ZOOLOGY METEOROLOGY CLIMATOLOGY. 825 



The value of willows in retaining the banks ot streams, W. W. Rowlkk 

 {Pwc. Soc. Prom. Ayr. Sci., 1900, pp. US, i^6').— Attention is callecl to the natural 

 affinity of willows for stream banks and some of their peculiar habits of growth are 

 described. Their shade is never intense and their root systems are deep in the soil, 

 whereby they form dense masses at the water's edge, itrotecting the soil from wash- 

 ing, and retaining the eml)ankments. Another advantage possessed by willows is 

 the rapidity of their growth. Among the best species for planting are SalLv alba and 

 gome of its varieties. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Notes on the food of birds, T. D. A. Cockerell {Xew Mexico Sta. Bui. 37, pp. 

 35-52). — The economic relation of l)irds to agriculture is discussed in a general way, 

 and many special instances of the harmful or beneticial action of birds are cited. 

 Notes are given on the feeding habits of a number of birds in New Mexico, including 

 woodpeckei-s, sparrow hawk. Cooper's hawk, road runner, California cuckoo, belted 

 kingfisher, shrike, band-tailed pigeon, poor-will, and evening grosbeak. The wood- 

 peckers as a whole are l^elieved to l)e useful and deserving of protection. The only 

 species of woodpeckers which is considered injurious to any serious extent in New- 

 Mexico is SphyrapicHs varuis )u«-haUs. All other species of woodpeckers are consid- 

 ered as doing far more good than harm in orchards or any other cultivated crops. 

 An examination of the stomach contents of the sparrow hawk showed that the food 

 of this bird was largely of an insect nature, and that the bird is, therefore, to be 

 reckoned as beneficial. Cooper's hawk is condemned on account of its habit of fee<l- 

 ing on small birds and poultry. 



The birds of Colorado, W. W. Cooke [Colorado Sta. Bid. 56, pp. 179-239).— Tins 

 contains corrections to Bulletins 37 and 44 of the station (E. S. R., 9, p. 209; 10, 

 p. 521) and additional notes on the birds of Colorado. 



The food of the toad, H. Garman [Kentucky Sta. Bui. 91, pp. 60-68, fig. 1). — 

 A study was made of the feeding habits of toads in Kentucky, and the various 

 insects and other food materials which were found are classified in detail. The 

 insects found in the toad's stomach, in the order of frequency of their occurrence 

 were as follows: Ants, beetles, bugs, moths and caterpillars, crickets, flies, springtails, 

 and thrips. Many of the most destructive insect pests were found to be eaten exten- 

 sively by toads, and among such pests the following may be mentioned: Chinch bug, 

 plant lice, leaf hoppers, Colorado potato Iteetle, corn-root worm, cabbage flea-beetle, 

 strawberry-root borer, wireworm, and cricket. The toad is considered a very useful 

 help to the farmer in the destruction of injurious insects. Brief notes are also given 

 on the feeding habits of Raua pii>h'iii< and R. clamitans. 



Zoological yearbook for 1900, P. Mayer [Zoologischer Jahreshcrkht fur 1900. 

 Berlin: R. Friedldnder & Son, 1901, pp. 4^8). — This report contains detailed lists of 

 biological references to the literature on all the groups of animals. A brief summary 

 i.s given of the more important contributions on all subjects. 



METEOROLOGY -CLIMATOLOGY. 



Forests and snow, i^. ( >. Cari'Extek ( Colnrado Sta. Bui. 55, pp. 12, pis. 18,fiy.^. 7). — 

 This bulletin attempts to bring out souie of the relations of forests to water supply 

 whicli have become evident in the study of one of the typical irrigation streams of 

 Colorado, viz., the Cache la Poudre River. It contains a number of reproductions of 

 photographs taken during June, 1899, showing the snow cover under different forest 

 conditions at the headwaters of this stream at elevations of 9,000 ft. and over. The 

 rainfall conditions of the State and their effect on stream flow, the effect of forest 

 growth in conserving moisture and preventing irregular flow, and the effect of the 

 10409— No. 4 3 



