70 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Feb. 



utilitarian upplicatiou. For, as remarked by Conybeare, they 

 bring us supplementary information of numerous species which 

 have long vanished from the actual order of things; and by their 

 resurrection they unexpectedly extend our views of the various 

 combinations of organic forms. In many instances they supply 

 links otherwise wanting, in uniting the different terms of the series 

 in an unbroken chain, and thus aid in the elucidation of those 

 general laws of natural history, the investigation of which is always 

 of so much interest to enlightened minds." 



The maps and sections required to complete the work will be 

 published in the course of this year. Through the kindness of 

 Sir W. E. Logan, we have been permitted to examine the portions 

 of them already prepared. One of them is an exquisite miniature 

 geological map of Canada and the neighboring regions, giving a 

 wonderful amount of detail in small space. Others are maps of 

 special districts and formations; as, for instance, of the remarkable 

 convolutions of the Laurentian rocks in the region of the Ottawa, 

 and of the distribution and subdivisions of the Huronian system. 

 There are also sections on several of the most important lines, 

 which are of especial value and interest in consequence of their 

 being drawn to a true scale, so as to present an accurate view of 

 the actual relations of the rocks. These will of course, when 

 completed, greatly enhance the value of the work. 



MEETING OF BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 



Zoology and Botany. 



Professor Balfour, in his opening address, after stating that 

 the subjects to be discussed in this Section were biological 

 ones, proceeded to remark: "Although our Section is separated 

 for convenience from that of geology, nevertheless they have 

 important bearings on each other. The study of Palaeontology 

 cannot be presented without a thorough knowledge of the 

 anatomy,, mode of growth, and geographical distribution of 

 the plants and animals of the present epoch. In fact, the 

 study of fossil plants and animals ought to constitute a part of 

 every course of Botany and Zoology. Geology, in place of 

 hemcr reckoned a distinct science, may be considered as the 



