447 



Hewitt (C. G.). The Discovery of the European Ermine Moth {Ypono- 

 meuta) on Nursery Stock imported into Canada. — Agric. Gaz. 

 Canada, Ottawa, iv, no. 7, July 1917, pp. 552-554, 1 plate. 



Hyponomeuta malinellus and H. ■padellus were first discovered in 

 Canada in May 1917 in a shipment of shrubs and fruit seedlings from 

 France, and these pests were immediately scheduled under the 

 Destructive Insect and Pest Act. Their economic importance in 

 Europe is discussed in this paper, and the necessity for continued 

 vigilance against them in Canada is emphasised. The habits of the 

 insect in France are recorded. 



Gibson (A.), White Grub Investigation — A brief Report of Progress. 



—Agric. Gaz. Canada, Ottawa, iv, no. 7, Julv 1917, pp. 554-556, 

 2 figs. 



AMiite grubs, which caused widespread injury in Canada in 1915, 

 matured in the early summer of 1916 and changed to the adult stage 

 in August. By careful observations during that time important 

 flights of the beetles were predicted for 1917, these flights occurring 

 chiefly in eastern Canada. Lachnoslerna fusca and L. diibia were 

 particularly abundant, and it is hoped to rear some important 

 insect parasites from the collected specimens. In fields which were 

 badly infested with young grubs in 1917, it will be unsafe to plant 

 potatoes or maize in 1918, though a small grain or clover crop might 

 be grown. 



FiTzSiMONs (F. W.). Our Native Birds : their Value to Man.— 5. Afr. 

 Jl. Sci., Cape Toivn, xiii, no. 8, March 1917, pp. 366-372. 

 [Received 2nd August 1917.] 



This paper points out the very considerable imjiortance of birds 

 in the economy of nature. After discussing the ravages of insect 

 pests on the vegetation of the world, the author remarks that in order 

 to obtain reforms for the protection and betterment of the human 

 race it is usually found necessary to employ compulsion in the form 

 of legislation. 



In South Africa, if the native birds were exterminated, the human 

 population would, in a few years, be reduced to a condition of 

 starvation, while the ticks would destroy the domestic animals 

 throughout the country. All natural checks to insect increase, including 

 parasites, diseases and fungi, acting together with man's fight against 

 the pests, are considered entirely inadequate, without the aid of birds, 

 to prevent insects from sweeping all vegetation from the face of the 

 earth. Of the 900 odd species of native birds in South Africa, not 

 more than a dozen can be said to be harmful to man without sufficient 

 redeeming qualities from an economic ]3oint of view to justify their 

 preservation. Several instances are related of the serious consequences 

 resulting from the indiscriminate destruction of wild birds, which 

 inevitably causes disaster to mankind. 



