ZOOLOGY. 617 



flickers, bobolinks, meadow larks, blackbirds, and robins. The defini- 

 tion of various classes of birds other than game birds which are pro- 

 tected is in most cases loose and ambiguous. A brief digest is presented 

 of the legislation of various States upon the subject of plume birds. 

 Attention is called to the widespread prejudice against birds of prey, 

 and it is suggested that at least a number of hawks should be protected 

 on account of their known feeding habits. A table is given showing 

 the species of birds protected in each State and in the Canadian Prov- 

 inces. A digest is also presented of ihe regulations regarding the per- 

 mits for collecting birds and eggs for scientific purposes in different 

 States. The author discusses the Hoar Bill, the Teller Bill, and the 

 Lacey Act. 



Appended to the bulletin is a compilation of the State laws for the 

 protection of birds and the laws of the Canadian Provinces on the 

 same subject. 



Protection and importation of birds under act of Congress approved May 



25, 1900, James Wilson ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Division of Biological Survey Circ. 29, pp. 

 6). — This circular contains a copy of the Lacey Act for the protection of birds and a 

 commentary by the Secretary of Agriculture, explaining the powers and limitations 

 of the Department of Agriculture in this matter and the methods which must be 

 adopted by importers or shippers of animals included in the act. 



Directory of State officials and organizations concerned with the protection 

 of birds and game, T. 8. Palmer {V. S. Dept. Agr., Divis^iun of Biological Surreg 

 Circ. 2S, pp. 8). — This list is printed also in the Yearbook for 1899 (pp. 710-717). 



Distribution of the seed crow in Germany, Rorig {Arh. K. Gesundheitsamte, 

 Biol. Aht., 1 {1900), No. 3, pp. 271-284, pis. 2).— The author made a detailed study 

 of the distribution of Corims frugilegiis in the various provinces of Germany. Notes 

 are given on the present position of large colonies of these birds, their nesting habits, 

 and upon the means which have been adopted for destroying the birds. Bounties 

 are offered in a number of localities for seed crows. 



Revision of the pocket mice of the genus Perognathus, W. H. Osgood ( U. S. 

 Dept. Agr., Divi.^on of Biological Survey , North American Fauna No. 18, pp. 63, 2>ls. 4, 

 Jigs. 15). — This bulletin contains an account of the literature relating to the genus 

 under discussion, and a discussion of the distribution, color and pelages, habits, 

 classification, and new species of this genus. An analytical key is presented for the 

 determination of species and subspecies, all of which are described. 



The destruction of mice by means of oats treated with strychnin and 

 sugar, A. Schxeebeli {Ann. Agr. Suisse, 1 {1900), No. 7, pp. 269-275). — On account 

 of the mildness of two successive winters the fields in the canton of Zurich were 

 badly overrun with mice, and great damage to crops resulted. The usual methods 

 for the destruction of these animals proved insufficient during these successive inva- 

 sions. Recourse was had to inoculation with the bacillus of mouse typhus and to 

 poisoning by means of oats treated with sugar and strychnin. Satisfactory results 

 were obtained by the latter method, and it was observed that dogs and cats which 

 ate the poisoned mice were not affected. 



Oligochseta, W. ^Iichaelsen {Das Tierreich. Berlin: R. Friedldnder d- Son, 1900, 

 No. 10, pp. XXIX ^ 574, figs. 13) . — A general systematic account of the earthworms, 

 with extensive bibliographical references. 



Arsenical soap and its supposed preservative action upon the skins of 

 museum specimens, L. Vieira {Ann. Sci. Nat., 6 {1900), pp. 29-32). — From a quite 



