ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY ENTOMOLOGY. 



759 



Experiments on rat extermination, R. (). Saigok (Indian Mai. (laz., Jf.i 

 iJHOS). \it. 7. ii/i. J* J-.^M I. — "Alili<>iij.'h li()|t(' liad l»t'«Mi oxteiuUHl from many 

 quiii'ters that rat I'Xti'riiiiiiatioii would hv praclicablc by (Miiitlnyin;; some micro- 

 organism wiiich would not only prodiico a diseasi' in tlio animals dirwtly ex- 

 IKM'imoiited upon, but an iufoctious fatal disease among the rat i>oi)nlatioii as 

 a whole through these diseased rats Iteing let loose, this has not been borne out 

 by the experiments given." 



The warblers of North America, F. M. Chapman (Xcir Yorlc, 1907, pp. 

 IX+30G, pis. .i^). — This book has been i>rei)ared by the jiuthor in cooperation 

 with other ornithologists to meet the demand for a fully illustrated work which 

 will .serve as an aid to the field identification of warblers and to the study of 

 ilieii- life liistnrii'S. 



Our American flycatchers, B. S. Howinsii (.S'c/. Amcr. .s'»/j., 6(1 (11)08), No. 

 nil), pp. 2.iU, .iil. fii/s. 7). — The habits, peculiaritii's, an<l «'conomic imi'ortance 

 of these birds are briefly described; photographs taken in the natural state 

 accompany the article. 



The midsummer bird life of Illinois: A statistical study, S. A. Forbes 

 tAnicr. \at.. 'i^ (l'.tl)H). A o. .',iiii. /*/>. .lO'i-HJif). — In continuation of earlier work 

 ( E. S. li., IS, p. IHo), observations were made in southern, central, and northern 

 Illinois, 2 observers marching at a distance of .'10 yards apart, covering a dis- 

 tance of 42S miles. Itecords were made of the number of each sptn-ies of l)irds 

 observwl and of their e<-ological distribution. Tlie number of native birds, 

 Kurojiean sparrows excluded, was found to be 527 to the square mile. A total 

 of 7.740 individuals was observed, among which were recognized sr> species. 

 Of these, 85 i)er cent belonged to the 21 most common species. The relative 

 occurrence of bird life in crops, based on these data, is sliown by the following 

 table : 



Birds observed in crops in midsummer, 1907. 



A native bird destroying the sparrow, C. T. Mus.son (Agr. Gaz. \. S. Wales, 

 19 {I90S}, .\o. s, p. liHO). — The ground cuckoo-shrike (I'tcropodoeys phasi- 

 niteUa) has a|)peared in one locality and is killing the sparrows tliougii not 

 ittacking otiier i)irds. 



The value of birds as insect destroyers, Mr.s. W. V. I'.vrrott (I'roe. lou-a 

 I'nrk and I'onslnj .J.v.vor-., 7 (/.'"^7i, /</(. )7-.».i).— .\ brief account is given of 

 birds as insect destroyers sliowing Ihe Importance of tlieir i»roteclion. 



Locusts birds, .1. W. <;rN.MN(i (Transvaal Ain: .four., i; il9iiS), \„. .>',. ji/i. 

 'iJ7 .'i.Un. .\ itrief accoimt is given of l>irds whi<h froi] upun locusts and are 

 pnifecte<| liy law during ceitain seasons of the ye;ir. 



Bufo fowleri in northern Georgia. II. .\. .Vr.i.AUi) ( Scimcr. n. ser.. ,.'.s' (I90S), 

 \it. 7/.f, /(/». (!.',.',. il.'ii;). — Ndtes on the haliits of Fowler's toad, wincii is shown 

 t" occur abiMidantly In much of the territory east of the Appalacidan .Moun- 

 tains. 



