530 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



check upon the increase of these species, rewards on ground squirrels, 

 gophers, and other small mammals have accomplished little or nothing, 

 and bounties on birds are apt to do great harm by encouraging the 

 killing of useful species. 



The author concludes that the extermination of noxious animals is a 

 slow process, and can be most economically and effectively accom- 

 jdished through the efforts of individual landowners. 



Zoology, L. C. Miall (Nature, 56, No. 1452, pp. 402-409). — The presidential address 

 before Section D at the Toronto meeting of the I5ritish Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science. It is a general survey of the subject, with hints as to the future. 

 The address notes the need of further studies of life histories and by implication 

 fewer attempts at species making and the compilation of lists with no object in view 

 further than their mere compilation. The subject of alternation of generations is 

 well brought out. 



Earthworm studies: IV. A check list of British earthworms (Zoologist, 1. 

 ser., 4 (1897), No. 10, pp. 453-459). — Five species of Luinbricus, 16 of Allolobophora, 

 and 4 of Allurus are described. To a certain extent Beddard's monograph is followed. 

 Although the author has given up the term Dendroba'na, he believes the day is com- 

 ing when the genus Allolobophora will be broken into sections, one of which will bo 

 Dendrob;ena. In the descriptions the plan is adopted of denoting the girdle seg- 



... , 30—36 

 ments and tbose bearing the tubercula pubertal is by means ot a fraction, such as „. o-' 



which denotes that the girdle extends in the adult from the 30th to the 36th segment 



and that the 31st to the 35th segments bear the tubercula. If the tubercula are on 



30-36 

 alternate segments the formula would be written ., . ; «,., ; .,-• 



On some important sources of error in the plankton method, ('. A. Kofoid 

 (Science, n. ser.. 6 (1S97), No. 153, pp. 829-832). — The author shows that the silk 

 strainers used do not retain more than one-half of the solid contents of the waters 

 studied. The greatest loss occurs in waters containing Trachelomonas, Chlainydo- 

 inonas, Euglena, Melosira, etc. 



Suppression of the rabbit pest in Australia by use of the microbes of chicken 

 cholera (Nature, 56, No. I486, p. 16). 



Flooding as a means of destroying animals injurious to forests, especially 

 beetles and mice, as well as a means of equalizing the waterflow in water 

 courses, L. Axdf.hi.ixd (Ent. Nachr., 13 (1897), No. 14. pp. 209-215). — It is shown 

 that flooding lands for the purpose of killing pests may serve, besides this, the pur- 

 pose of regulating the How of the water in the water courses from which the water 

 for flooding is taken. 



Ferrets, their management in health and disease, with remarks on their legal 

 status, N. Evekitt (London: Adam $ Charles Black, ISO;, pp. 209, figs. /'"). 



The kestrel or windhover (Falco tinnunculus) (Bd. Agr. [London], Leaflet 

 No. 40, pp. 8, fig. 1). 



Sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus) (lid. Agr. [London], Leaflet No. 41, pp. 3,fig.l). 



Short eared owl (Otus (Strix) brachyotus) (Bd. Agr. [London], Leaflet No. 42, 

 PP. 3, fig. 1). 



Titmice (Parus major and P. caeruleus* (lid. Agr. [London]. Leaflet No. 42, pp. 4, 

 figs. 2). 



Common lapwing, plover, or pewit (Vanellus cristatus (vulgaris) (Bd. Agr. 

 [London], Leaflet No. 44 pp. 3, Jigs. 1). 



