 

 terna sp.) and the fruit-destroying beetles (Euphoria inda and E. 

 fulgida). Orthoptera form about 4.4 per cent of the total amount of 

 11931— No. 6 3 



