tit 



Vlll NOTES BY THE EDITORS 



the " Contributions." The same collector is now exploring the region 

 around El Paso. Another collector is engaged in exploring the great 

 valley of the Salt Lake. 



Some progress is making in obtaining descriptions of the ancient mon- 

 uments of our country. The Territory of Minesota has established a 

 Historical Society for this purpose. An ethnological chart of this coun- 

 try is preparing. The Bibliographia Americana, a catalogue and ac- 

 count of every book published in, or relating to, North America, prior 

 to 1700, with references to the libraries where they are to be found, is 

 making good progress. Prof. Gray is preparing a report on the forest 

 trees of North America, to be illustrated with figures of the flowers, leaves, 

 fruit, &c., of the natural size, both colored and plain. It is to consist of 

 three parts, in octavo, with an atlas of quarto plates, and will be preceded 

 by a dissertation on our knowledge of the anatomy, morphology, and 

 physiology of the tree, with drawings from original dissections under the 

 microscope. The collection of instruments is increasing. At an expense 

 of about S 140, a collection of upwards of 10,000 specimens of vertebrated 

 animals, principally reptiles and fishes, has been obtained. A series of 

 lectures is given each winter by distinguished men of this and other coun- 

 tries, which are well attended. Lindheimer's collections, made near Hous- 

 ton and Avest of the Colorado, in 1843 - 44, have been described, and those 

 made in 1845-48 are now being examined. 



Among the official scientific publications of the past year are the Re- 

 ports on the Mineralogy and Geology of the Lake Superior Mining Re- 

 gion, by Dr. Charles T. Jackson ; on the Geology of Alabama, by Prof. 

 ; M. Tuomey ; of the Patent-Office for 1849, by Thomas Ewbank ; on the 

 Progress of the Coast Survey, by Prof. Bachc ; and on the Geology of 

 California, by Messrs. Tyson, Talbot, Riley, and others. 



The results of the Exploring Expedition, under Capt. Wilkes, are grad 

 ually being presented to the world in a series of works on the different 

 departments of science, of which several volumes have been already pub- 

 lished under the care of the most distinguished scientific men of our coun- 

 try. Prof. Gray is engaged upon the Botany, and is now in Europe for 

 the purpose of inspecting the various herbaria which may assist him in so 

 important an undertaking. The description of the shells collected has 

 been intrusted to Dr. A. A. Gould, and the work is in a forward state of 

 preparation. It will form a volume of about 500 pages, with an atlas of 

 CO plates, containing upwards of 3,000 figures. The fishes will be de- 

 scribed by Prof. Agassiz. The previous volumes of the series are among 

 the most valuable contributions ever made to American science, and the 

 well-known ability of the gentlemen intrusted with the remaining volumes 

 is a guarantee that they will be in no respect inferior to those already 

 issued. The " Races of Men," by Dr. Pickering, has, since its publication, 

 been rcpublishcd in England in a cheap form, and PO extensively circu- 



