336 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



ZOOLOGY. 



A biological investigation of the Hudson Bay region, E. A. Preble ( U. S. 

 Dept. Agr., Dhvhion of Biological Survey, North A»ierir<in Fauna No. 22, pp. I40, 

 ph. 14). — In this report the author gives an account of a trip by water from Lake 

 Winnipeg to the western shore of Hudson Bay, and alno along the shore to a consid- 

 erable distance north of Ft. Churchill. The author describes the general features of 

 the country along the course of the trip and presents notes on the life zones and 

 boundaries of the region as well as on the new species of mannnals which were dis- 

 covered. Annotated lists of the mammals, birds, and l^atrachians collected on the 

 trip are presented, together with an extensive bibliography of literature relating to 

 the biology of this region, 



The prairie dog of the Great Plains, C. Hart Merriam ( U. S. Dept. Agr. 

 Yearbook 1901, pp. 257-270, pis. 3, figs. 2). — The prairie dog is distributed through- 

 out the (ilreat Plains region from Montana to Texas. The average number per acre 

 in infested localities is about 25, although much larger numbers are found in some 

 places. In the southern part of their range they are seen nearly every day even in 

 winter, but in Montana and Wyoming they hibernate for periods of varying length 

 during the winter. Prairie dogs are able to live without drinking and therefore 

 inhabit grazing lands far from any source of water. The usual number of young for 

 each pair appears to be 4. The burrow may be dug to a depth of 14 ft. or deajjer 

 below the surface and is provided with horizontal apartments. The chief enemies 

 of the prairie dog are the coyote, badger, black-footed ferret, and rattlesnake. Hawks 

 and owls also destroy the young prairie dogs. This animal is increasing in many 

 parts of the Great Plains. The remedies recommended for (combating prairie dogs 

 include poisoning with strychnin or cyanid of potash, and fumigation with bisulphid 

 of carbon. 



Killing woodchucks with carbon bisulphid, C. M. Weed {Nev> Hampshire 

 ,Sta. Bill. 91, pj). 45-48). —A nundjer of experiments are reported, during which it 

 was found that carbon bisulphid furnished a rapid and easy means of ridding culti- 

 vated fields of woodchucks. The experiments were conducted chiefly by A. F. 

 C'onradi, W. F. Fiske, R. A. Cushman, and P. A. Campbell. In nearly every case 

 the treatment of a burrow with bisulphid of carbon resulted in the death of all the 

 woodchucks contained in it. 



The suslik in Germany, A. Jacobi {Arh. K. Gesundlteitsaiute, Biol. Abt., 2 [1902), 

 No. 4, ]>l>- 506-511, fig. 1). — A circular letter was sent out to various parts of Germany 

 for the purpose of determining the distribution, prevalence, and other data of economic 

 importance bearing upon this mannnal. It was found that the suslik has become quite 

 widely distributed throughout the German Empire. Considerable damage to various 

 crops, especially cereals and legumes, is reported as due to susliks, and the use of 

 bisulphid of carbon is recommended for destroying them. 



The ravages of rabbits in Germany and experiments in their control, A. 

 Jacobi and O. Appel {Arh. K. dcmiKUicilsninti', Biol. Aht., ..' (1902), No. 4, pp. 471-505, 

 figs. 7). — Detailed notes are given on the numbers of rabbits in various parts of Ger- 

 many, and on the early history of the spread of these animals over the country. The 

 chief injury from rabbits to which the authors devote their attention is the destruc- 

 tion of young trees. It appears that when the rabbits occur in large numbers and 

 their food is scarce, all kinds of trees and shrubs are attacked without nuich indica- 

 tion of preference. Rabbits are said to eat the needles from young pine, or if pressed 

 with hunger, they destroy the pines, wood and all. Other trees are attacked in a 

 similar manner. In discussing the various methods of controlling these pests it is 

 stated that the traps which have thus far been devised are not effective in localities 

 where rabbits occur in large numbers. Extensive experiments were conducted with 



