ZOOLOGY. 549 



being from the loam to the sand. In the histological characters there was fonnd to 

 be a decrease in the transpiring surface, the woody tissues of the root, the develop- 

 ment of wood, and a few other characters in the same way as noted for the decrease 

 in gross characters. In most cases the number of stomata was largest on the plants 

 grown in the sand. In 5 cases out of 6 the thickest leaves were produced on the 

 plants grown in the loam, and this increase was caused l)y a general increase in 

 thickness of all the tissues in the leaf. In those plants bearing trichomes they were 

 found least abundant on the plants grown in loam. In conclusion it is stated that 

 the changes in gross structure were general for all the plants studied, while the 

 changes in minute structure were more specific than general. 



Influence of sulphocyanic acid on the growth of Aspergillus nig-er, A. 

 Feknbach [Cainpt. R>'i,(J. A<;td. Sri. Paris, 1S3 (1902), No. 1, pp. '>!, 5;.^).— Tlie author 

 having observed the continued growth of AspergillHS nige" in Eaulin's liquid, in 

 which ammonium sulphocyanate had been accidentally introduced, was led to 

 investigate the subject further, and cultures were prepared containing known amounts 

 of the chemical which were seeded with the spores of the mold. The tubes con- 

 taining the cultures were subjected to the same conditions for a period of 6 days, 

 when it was found that ammonium sulphocyanate had in no appreciable way 

 checked the development of the mycelium. It was considered remarkable, however, 

 that the fructitlcation of the mold had been almost entirely checked l)y the addition 

 of the sulphocyanate. 



The presence of rennet in plants, M. Javillier {Bui. Soc. f'kim. Paris, 3. ser., 

 27 {1902), Xo. 15, jtp. 81S-S22). — A l)rief review and bil)liograpliy is given of investi- 

 gations which showed the presence of rennet or similar substances in the juice of a 

 number of plants, and the experiments of the author with rye grass {Lolium perenne) 

 are described. The author found in the juice extracted from this grass a substance 

 which is capable of coagulating milk, and this power was shown in the different 

 dilutions studied. When 50 drops of the expressed juice were added to 10 cc. of 

 sterilized milk, the coagulation was effected in from 2 to 4 hours. Oxalate of potash 

 was found to retard the coagulation while the salts of lime favored it. When the 

 lime and magnesia salts were neutralized by sufficient potassium oxalate, no coagula- 

 tion was produced. In addition to this plant, the author gives a list of 17 species 

 representing a wide range of plant families in which he has detected the presence of 

 rennet in either the leaves, stems, or seeds. 



Seed selection in Belgium, E. Leclercq {L'lng. Agr. GemhloxLv, 13 {1903), No. 

 2, 2>p. 75-81) . — On account of the great improvement in live stock in Belgium, which 

 has been brought about through various societies maintained for that purpose, an 

 attempt has been made to establish societies for the improvement of varieties of seeds 

 and plants. The effect of various factors upon plant improvement, such as selection, 

 heredity, atavism, etc., is described, and statements are given regarding the methods 

 which are proposed to be followed l)y cooperative societies in seed and plant 

 improvement. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Birds of a Maryland farm. A local study of economic ornithology, S. D. Jidd 



( r. S. Dept. Agr., Division of Biological Snrveij Bid. 17, ]>p. 116, pis. 17, figs. 41). — This 

 bulletin contains an account of observations made on a farm at Marshall Hall, Md., 

 during frequent visits from 1895 to 1902. The purpose of these observations was to 

 determine the economic relations of all the birds found under certain definite local 

 conditions. The birds found on the farm are classified into several groups according 

 to their feeding habits. Meadow larks, grasshopper sparrows, quails, mourning doves, 

 crows, blackbirds, and certain other species fed chiefly in open fields. Field spar- 

 rows, chipping sparrows, song spanows and other native sparrows, as well as English 



