414 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. II, No. 6 
Table I. —Results of tests of birds Nos. I to $6 as fungus carriers as shown by cul¬ 
tures —Continued 
SUMMARY 
No. 
Kind of bird. 
Number 
tested. 
Number 
carrying 
Endothia 
parasitica 
spores. 
Maximum 
number of 
spores of 
Endothia 
parasitica 
carried by 
single bird. 
1 
Black-and-white creeper. 
7 
0 
0 
2 
Brown creeper. 
2 
1 
254,019 
Downy woodpecker. 
16 
13 
757, °74 
Flicker . 
1 
5 
Golden-crowned kinglet. 
1 
1 
6,566 
6 
Hairy woodpecker. 
3 
0 
0 
2 
1 
8 
White-breasted nuthatch. 
2 
1 
5 j 655 
9 
Sapsucker.-. 
2 
2 
7*502 
Total .. 
36 
19 
RELATION OF RAINFALL TO BIRDS AS CARRIERS OF THE CHESTNUT- 
BLIGHT FUNGUS 
The highest positive results were invariably obtained soon after a 
period of heavy rainfall, generally one extending over several days. (See 
Table II.) During the time covered by our tests there were four such 
rains. (See Table III.) Birds shot from two to four days after each 
period were found to be carrying the highest numbers of spores of 
Endothia parasitica. Some of the birds shot at other times were also found 
to be carrying spores of the chestnut-blight fungus, but in much smaller 
numbers. This relation between the high number of spores and the 
periods of rainfall is explained by the fact that the pycnospores of the 
chestnut-blight fungus are produced in large numbers during and after 
rains and are washed down the trunks of the trees (4). This is explained 
more in detail later. 
Table II. —Rainfall related to birds as carriers of the chestnut-blight fungus 
Rainfall in inches. 
Number 
Number 
No. 
Locality where 
Date 
killed. 
of En¬ 
of fungous 
of 
shot 
dothia 
spores not 
Date. 
West 
Date^ 
Martic 
bird. 
(Pennsylvania). 
parasitica 
Endothia 
Chester, Pa. 
Forge, Pa. 
spores. 
parasitica. 
_ 1913. 
Feb. 21 
0.19 
1913. 
>Feb. 22 
0.09 
2 
Martic Forge. 
1913- 
Feb. 21 
0 
156,600 
Feb. 22 
.07 
Feb. 27 
.78 
Feb. 27 
•36 
3 
.do. 
Feb. 28 
0 
80,000 
Mar. 5 
.02 
4 
.do. 
Feb. 28 
10,000 
115,000 
612,500 
100,000 
Mar. 9 
•03 
•53 
< 
.do. 
Mar. 10 
30,000 
73,333 
Mar. 10 
/Mar. 10 
\Mar. 13 
•55 
West Chester. 
Mar. 19 
1. 29 
/ 
Mar. 13 
1 
to 
1 I.38 
Mar- 15 
.92 
7 
.do... 
Mar. 19 
109,022 
64,626 
Mar. 15 
8 
1 
.do. 
Mar. 19 
92,000 
236,000 
Mar. 21 
I. 64 
Mar. 21 
.62 
Mar. 26 
1.18 
Mar. 26 
3-47 
r 9 
Martic Forge. 
Mar. 24 
0 
60,000 
Mar. 27 
J 
IO 
.do. 
Mar. 29 
Mar. 31 
757.074 
IS. 625 
55.090 
246,875 
Mar. 30 
Mar. 3X 
.30 
.20 
jMar. 31 
.04 
II 
.do. 
