ZOOLOGY. 559 



given f<ir the (ieterniination of families of Pennsylvania l)ir(ls, t()<,'etlier with Inief 

 notes on the economic importance of these families. 



Birds in relation to agriculture, (tunning {Tramvaal Agr. Jour., 2 {1903), No. 

 5, pp. IS, pis. 5). — The feeding habits of vultures, falcons, hawks, buzzards, and 

 eagles are described with reference to the economic relations of these birds to agri- 

 culture. All of the species are believed to do more good than harm, under ordinary 

 conditions. 



The bird as th.e laborer of man, W. T. L. Travers ( Trans, (tnd Proc. Ncv) Zealand 

 Inst., 35 (190^), pp. 1-11). — Attention is directed to the agency of birds in controlling 

 the ravages of insect pests, and a number of specific instances are noted in which 

 birds are shown to have been of economic importance in the control of these pests. 



Observations on birds, S. P. James {Sci. Mem. Med. and Sanit. Depts. India, n. 

 ser., 1902, No. 2, pp. 99-106). — Experiments were made in allowing species of Ano- 

 pheles and Culex to feed on birds infected with proteosoma and halteridium. Spar- 

 rows and pigeons were used in these experiments. It was found that sparrows were 

 susceptible to both forms of parasites, while pigeons became infected only with hal- 

 teridium. Both Culex and Anopheles were found to feed readily on sparrows and 

 pigeons when confined in cages with mosquito netting upon the walls. No change 

 in temperature was observed in these l)irds after infection with the malaria parasites, 

 but the normal temperature of a sparrow was found to be 10(5 to 107.5° F., and of a 

 pigeon 107 to 108° F. 



Our smallest birds and their habits, W. Whyte {Trans, and Proc. Perthshire 

 Soe. Nat. Sci., 3 {1902-3), No. r,,j)p. 238-245).— Notes are given on the feeding habits 

 and economic relations of the goldcrest, firecrest, blue tit, coal tit, long-tailed tit, and 

 common wren. 



Annual report of the Ornithological Society of Munich for 1901-2, C. 

 Parrot {Jahresher. Ornitliol. Ver. MUvchen, 3 {1902), pp. 392, pi. 1). — In this report 

 notes are given on the proceedings of the various meetings of the society, and a num- 

 ber of papers which were read are reproduced. These cover a variety of sul)jects 

 and are largely concerned with the habits and biological relations of a number of 

 birds, including Phylloscopus bonellii, Ortygometra porzana, Clavicola riparia, etc. 



The duck hawk (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Iowa, B. H. Bailey {Proc. 

 loira Acad. Sci. 1902, pp. 93-98). — Notes are given on the feeding habits and biology 

 of this bird. 



A rabbit drive in Riverina, New South Wales, Daisy J\I. Bates {Jour. Dept. 

 Agr. nV.s/. Anstndia, 7 {1903), No. 2, pp. 111-115). — A description of a rabbit drive 

 undertaken for the purpose of reducing as far as possible the injury from the exces- 

 sive nunil)er of rabbits. During this drive al)out 4,000 ra])l)its were secured. 



Soil and topographical influence upon the color and size of the European 

 mole, V. P. Vradi {Sehk. Khoz.i Lyesov.,211 {1903), Oct., pp. 175-183).— l^otes are 

 given on dark and light forms, and in general upon the distribution of color forms of 

 the European moles in various regions. The occurrence of certain color forms in 

 different months of the year is shown in tal)ular form. 



The destruction of rats on ships as a means of preventing the introduction 

 of plague, NocHT and G. (tiemsa {Arh. K. Gesundlirifsamte, 20 {1903), No. 1, jyp. 

 91-113, Jigs. 9). — According to the extensive investigations reported l)y these authors 

 the safest and most practical method of destroying rats on shiplioard consists in the 

 production and proper distribution of carbon monoxid. This gas can be easily and 

 economically produced, and detailed notes are given on .suitable apparatus for pro- 

 ducing it. The gas is extremely poisonous to rats and is perfectly harmless to the 

 most delicate fabric. 



The monthly bulletin of the division of zoology, H. A. Sirkace {Pennsylva- 

 nia State Dept. Ayr., Mo. Bid. Dir. Zool., 1 {1903), No. 7, pp. 32, pi. 1). — Brief notes 



