° ' 191 s J Recent Literature. 495 



White grubs (Lachnosterna spp.). The award to birds of first place 

 among natural enemies of white grubs, cited in ' The' Auk ' (Vol. 30, No. 4, 

 Oct., 1913, p. 602) is repeated in a revision of the bulletin 1 there quoted. 

 Added information is to the effect that: " The U. S. Biological Survey has 

 found these insects in the stomachs of 78 species of birds and 2 species of 

 toads. 



Insects that carry stock diseases. The writer cannot forbear to add 

 another to the contributions he has made to the discussion of the distribu- 

 tion of stock diseases. In the very first article on the subject, 2 the state- 

 ment was made, regarding anthrax, that " The fact that the disease may 

 be carried by flies is more than sufficient to explain the most severe epi- 

 demics " (p. 298). The author of one of the papers reviewed at that time 

 now has published the results of further experimentation and reports 3 

 the positive findings that the horn fly, horse flies and mosquitos are capable 

 of transmitting anthrax by feeding upon a healthy animal after biting an 

 infected one. In the face of such evidence, of which much was available 

 years ago, the waging of a severe campaign against Turkey Buzzards as 

 the most important carriers of stock diseases, is a deplorable example of 

 popular disregard of scientific teachings. — W. L. M. 



Centurus radiolatus in relation to Cocoa in Jamaica. — The 



Jamaica Woodpecker has been the subject of many complaints of doing 

 damage to cocoa pods. The matter has been investigated by Mr. A. H. 

 Ritchie, Government Entomologist, and his report has recently been pub- 

 lished. 4 By stomach analysis and field observation he finds that the 

 normal food of the bird is fruit pulp, seeds and insects. Most of these 

 items were specifically identified and lists of the names are given. Mr. 

 Ritchie found no direct evidence of damage to cocoa, a conclusion supported 

 by letters reproduced in the previous issue of the Journal (22, No. 2, 

 February, 1918, pp. 65-69). Two or three writers state that they have 

 long had standing rewards for woodpeckers with remains of cocoa pods 

 or seeds in their crops, but have never had a bird presented. One of these 

 writers also gives a number of stomach analyses. The investigation so 

 far as it has proceeded, is clearly in favor of the Jamaica Woodpecker and 

 the burden of proof of damage done rests upon the accusers. — W. L. M. 



Further Notes on Possible Avian Distribution of Hog Cholera. — 



The full report of the experimental investigations of the distribution of hog 



i Davis, J. J. Common White Grubs. Farmers' Bull. 940, U. S. Dept. Agr., May, 1918, 

 p. 12. 



2 ' The Auk,' 30, No. 2, April, 1913, pp. 295-8. Succeeding articles are in Vol. 35, No. 

 2, April 1918, pp. 253-4 and in Farmers' Bull. 755, U. S. Dept. Agr., Oct. 26, 1916, pp. 

 37-9. 



3 Morris, Harry. Blood-sucking Insects as Transmitters of Anthrax or Charbon. Bull. 

 163, La. Agr. Exp. Sta., March 1918, p. 15. 



* Journ. Jamaica Agr. Soc. 22, No. 3, March 1918, pp. 102-107. Issued separately 

 and repaged 1-6. 



