454 EXPERIMENT STATION FiECORD. [Vol. 41 



special devices which are described for the projected study of the critical 



humidities for the growth of fungi. The first test is to be made with Lenzites 

 sepiaria on hemloclv. 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY. 



A review of the ornithology of Minnesota, T. S. Roberts ( Univ. Minn. Cur- 

 rent Prob. No. 11 {1919), pp. VI +101, pgs. J/O). — Tliis contains a synopsis of the 

 bird life of Minnesota, a check-list of birds known to occur regularly in Minne- 

 sota, lists of birds that are rare or accidental in Minnesota, introduced species, 

 unsettled species, extirpated species, and vanishing birds, a hypothetical list, a 

 synopsis of Minnesota bird laws and of the Fedei-al migratory bird law and 

 the migratory bird treaty act, wild life refugees in Minnesota, a list of Minne- 

 sota game and wild life refugees, and outlawed and questionable birds. An 

 abridged bibliography of Minnesota ornithology, together with an index thereto 

 by authors' names and dates and a subject index ai-e also included. 



Some recent investigations on the food of certain wild birds, W. E. Col- 

 LiNGE (Jour. Bd. Agr. [London'^, 25 {1918), No. 6, pp. 668-691, figs. i7).— From 

 an examination of the stomach contents and of the crop where present of 3,670 

 adult birds and 595 nestlings, embracing 9 species of wild birds, the author 

 concludes that the volumetric method or percentage by bulk is the only reliable 

 one for estimating the nature of the food and a bird's true economic position, 

 and that the numerical method is highly misleading and unsatisfactory. Two 

 of the 9 species of wild birds treated, namely, the house sparrow and wood 

 pigeon, are distinctly injurious; 2, the rook and sparrow hawk, are too numerous 

 and consequently injurious ; 1. the missel thrush, is locally too numerous ; and 

 4, the skylark, the green woodpecker, the kestrel, and the lapwing, are highly 

 beneficial. In the interest of agriculture it is very desirable that strong 

 repressive measures be taken against the house sparrow and wood pigeon and 

 for the time being that all protection be withheld from the rook, sparrow hawk, 

 and the missel thrush, while every protection should be given to the 4 species 

 that are highly beneficial. 



It is further concluded as a result of this investigation that all of the com- 

 moner species of wild birds require reinvestigating so far as their food and 

 feeding habits are concerned, and that their various food items should be 

 worked out and estimated by the volumetric method. 



A list of 23 references to the literature is appended. 



Some further investigations on the food of wild birds, W. E. Collinge 

 {Jour. Bd. Agr. [Loiidon], 25 {1919), No. 12, pp. 1444-1462, figs. 9).— In this 

 article, which is in continuation of that above noted, the author reports upon 

 examinations made of the stomach contents of 798 adults and 166 nestlings, 

 embracing 8 species of wild birds. 



It was found that " the jackdaw, yellow bunting, great tit, blue tit, song 

 thrush, and fieldfare are distinctly beneficial. The great tit, blue tit, and 

 fieldfare are beneficial to .such an extent that their protection is advisable. In 

 spite of the injuries it commits, it would be unwist; to recommend any repres- 

 sive measures for the chaffinch. The starling has been allowed unduly to 

 Increase. At the present time it is far too numerous, and the injuries it 

 commits are far greater than the benefits it confers. Temporary repressive 

 measures would, no doubt, help to restore a more normal population of this 

 bird, with considerable benefit to both the farmer and the fruit gi'ower." 



A list is given of 9 references to the literature. 



