ZOOLOGY. 925 



denoting - the number of species: Antrozous, 2: Euderma, 1 ; Corynor; 

 hinus, 3: Myotis, 15, Lasionycteris, 1: Pipistrellus, 5; Vespertilio C- 

 Lasiurus, G; Dasypterus, 1; Xycticerius, 2; and Rhogeessa, 1. 



A comparative table of names used for Xorth American bats is 

 given. 



Antagonism between the venom of the Vespidae and that of 

 the viper — the first a vaccine against the second, C. Phisalix 

 (Compt. Bend. Acad. Sci. Paris. 125 (1S97), No. 23. pp. 977-979).— -Gly- 

 cerin extracts of the poison of the bee and the wasp were made by 

 soaking the entire insects in the glycerin aud also by treating similarly 

 the poison gland. By the first process other substances were evidently 

 extracted, but it is stated that a comparison of the effects of the 

 extracts obtained in the 2 ways shows that these substances do not 

 affect the results. A poison obtained from the sacs of 5 insects was 

 inoculated into a guinea pig and found to lower tbe animal's tempera- 

 ture some 4° in 3<! hours, and to produce an oedema about the inocu- 

 lated spot that finally extends over the animal and causes a mortifica- 

 tion of the skiu. But when 1 to 3 cc.of the glycerin extract was used no 

 appreciable trouble is caused. Tbe oedeuia disappears quickly, Tbe 

 animal organism, however, undergoes such a change that the future 

 injection of viper venom does not have its usual effect, even it' the dose 

 is sufficiently large to kill an uninoculated animal in from 4 to 5 hours. 



The duration and intensity of the immunity are found to vary 

 according to the dose of the extract. A guinea pig that had received 

 the poison from the vesicles of 15 insects was perfectly resistant to 

 viper venom at the end of a month. One that had received 2 cc. of 

 the extract was found to be immune for 11 days. In one that had 

 received 1 cc. the immunity became enfeebled toward the fifth day. 

 A smaller dose, J cc. was found to be insufficient to produce immunity. 



Endeavoring to determine the nature of the immunizing substance, 

 the author heated the venom of the insects to 80°, 100°, and 120° for 

 20 minutes and found that the immunizing power was not destroyed. 

 The venom was filtered on porcelain and inoculated against a dose of 

 o.\ cc. of viper venom and found not to prevent, though it considerably 

 retarded death. An alcohol extract of the venom was found to pro- 

 duce an oedema and at the same time act as a vaccine against the viper 

 venom. Agitated with chloroform it gives up a large part of its sub- 

 stance. Studies of the chloroform extract showed that the immunizing 

 substance of the insect venom is neither an alkaloid nor an albuminoid. 

 Its nature still remains to be determined. 



Passing of the bluebird, C. C. Abbott (Pennsylvania Dept. Agr. Rpt. 180*1, pp. 

 874-876). — This is a reprint of a newspaper article in which it is shown that the 

 decrease in the number of bluebirds is largely clue to the English sparrow. 



The common food fishes of Pennsylvania, W. E. Meeham (I'ennsylrania I)ept. 

 Agr. Rpt. 1S96, pp. 569-598, pis. 2).— The habits, etc., of the shad, berring, white- 

 fish, sunfish, common sunrlsh (pumpkin-seed, sunny or tobacco box), loug-eared sun- 



