312 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 

 SCAMMON ON THE WEST COAST CETACEANS. 



The publication is contemplated of an important work on 

 American natural history, and we trust its appearance will 

 not be long delayed. We refer to the investigation of the 

 cetaceans of the western coast of North America by Captain 

 CM. Scammon, of the United States Revenue Marine. This 

 gentleman has for many years been directing his attention to 

 the subject, and has collected a large amount of material in 

 reference to the various species of whales and porpoises of 

 the western coast, together with their zoological peculiarities 

 and their habits. 



In the extreme difficultv of securing reliable information 

 in regard to these animals, the work of Captain Scammon will 

 be welcomed by every one, especially as it will contain de- 

 tails of much practical importance to whalers relating to the 

 distribution of the species. An interesting feature of the 

 work will consist of a series of views showing the appearance 

 of the species when swimming in the water, thus enabling 

 them to be recognized without difficulty. Careful drawings 

 of the external forms of the animals will also accompany the 

 work, which will embrace a full account of the wdiale fishery 

 as at present prosecuted in different parts of the globe, 

 whether by civilized or savage men ; and the statistics of 

 production in different years and in different regions will be 

 of great value. 



The book will be printed in San Francisco by the publishers 

 of the Overland Monthly, and the illustrations lithographed by 

 Britton and Rey. It will be published by subscription, and but 

 a limited number of copies issued. 



CHARACTER OF THE GALAPAGOS. 



Professor Agassiz, in discussing the observations and col- 

 lections made by the Hassler, during its late visit to the 

 Galapagos, considers this group of extreme importance in 

 reference to the question of the development of species. It 

 is so recent that most of the islands are barely covered 

 with the most scanty vegetation-^-itself peculiar to these 

 islands. Some parts of the surface are entirely bare, while 

 in many places the lava from the volcanos is so fresh as 

 scarcely to show any atmospheric influences whatever, sug- 



