The development of the parasite of Indian kala-azar, W. S. PATTON (Sci. Mem. Med. and Sanit. Depts. India, n. ser., 1912, No. 53, pp. 38, pl. 1).—The author first reviews previous work on the subject, including feeding experiments with blood-sucking insects, and then reports at length on the development of Herpetomonas donovani in Cimex rotundatus and in C. lectularius, its behavior in the reduviid bug Conorrhinus rubrofasciatus, its biological position, and the prevalence of kala-azar in India.

The observations here reported lead the author to conclude that C. rotundatus and C. lectularius are the true invertebrate hosts of the kala-azar parasite. He states that there is at present no proof that either the parasite of kala-azar or that of oriental sore will flagellate in any insect other than their true invertebrate host, and that he is able further to show that the parasite of kala-azar will not flagellate in the stomach of an insect which ingests suitable pabulum rich in blood.

The seventeen-year cicada on Staten Island between the years 1894 and 1911, W. T. DAVIS (Proc. Staten Isl. Assoc. Arts and Sci., S (1911), No. 3, pp. 120-122).—A summarized account of the occurrence of this insect on Staten Island.

A threatened native pest of oranges, W. W. FROGGATT (Agr. Gaz. N. S. Wales, 23 (1912), No. 12, p. 1079).—Psylla schizoneuroides, common in all the western part of New South Wales upon the wild caper bush (Capparis mitchelli), is said to be a source of injury to orange trees at Dubbo.

An insect pest of the "Currajong" (Brachychiton), C. FRENCH, Jr. (Jour. Dept. Agr. Victoria, 10 (1912), No. 11, pp. 662, 663, figs. 7).-The psyllid Tyora sterculia, which is often mistaken for an aphid, is said to discolor the leaves of the large evergreen shade tree Brachychiton populneum, cultivated in Victoria.

Contribution to the knowledge of the alternation of generations of some aphids, I. KLODNITSKI (Zool. Jahrb., Abt. System., Geogr. u. Biol. Tiere, 33 (1912), No. 5, pp. 445-520, figs. 3).-The aphids here considered are Siphonophora rosa, Aphis hederæ, A. saliceti, Chatophorus testudinatus, and C. aceris. Some morphological and biological observations of Forda formicaria, D. LOMBARDI (Atti R. Accad. Lincei, Rend. Cl. Sci. Fis., Mat. e Nat., 5. ser., 21 (1912), I, No. 12, pp. 809-814; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Bul. Bur. Agr. Intel. and Plant Diseases, 3 (1912), No. 9, p. 2108).-This plant louse is reported to have been the source of injury in the vicinity of Rome to wheat, oats, and grasses of the genus Poa. It always attacks the plant at about the level of the ground and is never found on the parts above ground. It is frequently associated with other aphids, namely, Tetraneura ulmi, Pemphigus lactucarius, and Pentaphis (Tychea) trivialis. The author thinks that the sexual generation may find shelter in ant hills, when the latter are in the vicinity of the infected plants. An unidentified fungus is said to destroy this aphid in great numbers.

The life history of Panorpa klugi, T. MIYAKÉ (Jour. Col. Agr. Imp. Univ. Tokyo, 4 (1912), No. 2, pp. 117-139, pls. 2).-A detailed account of the life history and habits of this mecopteron.

Mimicry in boreal American Rhopalocera, H. SKINNER (Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 2. ser., 15 (1912), pp. 119–127).-The author at the present time takes the view that there is not enough evidence to substantiate the hypothesis of mimicry in North American butterflies.

The dispersion of the gipsy moth, A. F. BURGESS (U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. Bul. 119, pp. 62, pls. 17, figs. 6).-This bulletin presents the results of 88828°--No. 7-13- -5

extensive studies made to determine the means by which the gipsy moth is spread.

"Local spread may be due to the transportation of caterpillars or egg clusters on carriages or wagons that move for only a short distance outside the infested territory. The egg clusters may be carried on driftwood which floats down rivers during the spring. Long-distance spread may be due to the shipment of egg clusters on lumber products, nursery stock, or boxes from the infested territory to any points where such goods are unloaded. Caterpillars may be, and often are, carried long distances on automobiles or trolley cars, and cases are on record where colonies have been established in this way." The author concludes that the evidence is wholly inadequate to prove that birds are responsible for distributing the gipsy moth to the large area which has annually become infested.

Experimental work with larvæ to determine their spread by the wind. a preliminary account of which by Rane has been previously noted (E. S. R., 25, p. 257), is described in detail. The experiments indicate that the best opportunity for the dispersion of gipsy-moth caterpillars by the wind is when the temperature is above 65° F. and the velocity of the wind over 15 miles an hour. The experiments show that young larvæ of this insect can be carried by wind a third of a mile from a point less than 6 ft. above the ground.

The author discusses the quantity of silk produced by first-stage gipsy-moth larvæ, relation of temperature to hatching of eggs, effect of temperature on activity of larvæ, relation of activity to the spinning of silk, locations where egg clusters are deposited, distance first-stage larvæ can crawl, degree of infestation, kinds and condition of food plants, and direction and velocity of the wind. It is shown that the spread has been along the lines of prevailing winds to so great an extent that the evidence is conclusive that the natural spread is accomplished chiefly in this way, all of the records bearing out this conclusion. Records secured from the reports of scouting in several selected towns and cities of the dispersion of the gipsy moth follow. It is pointed out that the character of the food has a very important bearing on the dispersion of this insect since unless caterpillars blown by the wind are able to find lodgement on favorable plants they will not survive and there will be no opportunity for the species to become established.

The author recommends that national legislation be enacted to provide for the inspection of lumber products or other material which is likely to carry the gipsy moth from the territory now infested to uninfested regions.

Papers on insects affecting vegetables.-The horse-radish webworm (Plutella armoracia), H. O. MARSH (U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. Bul. 109, pt. 7, pp. 71-76, figs. 4).-A brief account is here given of the life history and habits. natural enemies, and remedial measures of the yponomeutid webworm P. armoracia, a new and hitherto unrecorded truck-crop pest which came under the author's observation at Rocky Ford, Colo., infestation apparently being restricted to about 15 "clumps" of horse-radish plants in one garden.

The eggs are usually deposited singly on the upper or lower sides of the leaves. Upon hatching out the young webworms spin compact webs under which they rest and feed until mature. When the horse-radish plants are young, the larva web together and feed on the first spikelike leaves and later among the blossom buds. With older plants the larvæ feed on the leaves generally, usually selecting the most tender ones. Their most noticeable injury is said to be due to checking the first growth of the plants early in the spring and destroying the blossom buds. The cocoons are placed on leaf petioles or among dead leaves.

There are 4 generations each year and activity is continuous from the last days of March until well into October. While a few of the larvæ of the fourth generation mature and produce moths in late September or October, the majority live through the winter among dead leaves or in cracks in the soil, and develop into moths the following April. It was found that the larval stage of the fourth generation may vary from 27 days to 6 months. A total of 331 eggs was deposited from May 4 to May 30 by one female kept under observation in a cage.

A parasite described by Viereck as Angitia plutellæ n. sp. was found to prey on this species at Rocky Ford. Experiments indicate that this insect can not be controlled with arsenicals, but it is pointed out that if artificial control measures should become necessary, much could be accomplished by burning the dead horse-radish leaves and petioles during the winter, followed by cultivation of the soil about the roots.

Directions for the cultivation of eri silk, T. B. FLETCHER (Agr. Research Inst. Pusa Bul. 29, 1912, pp. 19, figs. 8).-A brief practical manual.

Observations on the identity of the wheat midge, E. P. FELT (Jour. Econ. Ent., 5 (1912), No. 3, pp. 286-289).-The author states that the evidence at hand is not sufficient to permit a positive opinion as to whether one of the species here described, namely, Thecodiplosis mosellana, Prodiplosis fitchii n. sp., and Itonida tritici n. sp., or some other form is the destructive wheat midge referred to so frequently in earlier economic literature.

A new species of Tachinidæ from Porto Rico, W. R. WALTON (Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., 14 (1912), No. 4, pp. 198-200, pl. 1).—A tachinid reared from the sugar cane May beetle (probably Lachnosterna crenatocollis) at Anasco, Porto Rico, has been found to be new to science and is described under the name Cryptomeigenia aurifacies.

Information on Ceratitis capitata, R. AVERNA-SACCÁ (Bol. Agr. [São Paulo] 13. ser., 1912, No. 5, pp. 391-402, figs. 9).-A brief summarized account of this fruit fly.

[The pepper weevil], G. MALPICA (Estac. Agr. Expt. Ciudad Juárez, Chihua hua, Bol. 35, 1912, pp. 1-24).-This paper relates to Anthonomus eugenii and its injury to chili peppers (Capsicum annum) in Mexico, accounts of which have been previously noted (E. S. R., 17, p. 1092; 19, p. 353). Particular attention is given to practical methods of controlling it.

Technical papers on miscellaneous forest insects.-VI, Chalcidids injurious to forest-tree seeds, S. A. RoпWER (U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. Bul. 20, pt. 6, tech. ser., pp. 157-163).-This is a résumé of the literature relating to chalcidids injurious to forest-tree seeds. At present phytophagous species are known to occur in the subfamilies Collimaninæ and Megastigminæ, and in the family Eurytomidæ (the phytophagous species being in the tribes Isosomini and Eurytomini) and in addition certain genera which have been assigned to the family Perilampidæ. Seven species of chalcidids are thus far known to attack the seeds of forest trees.

A bibliography of 20 titles relating to the subject is appended.

Papers on deciduous fruit insects and insecticides.-The cherry fruit sawfly (Hoplocampa cookei), S. W. FOSTER (U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. Bul. 116, pt. 3, pp. 73–79, pls. 2, figs. 2).-Cherries infested by sawfly larvæ were first observed by the author on April 20, 1909, while inspecting a cherry orchard at Suisun, Cal. Although the cherry crop was light the injury was quite general, and further search on April 25 showed the larvæ to be present in greater or less numbers in most of the cherry orchards of the Suisun Valley. A large series of counts made of the fruit in the orchard, in which the pest was

first observed, showed approximately 80 per cent of the fruit to have been injured, most of the larvæ being by this time full grown, and some had evidently finished feeding and left the fruit. In June, 1912, cherries infested by this pest were received from Oregon, where it had been observed in a few orchards in one locality in Jackson County, and was attacking prunes as well as cherries. This is said to be the only record of its occurrence outside of California.

In 1910 the first female sawflies to appear were observed on March 10 in cages planted under trees in the orchard. Adults of both sexes became abundant by March 20, as many as 40 individuals being observed in one tree. Egg laying had begun only sparingly on March 21, but by the afternoon of March 23 many eggs were found. Oviposition was at its height from March 23 to 30 and was practically over by April 5, the adults having mostly disappeared by this time. The females oviposit quite freely in the orchards, always on blossoms just about ready to spread the petals. The greater number of eggs are deposited in the sepals of the flower, although some are deposited in the upper portion of the calyx cup. Eggs deposited March 21 had all hatched by or during the fourth day following.

Upon hatching, the young larva may feed for a short time in the tissue immediately surrounding the egg cavity, or on the inner surface of the calyx cup, but it soon finds its way to the bottom of the calyx cup and eats directly into the newly formed cherry. When full-grown the larva leaves the fruit and works its way into the ground, where it constructs a small parchment-like cocoon from 3 to 7 in. below the surface, the depth varying somewhat with the texture of the soil. The larva remains as such in the cocoon until some time after the winter rains begin, when it transforms to pupa and emerges the following March as an adult.

Two parasites, an ichneumon and a microbracon (Microbracon sp.), were reared from collected material.

Experiments in spraying with arsenate of lead were made in 1910, but the poison did not prove to be altogether effective, although satisfactory results are said to have been obtained in its use in the Rogue River Valley of Oregon. Spraying with 3 per cent distillate-oil emulsion to which sulphate of nicotin, at the rate of 1 part to 2,000 parts of water, had been added resulted in the killing of many adults in the early mornings. The cultivation of the land throughly 2 or 3 times just prior to the first picking of the Black Tartarian cherries is said to be highly advisable as most of the larvæ leave the trees at this time and large numbers of them would probably be killed.

The large larch sawfly (Nematus erichsonii), with an account of its parasites, other natural enemies, and means of control, C. G. HEWITT (Canada Expt. Farms Bul. 10, 2. ser., 1912, pp. 42, pls. 4, figs. 17).-A detailed account of the biology, economic importance, natural enemies, and preventive and remedial measures for this enemy of larch. An extended account of this pest by the author has been previously noted (E. S. R., 20, p. 1152).

Leaf anomalies of the Melastomaceæ produced by a Tylenchus, H. Ross (Ber. Deut. Bot. Gesell., 30 (1912), No. 6, pp. 346–361, figs. 8; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Bul. Bur. Agr. Intel. and Plant Diseases, 3 (1912), No. 9, pp. 2111, 2112).-The leaves of Conostegia subhirsuta were observed by the author while in the State of Vera Cruz to present characteristic deformities which were apparently caused by a nematode of the genus Tylenchus.

Papers on deciduous fruit insects and insecticides.-Lime-sulphur as a stomach poison for insects, E. W. ScOTT and E. H. SIEGLER (U. S. Dept. Agr.. Bur. Ent. Bul. 116, pt. 4, pp. 81–90, pl. 1).-This paper reports the results of

experiments conducted during 1912 at Benton Harbor, Mich., with lime-sulphur and arsenate of lead, separately and in combination. The experiments, 7 in number, were carried on largely with the fall webworm, the pear slug (Eriocampoides cerasi) however having been used in one experiment.

The conclusions drawn by the author from these experiments are as follows: "The foregoing tests of lime-sulphur wash against the larvae of the fall webworm show that this preparation has decided value as a stomach poison. It is considered extremely probable that caterpillars of many species of insects, and perhaps mandibulate insects in general, will be similarly susceptible. As shown by the data given, lime-sulphur, 1:50, while slower in killing effect than arsenate of lead, 2:50, nevertheless compares favorably with this strength of arsenical. A comparison, however, of leaf-areas eaten by larvæ subjected to lime-sulphur and arsenate of lead, respectively, shows that the lime-sulphur, especially at increased strengths, compares quite favorably with the arsenical in reducing feeding by the caterpillars.

"This action of lime-sulphur as a stomach poison probably accounts for the reported practical control of the codling moth in orchards treated with limesulphur alone, and furnishes an additional reason for its employment as a fungicide.

"Experiments in progress by the Bureau of Entomology during the past 2 years warrant the statement that entirely satisfactory results in controlling the codling moth in orchards may be obtained with lime-sulphur wash combined with reduced strengths of arsenate of lead."

FOODS HUMAN NUTRITION.

Preserved meats, G. BLANC (Rev. Serv. Intend. Mil. [Paris], 24 (1911), Mar., pp. 198–204; abs. in Bul. Soc. Sci. Hyg. Aliment., 1 (1911), No. 5-6, pp. 708, 709). A discussion of the use of meat in the French army.

Meat, the author points out, requires special preparation for use in the army, and preserved meats, if not used, must be replaced after about 5 years because, even though bacterial action be inhibited, hydrolysis causes separation of the fats into fatty acids and glycerin and of the proteins into albumoses, propeptones, and peptones. The energy obtained from meat is much more expensive than that obtained from bread.

On the discolored spots sometimes present on chilled beef, with special reference to "black spot," G. MASSEE (Jour. Hyg. [Cambridge], 12 (1912), No. 4, pp. 489–496, pls. 2).—The variously colored patches appearing on the surface of chilled beef, the author states, are caused by fungi.

"Amongst these, Cladosporium herbarum, producing black spots, is the only fungus that has become specially adapted for flourishing on such an unusual substratum, and may in consequence be expected to continue and even increase in quantity on its new matrix, unless stringent measures are adopted. This fungus is not pathogenic, and the only effect caused by its presence is the unsightly appearance of the meat and consequent deterioration in value. If extensive, the meat may be rendered unsalable.

"The beef is infected with the 'black spot' fungus before it is shipped, and to arrest the continuance of this infection special measures should be taken with the object of exterminating the fungus, which in its specialized form can only occur in the vicinity of the establishment where meat is prepared for shipment."

Fish in the food of the soldier, RIMBERT (Rev. Serv. Intend. Mil. [Paris], 23 (1910), Dec., pp. 1068-1078; 24 (1911), Feb., pp. 141-162; abs. in Bul. Soc.