134 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Jan. 



better for the lobster industry. It is claimed that the Nova Scotia 

 fishermen, who ship live lobsters to the New England markets, 

 lose no less than $150,000 per annum, owing to dead and sickly 

 specimens in the lobster-crates. Also, the Canadian and United 

 States Governments found considerable losses in attempts to 

 transplant live lobsters to Pacific waters, where no lobsters have 

 ever occurred. If we knew more about the nervous functions and 

 blood circulation of the lobster, complete success might be 

 accomplished, for some authorities are of opinion that the 

 delicate sense-organs of the lobster are affected by the train's 

 vibration, resulting in sickness and death en route. Professor 

 Miller's paper is a first instalment, and with its six fine helio- 

 graph plates it is an important contribution to science. Mr. 

 Klugh (Queen's University), reports on two months' botanical 

 work, and his account of the flora of St. Andrews, especiallv 

 the ecological notes, are of great interest. The paper extends 

 from the lowly diatoms through the non-flowering plants up to 

 the flowering plants and conifers, and the interesting views, 

 and the plates of sections of leaves and stems, show how 

 thoroughly the author has carried out his plan of study on the 

 distribution of species; and the atmospheric, geological, and 

 other causes, which are potent in that distribution. 



The physical researches carried on by Dr. Copeland, of 

 Toronto University, are summarized in a report on temperatures 

 and densities, which bear on the suggested culture of oysters 

 near St. Andrews, while Professor E. M. Burwash's paper on 

 the geology of the locality where the British Columbia Station 

 has been built is most interesting and is accompanied by a large 

 geological map. 



No one can peruse this beautiful volume, which can be ob- 

 tained gratis from the Commissioner of Fisheries, Ottawa, 

 Chairman of the Biological Board of Canada, without a feeling 

 of pride. It is indeed surprising that our ablest zoologists and 

 professors in our various universities will year after year, without 

 practically fee or reward, engage in labourious researches at 

 the three Biological Stations connected with the Marine and 

 Fisheries Department, and prepare for publication such splendid 

 reports as the volume of Biological Contributions now under 

 review. 



One melancholy reflection is unavoidable. Two contribu- 

 tors, Professor Penhallow and Rev. George W. Taylor, did not 

 live to see their reports in this volume published. Professor 

 Ramsay Wright, to whom the Biological Stations owe so much, 

 has recently gone to live permanently in Europe. It is difficult 

 to fill such vacancies, but if Toronto, McGill, Queen's, Laval, 

 Manitoba, and our other Universities, will stimulate their 



