EXPEEIMENT STATION RECOED. 57 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY. 



Revision of the American marmots, A. H. Howell (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. 

 Biol. Survey, North American Fauna No. 37 (1915), pp. 80, pis. 15^ figs. 3). — 

 The American marmots, more often called woodchucks or ground hogs, are 

 naturally divided into three distinct groups: (1) The woodchucks {Marmota 

 monax group) of eastern United States and Canada; (2) the yellow-footed mar- 

 mots {M. flaviventris group) of western United States and southern British 

 Columbia; and (3) the hoary marmots {21. caligata group), chiefly restricted 

 to the higher mountains of western North America. 



Following the introduction the author discusses their history and nomen- 

 clature, vex'nacular names, habits, economic status, external characters, mate- 

 rial examined, the genus Marmota, etc. Descriptions are given of 26 forms, 

 together with a series of maps which show their geographic distribution. In 

 many localities they are a decided pest to agriculture, especially in the East, 

 both because of their destruction of crops and because of their burrows which 

 seriously interfere with farming operations. In addition, they are known to 

 carry the germs of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other diseases. 



Bird migration, W. W. Cooke {U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 185 {1915), pp. Ifl, pis. 

 4, figs. 20). — This is a discussion of the many phases of the subject, including 

 causes of migration, relation of migration to weather, day and night migrants, 

 distance of migration, migration routes (direct and circuitous, eccentric, wide 

 and narrow), slow and rapid migration, casualties during migration, variations 

 in speed of migi-ation, etc. A large number of maps are given which graphically 

 Illustrate the data presented. 



Entomology, A. TV. Moreill {Arizona Sta. Rpt. 191.'f, pp. 359-362). — In con- 

 tinuation of work against the harvester ant {Pogonomyrmex harbatns rugosus) 

 previously noted (E. S. R., 32, p. 549) tests were made of a high pressure pump 

 which volatilizes the carbon bisulphid in an attempt to force the fumes into 

 the insects' underground tunnels, but thus far the results have been imsuccess- 

 ful. The principal work of the season against this pest consisted in a large 

 scale experiment with London purple, conducted with a view to determining the 

 cost of material and labor and to perfect the methods of this treatment. In 

 the vicinity of Phoenix a 10-acre field, containing IGS nests with bare areas 

 estimated to average 330 sq. ft. each, or a total of approximately 1^ acres, was 

 practically cleared of the ants by a series of five applications of this poison, at 

 a total cost per acre of $1.17. 



A considerable quantity of Loudon purple sold by certain druggists in Salt 

 River Valley during the summer of 1013 proved inefi'ective, and upon analysis by 

 the station chemist was found to contain but 0.3o per cent arsenious oxid 

 (AS2O3), whereas London purple that was effective contained 27.81 per cent. 



The western green June beetle {Allorhina mutahilis) is said to be a trouble- 

 some pest of nearly all kinds of fruit at the lower elevations in Arizona, 

 peaches, figs, and grapes being the principal crops that suffer. Bi-ief reference 

 is made to investigations of insects that attack the Arizona wild cotton plant 

 {Thurberia thespesioicles), an account of which by W. D. Pierce of this Depart- 

 ment and the author has been previously noted (E. S. R., 30, p. 56). 



Fourteenth report of the state entomolog'ist of Connecticut for the year 

 1914, W. E. Britton {Connecticut State Sta. Rpt. 1914, pt. 3, pp. VIII+113- 

 198, pis. 16, figs. 6). — The first part of this report consists of a statement of 

 finances and organization ; reports of inspection of nurseries, nursery stock, and 

 apiaries; and a discussion of gipsy moth control work and of suppression work 

 with the brown-tail moth. 



