1913] The Ottawa Naturalist. 133 



Dr. A. T. Huntsman's memoir on Pacific Ascidians is in 

 some respects the most important paper in the volume. This 

 accomplished Toronto lecturer on Zoology has done admirable 

 work at St. Andrews and at Departure Bay, B.C.; and this 

 thorough, though somewhat technical, account of Holosomatous 

 Ascidians from the coast of Western Canada will add to his 

 reputation. It has been stated that German specialists are 

 already anxiously inquiring for copies of this important paper. 

 Finer scientific plates have rarely been published in Canada, 

 than the 21 heliograph plates, with 100 figures, which illustrate 

 and embellish Dr. Huntsman's notable report. The Tunicates 

 are largely devoured by the cod tribe, and other fishes, but this 

 paper, in this respect of practical value, has also a value purely 

 scientific, and its importance may be judged from the fact that, 

 of 35 species described, no less than 18 are apparently new to 

 science. 



Hardly less important is Professor C. B. Smith's paper on 

 " Parasitic Copepods from Nanaimo," illustrated by seven plates. 

 These were collected by the late Rev. George W. Taylor, and of 

 14 species described, over half are new to science. The figures 

 are outline reproductions, but so remarkably clear and accurate, 

 that it is a pleasure to consult them. This paper, like Dr. 

 Huntsman's, is of exceptional value, and it marks a notable 

 advance in the study of Canadian Crustacea. Dr. Smith refers 

 to the late Mr. Taylor's assiduous work, and rightly says that 

 the present account of Copepods, parasitic on fishes, has great 

 economic interest as well as scientific value. The Rev. Mr. 

 Taylor, shortly before his lamented death, had made and studied 

 a large collection of Crabs and other British Columbia Decapods, 

 and compiled a list of 129 species, which is published in this 

 volume. It is a valuable and most remarkable piece of scientific 

 work. Following Mr. Taylor's list, there appears a short paper 

 by Professor Charles II . Gilbert, of Leland-Stanford University, 

 California, describing an interesting little fish, new to science, 

 and named Asemichthys taylori. It was caught at the British 

 Columbia Biological Station, and no other specimen is known, 

 except the one secured by the late Mr. Taylor. Mr. Cornish 

 (Toronto University), publishes some notes on Prince Edward 

 Island fishes, and Mr. D. L. McDonald (McGill University), 

 gives a short list of 3 5 species of Crustaceans obtained at St. 

 Andrews. 



Passing from the faunistic papers we notice an important 

 physiological paper on the innervation of the lobster's intestine. 

 It is very technical, and many readers will wonder what practical 

 value it can have; but the more we know about the vital fxmc- 

 tions of this crustacian and highly esteemed article of food, the 



