METEOROLOGY. 227 



injurious ingects on tn'es duriiiir winter. Wr'ivi notes arc jriveii mi the injuries to 

 trees which may be done by certain l)ir(ls in eating off the l)U(ls or in borin<r into the 

 bark of sound trees. 



How birds affect the orchard, F. E. L. Beai, ( U. S. Dtpi. Afjr. Yearbook 1900, 

 pp. 2!) 1-304, Ji(j>^-o). — A brief discussion of the economic relationship of \voo(lpec;kers, 

 titmice, nuthatches, cuckoos, warblers, l)irds of prey, shrikes, catbirds, etc., witli 

 esi)ecial i-efei-ence to their harmful and beneficial actions in cultivated orchards. 



The food of nestling birds, S. D. Judd ( U. S. Dcpt. Ac/r. Yearbook 1900, pp. 411- 

 436, j)h. 5,Jifjs. 9). — The author investigated the food materials of nestling birds as 

 compared with those of adults of the same species. A large number of species were 

 studied, and it is concluded that the young of all birds excepting doves and pigeons 

 are fed at tirst almost exclusively on an animal diet and that later the diet is gradu- 

 ally clianged so as to include vegetable materials. The parent birds frequently carry 

 insect food to the young while their own diet is chiefly vegetable. 



The relationship of crows to agriculture, J. J.\blonowski {Kiserlet. Kiizlem., 4 

 (1901), No. 2, pp. 143-182, fixjs. 3). — An elaborate discussion is given of the feeding 

 habits and economic relation of Corvus frugUegus and C. comix. 



Protection of birds and game. Directory of state officials and organiza- 

 tions for 1901, T. S. Palmer {U. S. Jkpl. Agr., DIrigion of Bhilogical Sunrij Circ. 

 33, pp. 10).- — The present circular contains a corrected directory of officials, and 

 organizations concerned with the protection of birds and game in the United States 

 and Canada. 



Directions for the destruction of prairie dogs, C. H. Merriam ( U. S. Dept. 

 Agr., Division of Biological Survey Circ. 32, pp. 2). — The use of poisoned grain as a 

 bait and of carbon bisulphid in burrows is recommended. 



Rabbit destruction [Jour. Agr. and Iiid. SouOi Auxtralia, 4 {1901), Xo. S, pp. 

 639, 640). — Formulas are given for preparing poisoned water containing arsenic, 

 strychnin, or cyanid of potash, and for making poisoned baits, such as phosphorized 

 j)ollard, i)hosphorized wheat, and baits poisoned with arsenic and strychnin. For 

 destroying the rabbits in ))nrrows, the use of bisulphid of carbon is recommended 

 and also the use of pieces of absorbent cloth saturated with kerosene and sprinkler, 

 with sulphur. Tfiese rags are to be lighted and pushed well into the burrow. 



METEOROLOGY. 



Amplification of -reather forecasts, A. J. Hexrv {U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 

 1900, pp. 107-114, plx- 3, fig. 1). — This paper exj)iains the Government system of 

 weather forecasting with a view to encouraging "the making of local predictions by 

 persons whose working hours are spent for the most part in the open air." The gen- 

 eralizations given apply to all parts of the country east of the Rocky JMountains, but 

 it is believed that they will be found most useful in the middle and upper Mississippi 

 and Ohio valleys, the Lake region, and tlie Middle States. 



Hot waves: Conditions which produce them, and their effect on agricul- 

 ture, A. T. Bi-KRows ( U.S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1900, pji. 325-336, pis. 3).— This article 

 discusses the extent and character <jf injury caused by hot waves, periods of occur- 

 I'ence, sections affected, and meteorological conditions i)roducing hot waves. "With 

 the i)resent fragmentary knowledge of the l^asic (;ause of meteorological cliangi's, we 

 are confined to the statement that during a hot wave the eastward circulation of the 

 atmosphere, both upper and lower, is for the time being almost totally suspended, 

 and that radiation is at the same time at a minimum. A careful study of the 

 weather charts covering such periods leads to the belief that it is quite practicable to 

 forecast high temperatures for a period of from 4 to 5 days, but predictions for a 

 longer time are, for the present at leaat, tlie merest guesswork and not entitled to 

 crMence." 



