ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY- ENTOMOLOGY, 571 



the use of bisulphid of carbon and other gases, fl liir_ r . and destruction with infec- 

 tious virus. The ase of various trap- is also considered. According to reports bear- 

 ing on the use of virus this remedy is of considerable efficacy. 



The destruction of field mice, II. Sagnier I Bui. Soc. Nat. Agr. France,65\ 1905 >, 

 Wo. 6, pp. 878S86). [n the districl of Haute-Marne, field mice disappeared quite 

 Huddenly, apparently as a resull <.iai.iiii.lant rain- an. 1 heavy snows during winter. 

 fhe weather was extremely variable during the months of January and February. 

 It appears, therefore, thai the mice were frozen or drowned in the burrows. 



The study of birds, ( '. .1. Pbnnock [Ann. Rpts. Bd. Agr. Del., 8- ', I 1908-4), />j>- 

 bf-58) . — The feeding habits and economic relations of birds arc briefly discussed, 

 with notes on certain species of importance from an agricultural standpoint. 



Two natural enemies of the farmer. The value of birds to the farmer, 

 T. G. Peabson (But. N. < '. Bd. Agr., 96\ 1905), No. 8, pp. 41-44).— Brief reference is 

 made to the losses caused by noxious weeds and insects. Birds are discussed as 

 friends of the fanner on accounl of their assistance in destroying weeds and injurious 

 Insects. Particular mention is made in this connection of the quail, meadow lark, 

 robin, cuckoo, chickadee, chipping sparrow, night hawks, etc. 



Birds from certain of the Philippine Islands, H. ('. McGbegok ([Philippine\ 

 Pur. Govt. Labs. [Pub.], 1905, No. 25, pp. 84, pis. 11). — Lists are given of birds 

 Bbeen ed on the islands of Romblon, Sibuyan, ( !resta de < rallo, Ticao, Cuyo, ( iulion, 

 Calayan, Lubang, and Luzon. Certain species are described as new and notes are 

 {given on the distribution and feeding habits of some of the more important ones. 



The horned larks and their relation to agriculture, W. L. McAtee ( U. S. 

 Vept. Agr., Bur. Biol. Survey Bui. 98, pp. 37, pis. 9, figs. 18). — Horned larks occur at 

 least at one season of the year- in all parts of North America except the Aleutian 

 Islands, southern Alaska, extreme southeastern part of the United State.-, and Cen- 

 tral America. Over this whole territory one species prevails with 21 named varieties 

 or Bubspecies. 



The discussion presented in the bulletin is based on an examination of 1,154 stom- 

 achs of horned larks from 25 States and Territories. This examination showed the 

 contents to consisl of 20.6 per cent animal and 79.4 per cent vegetable matter. The 

 amount of animal matter present in the stomachs increases greatly in April and May. 

 In general the feeding habits of the horned lark of Europe appears to be very much 

 like thai of this country. 



In former times the horned lark constituted a t 1 product in the United State-, 



and was killed in large numbers. These birds were also preyed upon by various 

 hawks, owls, and shrikes. The feeding habits of all varieties of horned larks are 

 Umosl the same except those of the larks which occur in California, the chief differ- 



ktce being in the vegetable food consumed. In California grain constitutes 40.2 per 

 cent of the food of the homed larks, while in the country outside of California grain 



forme. 1 only IL'.L' per cent of the diet. This is perhaps due to the scarcity of insect- 

 on the dry ranges. 



Considerable difference of opinion prevails regarding the economic relations of 



horned larks, son f the farmers considering them pests, while others consider that 



the losses caused by them are n< .t of greal importance. < hits is the most important 

 pain food of horned larks, and in I lalifornia this cereal grows wild to such an extent 

 that the presence of <>at- in the stomachs of horned larks can n-.t he considered 

 against them. 



The author believes that in California, where horned larks depend chiefly upon 

 pain t'..r food, they may do considerable harm. Elsewhere they are believed to he 

 of much value to the farmer. The nestling horned larks are highly insectivorous, 

 but soon after leaving the nest they become much more vegetarian than even the 

 adult birds. 



