4:2 A EXPEEIMENT STATION RECOED. 



Neir South Wales, 11 {1900) , No. 1, pp. 1, 2, pi 1).— Notes on thf hal)its of species of 

 Struthiilea and Pomatoi^tomus. 



An attempt to protect the green woodpecker, C. Sakce (Bclg. Jfort. el Agr., 12 

 {iftOO), Xo. •>, jtjt. -U, 4o). — Notes on the insectivorous habits of this l>ir<l. 



Investigations on the stomach contents of the seed crow (Corvus frugile- 

 gns), M. HoLLRi-NG {Johre.'iber. Vers. >Stat. Pthmzcmrhutz, Hulk, 10 {1898) , pp. 11- 

 28). — A detailed statement is made of the stomach contents of 32-1 seed crows, 11 

 hooded crows, and 5 jackdaws. The majority of these birds were killed durinji; tlie 

 summer season, but the conclusions to be drawn from a study of the stomach c;ontents 

 are favorable for the birds. 



Oysters and disease, W. A. Herdman and K. Boyce {London: G. Phillips ci- Son, 

 1899, pp. 60, plf. S; olix. in British Med. Jour., 1900, No. 2041, p. 3S8). — In this article 

 the authors discuss, among other matters, the greening of oysters. The conclusion 

 is reached that there are several distinct varieties of this phenomena. Some, like 

 the green oysters of certain rivers of the Essex coast, are healthy, wliile others, 

 such as Falmouth oysters, contain copper. 



Eel worm in roses, B. D. Halsted {Florists' Exchange, 12 {1000), No. 4, PP- 84, 

 85, tig. 1) .—Brief notes on these worms, with the recommendation to heat the soil to 

 140° F. before planting. 



Earthworms in the forest, E. Henry {Bui. Soc. Sci. Nancy, 3. scr., 1 {1900), No. 

 2, pp. ^^-<?^).— This article contains a brief historical account of the literature relat- 

 uig to the effect of earthworms upon the condition of the soil, and also brief observa- 

 tions upon their habits in the soil of forests. Notes are given on the action of earth- 

 worms in burying the various forest leaves and upon the apparent choice of kinds of 

 leaves by the worms. 



METEOROLOGY— CLIMATOLOGY. 



Nile floods and monsoon rains {Nature^ 62 {1900), No. 1608^ pj)- 

 391, 392). — This article discusses, on the basis of data furnished by 

 the meteorological reporter to the government of India, the relation 

 between the amount of the Nile floods and the abundance or deficiency 

 of the southwest monsoon rainfall in India. The relationship was first 

 suggested by Willcocks in a paper before the Meteorological Congress 

 at the World's Fair in Chicago (E. S. E., 5, p. 1086). It is claimed 

 that the observations which have been made "indicate that in at least 

 four out of five seasons in which there was a partial failure of the rains 

 in India there was a low Nile, and that generally the two countries are 

 similarly aflected by the meteorological conditions and the variations 

 of those conditions. The causes of these variations arc obscure and at 

 present very imperfectly recognized. " 



Work of the meteorologist for the benefit of agriculture, commerce, and 

 navigation, F. H., Bigelow {U. S. Bept.Agr. Yearbook 1899, pp.7 1-92, ph. 2).— Th.\s 

 l)aper is devoted mainly to a history of the U. S. Weather Bureau and an account of 

 its working, it being stated that "a consideration of the development of meteoro- 

 logical science in the United States, especially in its practical application to agricul- 

 ture, commerce, and navigation, involves mainly a review of the United States 

 Weather Bureau and its work." The topics treated include The organic laws estab- 

 lishing the weather service, the three epochs of meteorological service, a preliminary 

 historical sketch of meteorology in the United States, the weather map, administra- 

 tion of the weather service, meteorological reports and storm warnings, instruction 



