NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



807 



first-discovered form was called Phoradendron flavescens, and has 

 become the recognized type of American mistletoe. Many other species 

 exist in America, however, and several distinct varieties of the 

 species named. 



Picturesque details are given of the life-history of the plant 

 and of its dissemination by birds, and suggestions are given for keeping 

 it within reasonable limits, the sentiment which always attaches to the 

 mistletoe and a certain demand which exists for it at Christmas being 

 against its entire destruction. — M. L. H. 



MosquitOS and Paraffin. By 0. French {Jour. Agr. Vict. July 

 1910, p. 481). — It is only the female mosquito that stings; she lays 

 some 400 eggs on stagnant water; the eggs hatch in warm weather in 

 a few hours ; six or seven days are spent in the larval stage, two days 

 as pupae, making some ten days in all. It is desirable to protect the 

 natural breeding places and destroy the larvae. Paraffin sprayed on at 

 the rate of 1 oz. to 15 square feet of water surface is very effective. 

 It may be undesirable to so treat some places, especially water for 

 domestic purposes, although this has been done without harm where 

 the supply is drawn from the bottom of the tanks. If mosquito larvae 

 are noticed in still water in tanks or tubs, agitate the water by stirring; 

 this destroys the eggs and any larvae that are being hatched, and if 

 done regularly will certainly check the increase of these insects ; some 

 keep their tanks free by putting in a little wheel, which is turned by a 

 windmill, and keeps the water constantly agitated. The larvae of the 

 dragon-fly and of water-beetles eat enormous numbers of mosquito 

 larvae. Stocking the water with fish (of which the gold-fish is one of 

 the best) is a valuable means of keeping this pest in check, as the fish 

 destroy great numbers. 



Swallows, reed warblers, fly-catchers, and other birds play an im- 

 portant part in destroying mosquitos in the air. Eeceptacles diflicult 

 of removal, such as water-tanks and barrels, should be tightly screened 

 to prevent the female insect from reaching the water to deposit her 

 eggs.— 0. H. H. 



Natural Reveg-etation of Depleted Mountain Grazing- Land. 



By A. W. Sampson (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Forest Service, Circ. 169, 

 1909). — Suggestions are here made for increasing the value of the 

 grazing lands in the National Forests. Previous investigations and 

 experiments proved that much could be done in that way, particularly 

 by the introduction of new and valuable agricultural grasses. — A. D. W . 



Nepenthes —Animals. I. Systematic. By J. C. H. de Meijere 



{Ann. Jard. Bot. Buit. 3rd supp. 2nd pt. 1910, pp. 917-940; 4 plates). 

 — A number of animals, instead of being killed and digested by the fluid 

 within the pitchers of Nepenthes, were found by Dr. Jensen to live 

 and flourish under such circumstances. In this paper Professor de 

 Meijere gives a systematic description of a number of animals found 

 in the pitchers at Buitenzorg by Dr. Jensen. — R. B. 



