ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY ENTOMOLOGY. 851 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY. 



The decision of the Supreme Court of the United States on the sale of 

 imported game. T. S. Palmkr (U. S. Drpt. Affr.. Bur. Biol. Purvey Circ. 67, 

 lijK IJ). — Tlio author here reviews the so-called Silz case which is based upon 

 liio sale ill Xew Yorlc duriiiji the closed season of English ])lover and Russian 

 {grouse and the possession of one golden plover from England and one blackcock 

 from Russia. The decision rendered on November 2, 1908, by the Supreme 

 Court of the United States, which is here published in full, sustains the right 

 of the State to regulate the jmssession and sale of game taken outside its 

 boundaries. This dwision directly affects dealers in game, importers, and 

 many persons engageil in the millinery trade. 



A history is given of the question of the right of a State to regulate posses- 

 sion and sale of game taken outside its bonndaric s, with references to decisions 

 on possession and sale of imported game and fish. 



First report on the economic features of turtles of Pennsylvania, II. A. 

 Surface {Zool Bui. Venn. Dcpt. Agr., 6 (1908), No. .',-5, pp. 107-195, ph. 9, 

 figs. 16). — A report of studies made of the turtles of the State with special 

 reference to their food habits. Eighteen species are described as probably 

 found in the State. 



The snapping turtle (Chclgdra serpentina) is reported to be more destructive 

 than beneficial in its feeding habits, particularly as it is liable to be a very 

 serious enemy of young ducks in ponds. The musk turtle (Aromochelys 

 odoratus) ajiparently feeds almost wholly upon mollusks and insects, and is 

 considered as being decidedly beneficial. The painted turtle (Chnjscmgs picta) 

 appears to be almost equally herbivorous and carnivorous. Out of 86 examined 

 01 had eaten insects, 10 containing specimens of the rose bug. The author 

 concludes that this species must be regarded as beneficial. 



The speckled tortoise (Cleninn/s guttntus) was found to be particularly in- 

 sectivorous and beneficial rather than obnoxious. Forty specimens of the 

 common box turtle (Terrapcnn caroHna) were examined, 02 per cent containing 

 vegetable matter and 80 per cent animal tissue, including snails, slugs, milli- 

 ]iedes, and insects. 



A foo;I table of the turtles examined and a bibliographical list are given. 



The influence of minimuni temperatures in limiting the northern distri- 

 bution of insects, E. I). Sanderson (Neiv Ilainpsiiire Sta. Sci. Contrib. 1, pp. 

 2'ir)-.>G.*., maps 7; Jour. Eeon. Ent., I {190S), Xo. .',, pp. 2'i5-262, maps 7).— This 

 is a jtaper read before the section of economic zoology of the Seventh Interna- 

 tional Zoological Congress, held at Boston in 1907. 



Examinations of the nests of the brown-tail moth collected in Maine and 

 Xew Hampshire have shown that in those of average size 72 to 100 per cent 

 of the larva? have been killed by a temperature of — 24° F. or lower. In large 

 'lests (tn oak, however, only .57 per cent were killed. Studies have been made 

 of the miniinum isotherms. When these are compared with the boundaries 

 of the life zones as ch.arted by the Biological Survey of this Department, many 

 similarities become apparent, but also a number of important differences. 

 •• Upon comparing the distribution of several well-known injurious insects with 

 the average annual minimum isotherms, they were found to define the northern 

 limits in some instances rather better than the life zones." 



Evidence is brought forward to show tint the sum of jiositive temperatures 

 lefTective teniperatures| for the season of growth and reiiroduction is not the 

 only or the most important factor governing disfriltutiou northward, but that 



