152 EXPEKIMEiSTT STATION RECORD. 



As a result of their observations the authors find that cells with readily 

 permeable walls, such as the germ tubes of fungus spores, root hairs, the in- 

 terior tissues of leaves, etc., exert a considerable solvent action on the particles 

 of copper compounds with which they may come into contact. There is a rapid 

 absorption of such dissolved copper followed by the death of the cells. The 

 amount of interaction, if any, between other t5i)es of cells and the copper com- 

 pounds is determined by the nature of the cell wall. Direct absorption of 

 copper by leaves of certain types can take place with or without injui-y, 

 depending on the nature of the leaf surface. Translocation of the absorbed 

 copper to other parts of the plant may follow. Copper may be absorbed 

 through the roots of certain plants, such as potatoes and beans, with local 

 injury to the root. The absorbed copi^er Ciiu be translocated to the aeiial 

 parts of the plant without injui-y to the cells through which it passes. 



Burgundy mixture, Fonzes-Diacon (Prog. Agr. et Vit. {Ed. VEst-Centre), 35 

 {1914), No. 29, pp. 70-SO). — This is a discussion of the composition, applica- 

 tion, and action in acid, alkaline, or neutral form of Burgundy mixture de- 

 signed for use as a fungicide. 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY. 



Economic zoolog'y report for the year 1913, W. M. Aders {Repnnt from 

 Zanzibar Protect. Med. and Sanit. Rpt., 191S, pp. 75-102). — This report deals 

 with entomology in relation to public health and medicine, to veterinary medi- 

 cine, and to agriculture ; birds, beneficial and otherwise ; helminthology ; blood 

 parasites of mammals, birds, reptiles, and other animals of economic im- 

 portance; etc. 



A pocket list of the mammals of eastern Massachusetts with, especial ref- 

 erence to Essex County, C. E. Brown (Salem, Mass.: Peabody Academy of 

 Science, 1913, pp. 53, pis. 5). — This handbook gives brief descriptions of the 

 mammals of eastern Massachusetts, together with notes on their occurrence, 

 habits, etc. 



The pocket gopher of the boreal zone on San Jacinto Peak, J. Grinnell, 

 and H. S. Swarth {Proc. Cal. Acad. ScL, Jf. ser., Zool., .', {Wl.'f), No. 6, pp. 153- 

 159). — The pocket gopher here dealt with is described as Tliomomys jacin- 

 teus n. sp. 



Food habits of the skunk, F. C. Pellett {Proc. loiva Acad. ScL, 20 {1913), 

 pp. 301-309, pi. 1). — Investigations conducted during a period of five years 

 during which skunks were reared and kept under close observation, lead the 

 author to conclude that the skunk is of considerable value in reducing rodent 

 pests and destroying insects, especially grasshoppers, crickets, and June beetles. 

 Its habit of killing poultry is considered accidental and unusual, and to be con- 

 fined to a small percentage of the individuals of either the northern plains 

 skuuk (MepMiis hiidsonlca) or the little spotted skunk {Spilogale inter- 

 rupia). 



The value of birds to man, J. Buckland {Ann. Rpt. Smithsn. Inst., 1913, 

 pp. 439-458). — This is a discussion of the subject in its many phases. 



Birds that destroy grapes, A. W. Butleb {Proc. Ind. Acad. ScL, 1912, pp. 

 53-55). — This brief report of observations of the birds that attack grapes 

 supplements the information presented in the author's work on the Birds of 

 Indiana.^ 



Species which have reared young and hybrids which have been bred in 

 captivity in Great Britain, W. T. Page {Ashbourne, England: The "Avian 



» Ind. Dept. Geol. and Nat. Resources Ann. Rpt, 22 (1897), pp. 515-1187. 



