- 368 



vestigate its action on the wood, and determine preventive and 

 remedial measures. 



The fungus was found to grow saprophytically on various sub- 

 stances, but all attempts to infect living beech wood failed and no 

 proof could be obtained to indicate that it is strictly parasitic in 

 its growth. It was found to excrete enzyms which liquefied gelatin, 

 dissolved starch, and reduced lignin to cellulose. Its decomposition 

 products contained neither tannin nor oil. 



Among the remedial and preventive measures for the control 

 of this fungus the author recommends the treatment of the wounds 

 on trees with an antiseptic, and the removal and destruction of 

 the diseased parts before the sporophores reach maturity. 



XXXII. 



Animal and Insect pests. Rats, field-mice, and other vermin. 

 - Insect-life. Insects noxious to crops, to cattle, to man, 

 and to special products. Other harmful inferior animal 

 organisms. 



D. SHARP. The Zoological Record. (Zoological Rec., 44, 1907, 

 pp. xii-i52i; 45, 1908, pp. xii-1395); E. S. ., June 1910, 

 Washington. 



These volumes contain the usual classified bibliographies cover- 

 ing the literature relating to all branches of zoology. 



FRANCES PITT. Field mice and their natural enemies. (Country 

 Life (London) 26 (1909), no. 673, pp. 737, 739, figs. 4). E. 

 S. R. Vol. XXII, no. 4, March, 1910, Washington. 



Hawks, owls, foxes, stoats, weasels, and hedgehogs are men- 

 tioned as important enemies of field mice. 



