to its aid a number of able scientific men, and is publishing the result of their work in suitable style. The papers of Hay on the Vertebral Column of Amia, and the skeleton of Protostega, are important contributions to knowledge. We hope soon to give an abstract of the illustrated paper of Holmes on the Yucatan ruins. It seems that the Museum is not to be merely a show place, but is to be a center of original research, worthy of the great city in which it is sitnated.

Perhaps a year ago we objected in rather caustic terms to the proposed publication by the Filson Club of Louisville, Kentucky, of the life and bibliography of Rafinesque. We are at the time under the impression that the club was a scientific body, and we were then of the opinion, as we are now, that such a society might easily find better use for its money than the publication of such a work. The fact is, however, that the object of the society is the preservation of historic records, and not of the results of scientific research. Hence the publication in question was precisely within its scope, and Prof. Call, the author, conferred a benefit on us all in writing the book. The history is a very curious one, and will interest even the non-scientific reader. Manuscripts in the possession of the U. S. National Museum show that Rafinesque had a skillful pencil, and that the figures which accompany his printed works do him injustice.

President Cleveland deserves well of his fellow countrymen for various reasons, but he deserves least, of his scientific constituency. His latest appointment, that of the U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, was made in spite of different recommendations of the scientific men of the country, and for reasons which are to this class quite inscrutable. The new appointee was, as we are informed, retired from the navy on account of rheumatism. He has no scientific knowledge or experience of the habits of fishes or the conduct of fisheries, and would seem to be physically incapacitated from learning. Doubtless the President has told him as the old lady told her daughter who asked her if she might go in to swim; father may I the fishes save from thoughtless cruel slaughter? yes, yes my son, save every one, but don't go near the water.

RECENT LITERATURE.

Geological Survey of New Jersey.'-The Annual Report of the State Geologist for the year 1894 contains an account of the progress made in the study of the surface geology, by R. D. Salisbury; a report on the artesian wells in southern New Jersey, by L. Woolman, and a statement of the results of the surveys made with reference to ascertaining the forest area of the state, by C. C. Vermeule.

Mr. Salisbury makes an especial point of the influence that "stagnant ice" has had upon the deposition of the stratified drift of the valleys of the northern part of the state. In his description of Flat Brook Valley he remarks that "the form of topography characteristic of this valley, and of stagnant ice deposits in general, is the following: A broad and somewhat swampy flood plain in the axis of the valley is bordered on one or both sides by a strongly-marked kame belt a few rods in width. This kame belt is lowest near the axis of the valley. It rises in the opposite direction, and finally grades into a flat-topped terrace." These terrace differ from normal river terraces primarily in the fact that the slopes which face the axis of the valley are not erosion slopes.

Mr. Woolman's report confirms the conclusions of former observations, that the principal water-bearing horizons are found in Cretaceous

strata.

The forestry report includes a paper on the forest conditions of south Jersey, by John Gifford. The interest of this paper centers in the practical suggestions it contains as to the treatment of forest lands, both for their preservation, and for pecuniary return for money and labor spent in their care. The paragraphs on Forest Influences, and Forest Economics should, in the interest of the people, be quoted in every local paper of the State.

Nine page-plates are used for illustrations, and a geological map of the valley of the Passaic-topographic sheet 6 in envelope, accompanies the Report.

Annual Report, Vol. VI, Geological Survey of Canada. This volume comprises the summary reports on the operations of the

1 Annual Report of the State Geologist of New Jersey for the year 1894. Trenton, N. J. 1895.

2 Annual Report (new series) Geological Survey of Canada, Vol. VI., 1892-93. Ottawa, 1895; Dr. H. R. C. Selwyn, Director.

survey for the years 1892 and 93, by the Director; reports on the Geological investigations conducted in central Ontario and southwestern Nova Scotia by F. D. Addens and L. W. Bailey respectively; a contribution to the knowledge of the minerals of Canada, as shown by chemical analyses, by G. C. Hoffman; and a report ou mineral statistics and mines, by E. D. Ingall and H. P. H. Brumell.

The Director's report includes much valuable information concerning the hitherto practically unexplored regions of the Labrador peninsula, and the western coast of Hudson's Bay.

Sketch maps of southern Keewatin, and of the south-western part of Nova Scotia accompany the reports on those regions, and a number of statistical diagrams show the progress of the mining indutries.

Elementary Physical Geography.-A new text book of physical geography has been long needed, so that this work of Mr. Tarr's is well timed. The author divides the subject into three parts the Air, the Ocean, the Land, giving the physiographic side more prominence than is customary in works of this kind. The language is clear, the illustration apt, and the information up to date. Each chapter is supplemented by a list of reference books and an appendix contains descriptions of meteorological instruments, apparatus and methods of use, suggestions to teachers, and questions upon the text.

The text is usually well illustrated with diagrams and reproductions of photographs many of them new, while the addition of 29 plates and charts completes a most attractive volume. We can recommend it for use as the best text book for colleges before the public.

Guide Zoologique.-A reference book, published for use during the meeting of the International Congress of Zoology at Leyden in 1895. Brief accounts are given of the zoological courses offered in the various schools of Holland, also of the Zoological institutions, gardens, and societies. The fauna of the country is summarized by specialists, the history of the domestic animals revewed, and a short account of the fishing industry closes the zoological part of the volume. The final chapter is devoted to the climate of Holland.

The many maps and plates which are distributed through the book, its convenient size, and the clear, concise language of the text, combine to make an admirable guide book,

3 Elementary Physical Geography. By R. S. Tarr. New York and London, 1895. Macmillan & Co.

• Guide Zoologique. Communications diverses sur les Pays Bas. Leyde, Septembre, 1895.

Marshall and Hurst's Practical Zoology."-The fourth edition of this work being called for, the work of revising and editing it has devolved upon Mr. Hurst, to bring the work up to date numerous changes have been made, the most important of which, perhaps, are in the chapter on Amphioxus.

The work as originally written was intended to give the junior students of Owens College, Manchester, England, a practical acquaintance with animal morphology, and the present revised edition will be found a useful laboratory text book for any one who wishes to acquire an insight into the leading facts of Animal structure, and a technical knowledge of the principal methods of research.

The illustrations are intentionally few, as it is expected that the student will make drawings from his own dissections. These are, however, of excellent quality.

Works of this class are of utility in the laboratory, but they do not take the place of general text books as guides to the larger problems of zoology.

Elementary Lessons in Zoology. In the hands of a competent teacher this book will be of value in giving a student a fair start in the study of zoology. It is in reality a Laboratory Manual. Four simple types of animal structure are given to familiarize the student with the meaning of the terms, cell, protoplasm, tissue, differentiation sexuality, etc. Considerable attention is given to insects; then follow in turn common forms of Crustaceans, Worms, Molluscs and Vertebrates. The study of the animal alive, and in its biological relation to its environment, is made a prominent feature. To this end methods of observation are given with suggestions as to the facts to be ascertained. In this way the student acquires a practical knowledge of the life histories of the animals studied.

An appendix contains directions for the preparation of material for study.

The illustrations are intended as guides to identification, and in a very general way, they answer the purpose.

Chats about British Birds.'-The depiction of bird life in this volume is quite a vivid and interesting as was that of insect life, by

5 A Junior Course in Practical Zoology. By A. Milnes Marshall and C. Herbert Hurst. Fourth Edition revised by Mr. Hurst. New York, 1895. G. P. Putnam's Sons.

• Elementary Lessons in Zoology. By James G. Needham. New York, 1895. American Book Co.

* Chats about British Birds. By J. W. Tuft, London, Geo. Gill & Sons.

the same author, in Rambles in Alpine Valleys. Members of thirty three families are described in an easy, gossipy fashion, with special reference to their food and nesting-habits. No opportunity is lost for pointing out that in general, birds are the farmers best agents for protecting crops from insects and worms. The fruit eating proclivities of the Thrush and the Black bird in the late summer are excused for the wholesale destruction in early spring of insects, worms, slugs and snails.

The book is intended to interest young people in the study of Ornithology, but from the facts set forth, it may also be of use in creating among farmers a better appreciation of the service rendered them by birds, and lead them to see the necessity of organized protection for the feathered race.

Check List of North American Birds.-The American Ornithologist's Union have issued a second edition of the Check-list published in 1885. The new addition includes the numerous additions and nomenclature changes made in the several supplements to the Check List since the publication of the original edition, together with a revision of the "habitats" of the species and subspecies, but omitting the Code of Nomenclature.

Species whose status as North American birds is doubtful are listed separately under the heading "Hypothetical," and the fossil birds are likewise separately classified.

As an authoritative nomenclator this book has much value, but it could be rendered more authoritative if the A. O. U. would insist on correct orthography in all cases where this is ascertainable. In several instances the list adheres to obvious misspelling and typographical errors; such as hasitata for hæsitata; cincinatus for cincinnatus; Leptatila for Leptoptila; Ammodramus for Ammodromus, etc.; Greek spellings instead of Latin are retained wherever the original authors used them, and some bad examples of the vox hybrida are perpetuated.

RECENT BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS.

Annual Report of the State Geologist of New Jersey for the year 1893. From the Survey.

ASHLEY, G. H.-Studies in the Neocene of California. Extr. Journ. Geol., Vol. III, 1895. From the author.

The A. O. U. List of North American Birds. Second Edition. New York,