154 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



fully as great as those caused by either rabbits or field mice. They are widely 

 distributed, inhabiting more than half the entire territory of the United States 

 outside of Alaska and the island possessions, and also northwest Canada and 

 Mexico, whence their range extends southward to Costa Rica. 



Of the 9 genera, Geoniys, Cratogeoniys, and Thomoniys occur within the United 

 States. All have similar food habits and are exceedingly destructive to plant 

 life, injuring field crops, gardens, and trees. Their burrows prevent close 

 mowing, admit surface water, and on sloping ground lead to the washing of 

 deep gullies. Their tunnels in dams and levees cause many costly breaks. 



It is stated that in southern California the roots of the fig tree and apricot 

 seem to be most subject to attacks, but orange, lemon, almond, apple, pear, and 

 all other orchard trees of the region, excei)t the peach, are also injured, as well 

 as nursery stock. In the open forests of Georgia, Florida, and Alabama the 

 gophers live almost entirely upon tree roots, but their injury is not serious. It 

 is said that soft crown gall occurs frequently on roots injured by gophers and 

 mice. 



The methods of destroying pocket gophers described include poisoning, 

 trapping, flooding, and fumigation. " If but few pocket gophers are to be de- 

 stroyed, there is little choice between traps and poisons as the means to be 

 used. If, however, the animals are numerous or distributed over large areas, 

 poisoning is by far the quickest as well as the cheapest method." Helps in 

 combating gophers are found in several natural enemies, including the barn 

 owl, great blue heron (Ardca lirroilUis), badgers, weasels, wildcats, coyotes, 

 skunks, and snakes. The importance of cooperation in combating the gopher 

 is emphasized. 



Bats and petroleum, H. Mandoul (Arch. Par., 12 {1909), No. ^, i)p. ^51- 

 J/So). — The audior finds rats to have a i)articular aversion to petroleum 



A hand-list of the genera and species of birds, V, R. B. Sharpe {London: 

 Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist., 1909, pp. XX+l>9Jt; rev. in Nature [London], 82 {1909), 

 No. 209 'i. p. 1H3).— The fifth and last volume of this work ( E. S. R., 16, p. 234). 



Introduction of the Hungarian partridge into the United States, H. Oldys 

 {U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1909, pp. 2//9-i.5S, pi. 1). — An account of the nature 

 and habits of the Hungarian or gray partridge {Perdix pcrdix), some 40,000 

 of which were transplanted from the game covers of Europe to those of America 

 during the years 1908-9. 



" While most of the reports received of these various colonization experi- 

 ments with the Hungarian partridge are favorable, persons interested should 

 not be too sanguine of ultimate success. . . . The Hungarian partridge may 

 never satisfactorily adapt itself to conditions in this country ; or it may develop 

 objectionable traits. Hence it would seem wise to devote less energy and 

 money to the establishment of this and other exotic species and give more 

 attention to the restoration and maintenance of our native game birds." 



Plants useful to attract birds and protect fruit, W. L. McAtee {U. »S'. Dcpt. 

 Agr. Yearbook 1909, pp. 185-196). — The main purpose of this article is to call 

 attention to the plants which best serve to provide food for birds and to draw 

 their attention away from cultivated crops. The plants that are useful in 

 different sections of the country for attracting fruit-eating birds and protecting 

 cultivated fruits, as well as food plants for sparrows and upland game birds, 

 are described. 



" Nothing surpasses mulberries for alluring birds away from the early 

 orchard fruits. Early bearing varieties should be planted in numbers and some 

 should be selected for the length of the fruiting season. . . . Where it is 

 desired to attract birds and afford them a sanctuai'y at all seasons, a large 

 variety of plants must be used. For this purpose thickets of shrubs and other 



