MKTEOR< (LOGY CLIMAX* >L( )GY. 1 35 



the Lacey Act, more than 23,000 birds have been imported into the United states, 

 of which the most important are quail, pheasants, partridges, ducks, and geese. 

 About 2,000 eggs have been imported since the passageof the Egg Act in June, 1902. 

 A brief account is presented of the nature of these importations, with notes on the 

 countries from which birds are imported and on the success of the importations. 



Some new facts about the migration of birds, VV. \V. Cooke ( U. S. Dept. Agr. 

 Yearbook H9&8, />/>. 371-386, figs. 2). — A general discussion of the causes of migration, 

 the means by which birds find their way during migratory flights, the distance and 

 routes of migration, casualties during migration, relation of migration to temperature, 

 and variations in the speed of flight. While many casualties may occur during the 

 flight <»f birds over long stretches of water, observations show that as a rule long 

 flights are made with apparent ease and that the birds do not alight immediately upon 

 reaching the shore. 



Causes of the diminution in the number of useful birds, A. Truelle (Jour. 

 Agr. Prat., n. ser., 7 (1904), No. .'■>', pp. 742-744)- — A brief discussion is given of the 

 influence of climatic changes, the operations of bird hunters and other agencies upon 

 the number of birds. 



Birds in relation to agriculture. Gunning ( Transvaal Agr. Jour., 2 ( 1904), No. 7, 

 pp. 335-338, pis. 5). — Notes on the feeding habits and economic relations of various 

 species of herons and storks. 



Rabbit destruction i Jom ■. Dept. Agr. West. . I ustralia, 9(1904), No. 5, pp. 392-396).— 

 Various kinds of poison baits are described, such as phosphorized oats or wheat, 

 apples and strychnin, grain and arsenic, etc. Methods of applying the baits are also 

 described. 



Trapping rabbits inside fences, T. Potter (Jour. Agr. ami I ml. South Australia, 

 7 (1904), No. 11, jiji.j!?!, 622, figs. 2). — A description is given of a method of using 

 wire fences around enclosures so as to entrap rabbits. 



Destruction of rats, (i. Gandara (Com. Parasil. Agr. [Mexico], Circ. 7, }>p. 19, 

 figs. 28). — The direct injuries caused by rats and their agency in transmitting infec- 

 tious diseases are discussed. The author mentions various natural enemies of rats 

 and artificial means of repression, such as poisons, traps, etc. 



Usofulness of the American toad, A. II. Kirkland ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' 

 Will. 196, pp. 16). — This bulletin is essentially a condensed form of the material pub- 

 lished in Massachusetts Hatch Station Bulletin No. 46, and previously noted from 

 that source ( E. S. H., 9, pp. 330-332). 



The economic value of Pennsylvania animals in relation to agriculture, 

 shGwn in the agricultural exhibit of Pennsylvania at the St. Louis Exposi- 

 tion, II. A. Surface (Pennsylvania Slate Dept. Agr., Mo. Bid.- Div. Zool., 2 (1904), 

 No. 7, j/ji. 32, pis. 14)- — A detailed description is given of the Pennsylvania exhibit 

 in economic zoology at the World's Fair. 



Results of the Swedish zoological expedition to Egypt and the White Nile, 

 1901, I, L. A. Jagerskiold ( Upsal, Sweden: K. II'. Appelberg, 1904, )>i>. 250, pis. 9. 

 figs. 12).— This report contains articles on White Ants in the Sudan, by I. Triigardh; 

 Scaphanocephalus expansus, by L. A. Jagerskiold; Water Beetles, by D. Sharp; Lepi- 

 doptera, by C. Aurivillius; Ants in Egypt, by <i. Mayr; Termitophilous Insects, by 

 E. Wasmann; Birds from the White Nile, by L. A. Jagerskiold, etc. 



Destruction of vermin (Agr. Jour. Cape Good Hope, 25 (1904), Xo. 1, pp. 46, 

 47). — Notes on fencing, poisoning, and other methods of preventing losses to stock 

 from jackals. 



METEOROLOGY— CLIMATOLOGY. 



Weather Bureau stations and their duties, J. Kenealy ( U. S. Dept. Agr. Year- 

 book I9D.;, pp. 109-120, figs. ..'). — This article briefly reviews the origin and develop- 

 ment of the meteorological service, describes the general features of the equipment and 

 organization of Weather Bureau stations, and explains the nature of the daily duties 



