ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 745 



throughout the best fruit-growing sections of California, especi^fty in,J:he cen- 

 tral and northern valleys, probably averaging at least one such s'pot tor every 

 ]0 acres of mature bearing orchard. Small nurseries seem particjilarly liable 

 to Armillaria trouble. 



Young trees may carry the fungus undetected in spite of the utmost vigilance, 

 on account of the detachment of the rhizomorphs, or these may be hidden 

 within the ball of dirt left on the roots. When an infected tree is planted it is 

 thought the fungus will so far resist any hardship as to outlive the tree. It is 

 considered unsafe to use soil or plants not known to be absolutely free from 

 this fungus. .- 



Oak mildew, F. W. Negee {Naturw. Ztschr. Forst u. Landio., 13 {1915}, N^. 

 1, pp. 1-30, figs. 6). — This is a discussion of oak mildew {Alicrosphoera aJni 

 quercina) since its sudden appearance in western Europe in 1907, including its 

 development, systematic position, morphology, physiology, pathology, hosts, 

 winter habits, and means of control, concluding with an extensive bibliography. 



Dry rot of telegraph poles, K. HAVELfK {Centbl. Gesam. Forstw., 40 {19U), 

 No. 7-8, pp. 278-295, figs. 7). — Investigation of an extensive and often rapd 

 decay of telegraph poles showed Merulius lacrymans to be the chief cause of the 

 injury. This was more frequent and severe in case of double than of single 

 uprights, and more particularly in case of the A form as compared with the H 

 form poles. This is thought to be owing to the looser texture of the soil around 

 the double poles, due to the larger holes necessary an{^,to the greater diffi- 

 culty and supposedly less need of thoroughly packing The soil around these 

 poles. Compactness and moistui-e of the soil seems to be unfavorable to rapidity 

 of underground extension in case of M. lacrymans. 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY. 



A preliminary note on the food habits and distribution of the Texas horned 

 lizards, W. M. Winton {Science, n. ser., 41 {1915), No. 1065, pp. 797, 798). ^The 

 author reports upon studies conducted with a view to determining the economic 

 status of Flirynosoma cornutum, during the course of which 485 stomachs h-ave 

 been examined. 



It is pointed out that while the area of distribution of this species extends 

 from Kansas southward far into the Mexican table-land and westward into 

 Arizona its area of greatest abundance is the north and south strip of Texas 

 known as the Black and Grand prairies. It is stated that within this area, 

 where conditions are at all favorable, the average number of horned toads is at 

 least 30 to the acre. The stomach examinations show that the noxious insects 

 consumed overwhelmingly outnumber the beneficial species. 



Entomolog'ical yearbook. — Calendar for all insect colleetorSj edited by O. 

 Keancher {Entomologisches Jahrbt^ch. Kalender fiir alle Insekten-Satnmler. 

 Leipsic: Frankenstein & Wagner, vols. 19 {1910), pp. 208, pi. 1; 20 {1911), pp. 

 196, pi. 1; 21 {1912), pp. 200, pi. 1; 22 {1913), pp. 195, pi. 1, figs. 5; 23 {1911,), 

 pp. 211, pi. 1. figs. 8; 24 {1915), pp. 224, pl- 1, figs. 8).— These handbooks contain 

 much information of interest to the entomologist, particularly as relates to the 

 collection of insects during the different months of the year. 



Report to the entomologist of the Arizona Commission of Agriculture and 

 Horticulture for the year ending June 30, 1914, A. W. Moerill {Ariz. Com. 

 Agr. and Hort. Ann. Rpt., 6 {1914), pp. 9-47, figs. 16).— The first part of this 

 report (pp. 9-26) deals with the inspection of plant, fruit, and seed importa- 

 tions ; inspection of orchards and nurseries ; insect control and eradication ; 

 interstate movement toward the standardization of nursery inspection certi- 

 ficates, entomological investigations, etc. 



