ZOOLOGY. 423 



ting, tent cylinders, burlap, twisted ropes of straw, or other substances 

 be wrapped around trees in winter to prevent injury to the bark by 

 voles. No direct remedy against these animals is suggested, l)ut it is 

 urged that means be taken to protect owls, hawks, and other animals 

 which feed upon voles. The greater part of the bulletin is occupied 

 with a systematic account of the species of the genus Microtus. 

 Seventy species and subspecies are recognized, being distributed in 8 

 subgenera. 



Zoological yearbook for 1899, P. Maveti (Znologii^rher .Tahreftherichf. fiJr 1899. 

 Berlin: li. Frir>l/("ui(li'r ii- Son, 1900, pp.489). — This volume contains detailed lists of 

 literature upon the following groups of animals: Protozoa, Porifera, Cadenterata, 

 Echinodermata, Vermes, Bryozoa and Brachiopoda, Arthroi^oda, MoUusca, Tunicata, 

 and Vertebrata. 



Cyanid of potassium for poisoning rabbits {Jour. Agr. and Ind. SovtJiAiMraFui, 

 8 {1900), No. 7, pp. 566-568). — About half an acre of land was inclosed by means of 

 wire netting in order to prevent rabbits from going to natural water sources. Water 

 which had been poisoned with cyanid of potash in the ratio of 1 : 1,000 was then 

 exposed in shallow tin vessels during the night. In the morning it was found that 

 about 1 gal. of water had been taken by the rabbits and 11 dead rabbits were found. 

 On the second morning 77 rabbits were found dead, the majority being fully grown. 

 The method is believed to be effective for the destruction of rabbits. 



Rodents, 0. Lugger {Farm Students' Rev., 6 {1900), No. 21, pp. 17-19, filj>>. 3) .—Pop- 

 ular notes on rabbits and other rodents as related to agriculture. 



A revie^wr of economic ornithology in tbe United States, T. S. Palmer {U. S. 

 Dept. Agr. Yearhook 1899, pp. 259-293, X)U. 3). — The author briefly reviews the inves- 

 tigations in the. different States and in this Department upon the economic relations 

 of various birds. An account is also given of the extent to which game birds are 

 used, the collection of birds' eggs for food, the use of feathers and guano, measures 

 for the destruction of injurious birds, preservation of beneficial birds, and the intro- 

 duction of birds. 



How some birds help the farmer, V. H. Lowe ( Trans. New York Stale Agr. Sac. 

 and Neir York Bureau Far)iier.s' lust. Rpt. 1898, pp. 315-326, pU. 5). — Notes on the 

 economic relationship of the crow, blackbird, robin, Baltimore oriole, meadow lark, 

 downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, brown creeper, chickadee, native sparrows, 

 and cuckoos, with a short l)ibliography. 



Some of the economic relations of birds and their food, F. E. L. Beal (7'ror. 

 New Jersey State Hort. Soc. 1899, pp. 104-129). — This article jiresents a general dis- 

 cussion of the agency of birds in controlling the multiplication of certain injurious 

 insects. The particular food habits of a number of birds are described, togetherwith 

 an accoimt of those families of insects which contribute most extensively to the food 

 of birds. 



Birds, Annie M. Grant {Rhode Island State Bd. Agr. Rpt. 1898, pp. 50-82, figs. 

 11). — This paper is a popular discussion of the benefits conferred upon agriculture 

 and horticulture by birds, with suggestions of measures for protection and preservation 

 of birds. 



Our native birds, D. Lange {New York: Macmillan Co., 1899, pp. 162, figs. 10). — 

 A discussion of the causes of the decrease in the number of birds and methods for 

 protecting them. 



How to encourage the nesting of insectivorous birds in fruit orchards, 

 Schwarz {Uessische Landw. Ztschr., 69 {1900), No. 1, pp. 6, 7, fig. 1). — A description 

 with illustration of a box for feeding such birds during the winter season. 



A list of the insectivorous birds of New South Wales, A. J. North {Agr. Gaz. 



