542 EXPERIMENT STATION" RECORD. 



previously described. Many of the species enumerated are forest trees, and notes 

 are given on their distribution, habits, etc. 



Notes on useful plants of Kongo, II, E. he Wildkman {Pub. Etat Independ- 

 ant Congo, 1904, pj>- 223-396, pis. 16, figs. 5).— Notes are given on various medicinal 

 plant", tropical fruits, particularly the papaya and guava, plants used in house con- 

 struction, poisonous plants and their products, cacao and its cultivation, various orna- 

 mentals, and also the principal timbers of Kongo. In describing the timbers, notes 

 arc given on their distribution, vernacular and scientific names, uses, etc. A consid- 

 erable number of plants new to science are described. 



The vegetation of the Minbu District, Upper Burma, A.T.Gage {Rec. Bot. 

 Survey India, S (1904), No. 1, pp. 141 •{•VII, map 1). — A description is given of the 

 topography of the district, followed by a general sketch of the vegetation and a 

 list of species observed, after which the different plants are described, according to 

 their distribution, their economic and medicinal uses, etc. 



ZOOLOGY. 



A biological reconnaissance of the base of the Alaska peninsula, W. II. 

 Osgood ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Division of Biological Survey, North American Fauna No. 24, 

 pp. 86, pis. 7). — A report is given on observations made during a short trip in 1902 

 to the base of the Alaska peninsula. The biological conditions in this country were 

 investigated along the coast and in a portion of the interior. An account is given of 

 the itinerary of travel, the life zones as determined for the region under investigation, 

 and previous work done by other investigators. In addition to this general portion 

 of the report, lists are presented of the mammals and birds observed during the trip. 



Game laws for 1904, T. S. Palmer, H. Oldys, and R. W. Williams, Jr. ( U. S. 

 Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 207, pp. 64, figs. 5). — This bulletin contains notes on game 

 legislation during 1904, and presents in a condensed form various regulations now in 

 force relating to seasons, shipment, sale of game, and the acquisition of hunting 

 licenses in the United States and Canada. Detailed statements regarding the laws 

 and other regulations are arranged in alphabetical order under the names of the 

 States. 



Hunting licenses; their history, objects, and limitations, T. S. Palmer ( U. S. 

 Dept. Agr., Division of Biological Survey Bui. 19, pp. 72, pis. 7). — This bulletin is pre- 

 pared for the purpose of furnishing general information regarding the history of 

 hunting licenses for residents and nonresidents of the various States; the details, 

 objects, and limitations of these licenses; and the present status of license legislation 

 in the United States, with notes on the decisions of courts regarding the constitution- 

 ality of nonresident license laws. Brief notes are also furnished on hunting licenses 

 in various foreign countries. The bulletin is furnished with an index of license legis- 

 lation in the United States and Canada. 



Mongoose (Liga Agraria, 19 (1904), No. 3-4, pp. 106-108, figs. 2). — Brief notes are 

 given on the habits and economic importance of this animal in the destruction of 

 snakes and other pests. 



Destroying prairie dogs, A. T. Peters and S. Avery (Nebraska Sta. Hid. 86, 

 pp. 15). — In the year 1900 experiments were begun for the purpose of exterminating 

 prairie dogs. The numbers of these animals had greatly increased on account of the 

 indifference of nonresident landowners. A copy is given of a law passed by the State 

 legislature for the extermination of these animals. 



In the destruction of prairie dogs in small colonies, carbon bisulphid is the favorite 

 remedy with ranchmen, although the cost and labor in applying this remedy are 

 considerable. In laboratory tests pocket gophers were used in the place of prairie 

 dogs. Acetylene gas did not kill these animals after exposure for an hour. Carbon 

 bisulphid rendered them unconscious almost instantly and produced death within 20 



