218 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY. [November. 



themselves on the success which has attended their efforts during the whole period of 

 existence of this organization. Not only have prominent microscopists appeared 

 before the Society with instructive and entertaining lectures, but the members them- 

 selves have done much excellent work, and have shown that there is enterprise and 

 enthusiasm enough among those whose only tiine to use the microscope is in the evening 

 to make for the organization a name among the working societies of the country. 



NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



A Prelinimajy Contribution Toward a History of the Fj-esh- Water Infusoria of the 

 United States. By Alfred C. Stokes, M. D. Trenton, N. J. 1888. 



The character of Dr. Stokes's work in the systematic study of the infusoria is already 

 well known, since it has been in the pages of this and other periodicals that a large 

 part of the descriptions of new species have been published. This publication of the 

 Trenton Natural History Society contains a complete exposition of the present state 

 of knowledge of the group treated. Its thoroughness entitles it at once to a place 

 among the ' Authorities ' on this subject. It is one of the books the zoologist who 

 works this department must have. It describes in full all American species, and men- 

 tions by name all European forms found in this country. 



Dr. Stokes, who is not a professional naturalist, but one who has found in biology a 

 secondary occupation, has added to our knowledge in this department three new fami- 

 lies, twenty ijew genera, and two hundred and forty-three new species, and yet he is 

 very conservative and not given to making new species on slight provocation. The 

 total number of species, genera, and families described is very much larger than the 

 above since it includes all native American forms. The amount of labor involved in 

 this kind of work is very great, both because of the restless nature of the animals when 

 under examination, and more especially from the difficulty of finding particular forms 

 when needed. But such labor is highest pleasure to one who has crossed the border 

 line of first experience and has really become initiated. 



Report on a part of Northern Alberta and Adjacent Portions of Assinboia and Sas- 

 katchcwan. By J. B. Tyrrell. Montreal. Dawson Bros. 1887. 175 pp. and 

 maps. 



Northern Alberta is the part of British America just north of Idaho, and the districts 

 of Assinboia and Saskatchewan lie east of Alberta. This report of the Canadian Geo- 

 logical and Natural History Survey gives an account of the surface geology, including 

 soils, vegetation, ore, coal-beds, etc. 



The district is a vast tract capable of extensive improvement, and of supporting a large 

 population like Manitoba. Enormous deposits of coals and lignites underlie an area 

 of 12,000 square miles, and, taking as a guide the thickness of the bed at an exposure at 

 Bow river, the deposit would yield 9, 500,000 tons per sq. mile. The coal is alleged to be 

 'equal in quality with that of Colorado and Wyoming.' Iron is reported, but not as a 

 valuable deposit. Some traces of gold are mentioned in the beds of many of the 

 streams. Clays are abundant for plastic purposes, but good building stones are not 

 present. The report contains a detailed narrative of the survey, with careful descrip- 

 tion of the various features of the district. It would lead us to infer a condition very 

 similar to the western part of our own country, where farming, on the most extensive 

 scale, is made to pay well. If so, there certainly is room enough. Over-crowded 

 England can find here a convenient outlet for her multitudes. The Canadian Pacific 

 Railroad will doubtless do much toward settling this vast and, at present, undeveloped 

 territory. 



Mound Builders' Works, near Newark, Ohio. By Isaac Smucker. 16 pp. 1888. 



This little pamphlet is dedicated by the friends and patrons of the Licking County 

 Pioneer Historical and Antiquarian Society to the members of the American Society 

 of Microscopists as a reminder of their visit to the inounds at the close of the Columbus 

 meeting last summer. The substance of it was also published in the American Anti- 

 quarian for July, 1888. It gives a very interesting description of the pre-historic monu- 

 ments of Licking county. Its dedication is an appreciated mark of kindness towards 

 the microscopists who visited Newark in August. — C. W. S. . 



