ZOOLOGY. 727 



The mycorrhiza of Listera cordata, R. Chodat and A. Lendner (Rev. Mycol., 20 

 (1898), No. 77, pp. 10-13, pi. 1). 



Proof of smoke injury to plants as shown by chemical analysis, Vater (Tlia- 

 rand. Forst. Jahrb., 47 (1897), No. :.'. pp. .'54-263). 



How is the high content of iron or iron oxid in the ash of Trapa natans to be 

 accounted for? G. Thoms (Lanclw. Vers. Stat., 49 (1897), No. 3, pp. 165-171). 



ZOOLOGY. 



Some common birds in their relation to agriculture, F. E. L. 

 Beal ( U. 8. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 51, pp. 40, Jigs. 22). — The food 

 habits and economic importance of cuckoos (Goccyzus americanus and 

 G. erythrophthalmus) are discussed. The cuckoos are preeminently 

 insectivorous. In 10 stomachs of the black billed cuckoo, 328 cater- 

 pillars, 11 beetles, 15 grasshoppers, 635 flies, 3 stink bugs, and 4 spiders 

 were found, as well as a great mass of material too badly broken up to 

 be recognized. In 21 stomachs of the yellow billed cuckoo, collected 

 from May to October, there were found 355 caterpillars, 18 beetles, 

 23 grasshoppers, 31 sawflies, 14 bugs, 6 flies, and 12 spiders. One 

 stomach contained 12 American tent caterpillars ; another, 217 fall 

 web worms. 



Like the cuckoos, the various woodpeckers are almost exclusively 

 insectivorous, the redheaded woodpecker destroying large quantities 

 of grasshoppers. What vegetable food they take consists largely of 

 small fruits and berries, such as those of the dogwood, Virginia 

 creeper, etc. 



Fifty honeybees, of which 40 were drones, were found in the stomachs 

 of 14 kingbirds. About 90 per cent of the food of the kingbird con- 

 sists of insects, mostly of injurious species. The habit of preying upon 

 honeybees is much less prevalent than has been supposed. What 

 vegetable food it takes consists of wild fruits of little economic value. 



An examination of 80 stomachs of the pluebe demonstrated that 

 over 93 per cent of its animal food consists of insects and spiders, wild 

 fruit constituting the remainder. Grasshoppers in season are eaten to 

 a considerable extent, while wasps and many flies that annoy cattle, 

 and bugs and spiders are eaten regularly. 



As shown by an examination of 292 stomachs of the blue jay, 24 per 

 cent of this bird's food cousists of animal and 76 of vegetable matter. 

 Some few remains of bird's eggs were found in 3 stomachs, and in 2 

 stomachs the remains of young birds. In the bird's annual bill of fare 

 the author notes mites, fish, salamanders, snails, crustaceans, beetles, 

 grasshoppers, caterpillars, etc. In 70 stomachs corn was found, in 8 

 wheat, in 2 oats, and in 158 mast. 



The crow, notwithstanding some bad habits, is defended; and as far 

 as possible so also is the rice bird. It is estimated that an annual loss 

 of $2,000,000 to rice growers is caused by this bird, which, notwith- 

 standing the annual slaughter to which it is subjected in the South, 

 does not seem to decrease in numbers. 

 13777— No. 8 3 



