I9ie J Recent Literature. 447 



(Phoradendron) of mistletoes things are quite different as the seeds are 

 seldom distributed from tree to tree (except by gravity) by any agencies 

 besides birds and other animals. These mistletoes are the most injurious 

 also as they are known to kill many trees. The bii'ds that are important 

 disseminators of Phoradendron in Texas are, according to Professor H. H. 

 York,! Mockingbirds, Sparrows, and Cardinals, and according to Dr. W. 

 L. Bray,2 Mockingbirds, Cedarbird and Robins. 



Dr. Bray says: " It is the conclusion of most observers that the Mocking- 

 bird is the chief distributor of mistletoe seed, but perhaps the cedar birds 

 actually distribute more, for in March and April these birds appear in 

 flocks of hundreds in search of berry mast — especially hackberries — and 

 during the brief visits of a few days or a week or two all the berry^laden 

 trees are visited repeatedly until the berries are gone. During these flights, 

 mistletoe berries are also eaten, though probably not much noticed until 

 the hackberry crop is exhausted. Robins also are reported to be common 

 distributors of mistletoe seed. In the vicinity of Austin large flocks of 

 robins spend the winter, or part of it, in the cedar brakes, where they feed 

 largely on cedar mast; but at times they appear in numbers about farm- 

 yards and in towns, feeding upon hackberries, and during these visits also 

 upon mistletoe berries." 



The birds which the Biological Survey has found to feed upon Phora- 

 dendron berries and which therefore distribute the seeds are the California 

 Jay, Cedarbird, Phainopepla, California Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, Robin, 

 Bluebird, and Western Bluebird. 



While the problem of controlling mistletoes is a serious one in some 

 localities, it is not likely that aggressive action against birds will ever be 

 undertaken as a partial solution. The destruction of birds locally would 

 be like dipping water from the ocean; others would come in to take their 

 places and nothing would be gained. On any other scale combating 

 mistletoe by killing birds is unthinkable. Like most pests mistletoe is 

 best controlled by direct attack. Anyone interested in the European 

 experience relating to birds as distributors of mistletoe will find it sum- 

 marized by C. von Tubeuf in the article indicated by the appended refer- 

 ence.2— W. L. M. 



Further Data on the Spread of the Chestnut-bhght Fungus. — 



In previous communications to 'The Auk,''' the writer has called attention 

 to a publication on birds as carriers of the chestnut-blight fungus and to 

 another which showed the great importance of the wind in distributing 



1 Bull. 120, Univ. Texas, March 15. 1909, p. 7. 



2 Bull. 166, U. S. Bureau of Plant Industry, Feb. 2, 1910, pp. 11-12. 



^ Nalurwiss. Zeitschr. f. Forst. u. Land wirtschaft. 6. H 1, 190<8, pp. ■17-6S. 

 ^ 32. No. 1, Jan. 1915. p. 119 and No. 3, July, 1915, p. 378. 



5 Studhalter, R. A. and Ruggles. A. G., Insects as Carriers of the Chestniil-hlisrht fungus. 

 Bull.. 12, Pennsylvania, Dept. of Forestry. April, 1915, 33 pp., 24 tigs. 



