ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 159 



Experiments were made in poisoning ground squirrels with Btrychnin, corrosive 

 sublimate, red and yellow phosphorus, potassium cyanid, arsenic, etc. Of these 

 Btrychnin was most satisfactory. It was used on bacon, corn meal, raisins, dutch 

 cheese, wheat, etc. In fumigating carbon bisulphid alone or mixed with gasoline 

 gave excellent results. The use of cultures of disease germ from the Pasteur Institute 

 was without effect. Ground Bquirrels may also be trapped or destroyed by irrigation 

 and dogs. The author favors poisoning in early spring as the best method of exter- 

 minating the pests. 



Tim habits of the pocket gopher are also described. This pest is very injurious to 

 alfalfa and garden crops. They may be drowned out and caught with dogs orpoi- 

 Boned. Good results were had in the use of poisoned baits for destroying jack rab- 

 bits and other harmful rodents. 



Prairie dogs, J. G. Hanky and ( >. II. Elling (Kansas sia. Bui. 128, p. 

 Prairie dogs were exterminated on 400 badly infested acres for $33.50, or about 8 cts. 

 per acre. At first poison was distributed, after which the inhabited holes were 

 treated with carbon bisulphid and gasoline. 



The relation of coyotes to stock raising- in the West, I>. E. LantzI U. S. Dept 

 Agr., Farmers' Bui. 226, pp.24, fig. 1)- — This is essentially a popular edition of Bulle- 

 tin 20 of the Division of Biological Survey (E. S. R., 16, p. 1055). 



The relation of birds to fruit growing in California, F. E. L. Beal ( U. S. 

 Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1904, pp. 241-254). — In California birds injure fruit more than 

 in the Eastern states for the reason that wild fruits are comparatively rare in the 

 fruit regions of California and water is scarce. Among the birds which injure fruit 

 in California special mention is made of linnet, Brewer blackbird, black-headed 

 grosbeak, California jay, California Valley quail, Bullock oriole, russet-back thrush, 

 robin, etc Detailed notes are given on the feeding habits and economic relations of 



each of these species. 



Some benefits the farmer may derive from game protection, T. S. Pai.mki; 

 i U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1904, pp. 509-620). — This subject is discussed with special 

 reference to the following topics: Relation of the farmer to game laws, game protec- 

 tion as a check on hunting, protection of property and useful birds, exclusion of 

 harmful species, and financial and indirect benefits. Practical illustrations are drawn 

 from the working of game laws in various States. 



Monthly bulletin of the division of zoology, II. A. Surface | Perm. Dept. Agr., 

 Mo. Bui. Div. ZooL, / i 1905), Nos. 10, pp. 291-820, pis. 2, Jigs. 7; 11-12, pp. Si 

 fuj. 1; ■>' (1905), No. 1. pp. 82).— Xo. 10 contains brief notes on the feeding habits of 

 birds, the distribution of San Jose scale in Pennsylvania and methods of combating 

 it. the use of insecticides, the collection of insects, beekeeping, State natural history 

 museum, etc.; No. 1 1-12 gives general suggestions for spring spraying, together with 

 notes on collecting insects, San .lost' scale, fumigation, "cabbage snake," potato scab, 

 mosquitoes, diseases of bees, cankerworm, etc. ; and No. 1, a spray calendar, containing 

 directions for preparing remedies and times of application in the control of insect 

 pests and plant diseases on common cultivated plants. Brief notes are also presented 

 on cankerworm, tent caterpillar, and codling moth. 



The annual loss occasioned by destructive insects in the United States, 

 C. L. Maklatt (U. S. Dept. Ayr. Yearbook 1904, pp. 461-474). — The basis of esti- 

 mating losses from insects is explained, together with notes on the control of insects. 

 Estimates are made of the insect damage to corn, wheat, hay, cotton, fruits, forests, 

 cattle, stored products, etc. According to these estimates the total loss from insects 

 in the United State- is §700,000,000 per year. 



Insect pests of house and garden, M. V. Slinoekland ( Cornell Jieadiny Course 

 ('<>,• Farmers' Wives, 2. set., i. c »>-~>, No. 10, pp. 185-200K, figs. 11). — Brief descriptions 

 are presented of clothes moth, carpet beetle, cockroaches, bedbugs, fleas, mosquitoes, 



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