ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 251 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY. 



The game resources of Alaska, W. PL Osdooii ( U. .S'. Dcpt. Afjr. Yearhook 

 I'JOl, vi). .'/WM^'~^ P'*'- -> inaits J). — Among Alaska's game animals are some of 

 the largest and finest in the world, as the giant moose and the huge brown bears. 

 It.s game resources compare favorably with the western part of the United 

 States in early days and at the present time is one of the most important game 

 regions in the world. So far no species have been exterminated, but the traffic 

 in wild game already is a matter of serious moment and difficult to regulate. 

 The several Iclnds of game resident in Alaska are considered, and a description 

 of their uumlter, habits, and recent history, and of the nature of the country is 

 given. Three maps are given showing the distribution of moose, deer, caribou, 

 mountain goats, and mountain sheep In Alaska. 



Destruction of wolves ajid coyotes, V. Bailey {U. 8. Dept. Ag7\, Bur. Biol. 

 Surrey Circ. 63, pp. 11, fig. 1). — According to supervisors' reports of the Forest 

 Service, here summarized, there were killed in or near National forests in 1907 

 1,723 wolves and 2.3,208 coyotes. Notes are given as to the dates of breeding 

 and number of pups per litter in AVyoming, New Mexico, ^Michigan, Wisconsin, 

 Minnesota, and Ark:in.sas. It is reported that elk have been found to protect 

 stock in pastures from dogs and wolves, and it is suggested that this may be- 

 come an important use for elk. Directions for destroying wolves are repub- 

 lished, with slight change, from Circular 55 of the Biological Survey previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 19, p. 51). 



The rabbit as a farm and orchard pest, D. E. Lantz ( U. S. Dept. Agr. Year- 

 hook 1!>07. pp. 329-3.'i2, pis. 2. fig. 1). — A general account is given of the dis- 

 tribution of rabbits in the I'nited States, their protective powers, breeding and 

 feeding habits. The damage they inflict on field crops, gardens, trees, nurseries, 

 and forest plantings is considered. Means of repression, including natural 

 enemies, hunting, drives, trapping, and poisoning, and the protection of crops 

 and trees by rabbit-proof fences and other means are discussed. 



Babbits and the western flora, R. AV. Peacock (Agr. Gaz. N. S. ^yales, 19 

 (1008). Xo. 1, pp. .'/d-'iS, fig^- 2). — The flora of the western grazing regions of 

 New South Wales has been greatly influenced by the ravages of rabbits. Not 

 only are grasses and small shrubs attacked but even trees up to a diameter of 

 7 in. are said to have been felled and leaves, branches, and trunks devoured by 

 hungry rabbits. 



Destruction of the cotton boll weevil by birds in winter, A. H. Howell 

 (U. S. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Biol. Survey Circ. 6.'i, pp. 5, map 1). — A continuation of 

 the investigation conducted by the Biological Survey (E. S. R., 19, p. 551), on 

 the food habits of birds in relation to their destruction of the boll weevil. 

 Collections were made of l>ir;ls found in and about cotton fields in centi-al and 

 northwestern Louisiana during January and February, 1908. Six hundred 

 sjiecimens, rei»resenting 50 species, were secured, of which 20 species and 81 

 individuals, or 33.5 jter cent, were found to have eaten boll weevils. It was 

 found that more birds were feeding upon the weevils and that many more 

 weevils were being destroyed by them than in any of the more western locali- 

 ties where birds have been collected at a corresponding season. A record is 

 given of the birds examined which had eaten boll weevils with brief notes on 

 the status of the more important winter birds. The relatively greater ini- 

 l>ortance of weevil destruction in winter is mentioned and emphasis is placed 

 upon the need for rigid protection of each and every species of bird known to 

 feed upon the ]iest. 



Food habits of wood pigeons, W. E. Winton {Jour. Bd. Agr. [London^, I'f 

 {I'JOti), Ao. 11, p. 6S(i). — Observations were made on the food habits of wood 



