102 The Canadian Field-Naturalist. [Vol. XXXV. 



The ectoplasm of the animal was quite tion for more than six weeks in the hope 



granular as far as was observed, had no that it would divide, but unfortunately 



contractile vacuole, and contained a large during an absence on a collecting trip in 



number of green cells. The zoochlorel- the hot weather it apparently died, for it 



lae, however, were not scattered about in- disappeared and nothing like it has been 



discriminately, but were arranged in a seen since in the small glass aquarium 



very characteristic dendritic manner and in which it Avas kept, 

 so filled the ectoplasm that the internal Using tlie classification by Wailes it 



details could not be made out. The basal belongs to the sub-order Chalarothoraca, 



stalk of each group started right deep i.e., Heliozoa having an external envelope 



down and branched frequently as it passed composed of solid elements with or with- 



outwards, thus producing a tree-like ef- out a matrix of plasma. It also fits in 



feet with the short branches on the peri- most closely with his definition of the 



phery. All the threads were of equal di- Genus Eapkidiop.hr!js, i.e., body enclosed 



ameter and appeared to be composed of a in a mucilaginous envelope containing spi- 



series of units placed end to end, each one cules (spindle, awl or disc-shaped), which 



containing a large green chloroplast in normally extend outwards along the pseu- 



the middle and having almost transparent dopodia ; nucleus and endoplasm placed 



ends. The result was that the thread had eccentrically. 

 a banded appearance. Provisionally, pending an opportunity 



The nucleus and presumably the endo- for more detailed study, it is proposed to 

 plasm w'as eccentrically situated and could place it in this genus with the name ^op- 

 only be seen by transmitted light. hidiophrys magna to indicate its large 



The animal was kept under observa- size. 



GLEANINGS FROM THE CANADIAN WEST. 

 PART II. MAMMALIAN FAUNA OF ISLAY, ALBERTA. 



By J. Dewey Soper. 



What seems to me an interesting and densis) as well. The second is the park- 

 essential consideration in respect to an like country which lies for the most part 

 animal study (aside of course from tax- quite distinct and selpara'ted from the 

 onomical and anatomical aspects), is the water courses, alternating its various- 

 proper conception or imagery of its sur- sized aspen (P. tremuloides) woods witli 

 roundings. So often the animal and its prairie-land. This is very picturesque 

 environment are surprisingly linked, again ground and particularly beautiful in au- 

 clearly dual, or as in some instances like tumn. In contiguity to lakes, it becomes 

 Blarina and Peromyscus, of remarkable practically an epitome of the last. The 

 adaptability. In short, if we would really last, the prairie, seems self-explainable, 

 know the animal we need the knowledge but wide differences obtain even here from 

 of its habitat and abode. To assist in this, place to place. The Islay prairie, in tlic 

 I have considered it proper to delineate first place, is not entirely bald like that 

 in a few words the floral circumstances of some localities ; neither is it on a dead 

 of the region around Islay. level, both of which conditions add no- 

 It permits of three settings, the wooded; thing to its attractiveness in my opinion, 

 semi-wooded ; and the prairie. The first The surface describes an easy undulation, 

 is the usual poplar forest of the west, oc- composed of greater and lesser swells and 

 curring in unbroken continuity only in occasional engaging elevations such as the 

 the river valleys and their vicinity. This Twin Hills to the west and the Blackfoot 

 refers solely to the region of whieli I Range, so called, to the south. Every- 

 write, for in some places this is not the where in this panorama are liberally 

 case. In the Vermilion and Saskatche- dotted aspen bluffs of manifold shapes 

 wan valleys vigorous specimens of the and sizes; clumps of wolf-willow scatter- 

 balsam poplar (P. halsamifera) also occu", ed in between; and in every considerable 

 and in places the white spruce (P. cana- depression, rings of red-willow^ that sur- 



