35 



Legendre (J.). Anophelisme et Cuniculiculture. — Bull. Agric Alg.- 

 Tunisie-Maroc, Algiers, 2nd Ser., xxvii, no. 10, October 1921, 

 pp. 159-160. 



The information contained in this paper has been noticed elsewhere 

 [R.A.E., B, X, 3]. 



Atkins (W. R. G.). Note on the Chemotropism oi the House Fly.— 



Ann. App. Biol., Cambridge, viii, no. 3-4, November 1921, 

 pp. 216-217. 



As confirming the experiences of Imms and Husain [R.A.E., 

 A, viii, 327] and of Speyer [R.A.E., B, viii, 215] the author records 

 observations made mainly at Aboukir, Northern Egypt, between 

 1916 and 1919, in the course of experiments in fly destruction. Dihite 

 formahn with a little bread in it, placed near a window in the morning, 

 when the flies drink, proved very effective. A dome-shaped glass vessel 

 with a rim turned up inwards, made an excellent trap when supported 

 on three legs, the trough formed by the rim being filled with beer. 

 Dishes containing about 1 per cent, fomialin and a little crude alcohol 

 were very effecti\'e. The amyl alcohol, together with the fusel oil 

 constituents, doubtless attracted the flies. The attractive quahties 

 of iso-amyl acetate and other esters of these alcohols, recorded by 

 Speyer, are borne out by the powerful attraction for flies of the 

 aeroplane doping sheds. The dope consists of acetyl cellulose 

 dissolved in a mixture containing acetone, methyl-acetate, methyl 

 alcohol, ethyl alcohol and benzene as solvents or diluents and benzyl 

 alcohol as a residual solvent. It is probable that the methyl acetate 

 is the attraction, and possibly also the benzyl alcohol, though this is 

 unlikely. Far greater than the attraction of dope, however, was that 

 of the nitro-cellulose varnish, in which the main solvent was iso- 

 amyl acetate at first, and later on, w-butyl acetate. The thousands of 

 flies attracted from a neighbouring village b\' the strong odour of 

 butyl acetate afforded an example of chemotropism on a very large 

 scale. Surplus supplies of w-butyl alcohol are available, so that its 

 use in quantities as the acetate in a campaign against flies should 

 be possible. The ester is volatile and boils at 125" C. [257"" F.], so 

 that it would have to be replenished at intervals. Iso-amvl acetate is 

 slightly less volatile and boils at 139" C. [282^ F.]. 



Ferxald (H. T). Applied Entomology. An Introductory Text- 

 book o£ Insects in their Relations to Man. — A'tu' York & London. 

 McGraw Hill Book Co. Inc., 1921, xiv+386 pp., 388 figs. Price 

 $3-50 or 21s. 



After deploring the chaotic condition of the teaching of Entomology 

 in the United States, and remarking on the diverse opinions of 

 authorities (to which he adds his own) as to subject matter, methods 

 of presentation, or even the line of training, the author offers this 

 work as " a classroom text for an introductory course." 



Although the major portion of this book is of agricultural interest, 

 brief summaries of our present knowledge regarding the insects trans- 

 mitting disease, those attacking domestic animals, and household 

 pests, are given under the groups concerned. 



The Arachnida are not included, neither are there any references 

 to literature, presumably on account of the elementary nature of the 



