G. GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY AND ZOOLOGY. 309 



The fishes are all fresh-water forms, of which four species were 

 obtained, all of them new to science. One of these belongs 

 to the group of the suckers, now so extensively distributed 

 in North America, and is, we believe, the first instance in 

 which this has been found in a fossil state. 



In one of the elevated valleys in the vicinity of this coal 

 bed were found remains of the trunks of ancient forest trees 

 completely silicified. Many of these must have measured five 

 feet in diameter, and were variously altered, some becoming 

 chalcedony, others opal ; portions being black, red, yellow, 

 purple, or white, of great purity. 



BULLER ON THE BIRDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



An addition to the series of special works upon the natu- 

 ral history of particular regions is made by the appearance, 

 in London, of the first part of a " History of the Birds of New 

 Zealand," by W. L. Buller. The natural history of this coun- 

 try is extremely interesting, and that of the birds not the 

 least so ; and from the well-known ability of this gentleman 

 to execute the task he proposes, we have every reason to ex- 

 pect a work of great merit. The birds of Australia have been 

 illustrated by Mr. Gould in his usual magnificent style. The 

 work of Mr. Buller will be of less extent, but will embrace col- 

 ored illustrations of about one half the species, which amount 

 to nearly one hundred and fifty. 13 A, May 15, 1872, 190. 



REPORT OF THE MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 



The annual report of the trustees of the Museum of Com- 

 parative Zoology for 1871 has made its appearance, and pre- 

 sents the usual satisfactory account of progress in the pre- 

 cedins: twelve months. No institution of the kind in this 

 country, and few any where, has so extensive and thoroughly 

 organized a corps of scientific assistants (amounting to be- 

 tween thirty and forty) as that at Cambridge ; and, with the 

 immense amount of material constantly coming in, the result 

 in greater part of Professor Agassiz's indefatigable personal 

 labors, supplemented by purchases of entire collections, it is 

 not to be wondered at that the museum is rapidly occupying 

 the foremost rank among such establishments. 



Professor Agassiz, the director, calls attention to his ex- 

 pected absence from the country in the expedition of the JIass- 



