22 The West American Scientist. 
supialia and the Insectivora, and finally, an appendix containing 
additional matter of prime importance. But so concisely are 
these chapters written, there not being a single sentence in any 
of them that could be substracted without evident injury to the 
whole, and so fully is the matter treated, that it becomes obvious- 
ly impossible to present their conclusions here without running 
the eminent risk of not only not doing full justice to their author, 
but failing to impart any adequate idea of their import to the 
reader of this brief notice,—the work must be read and carefully 
studied to be appreciated. 
Such a classic production as this, with the subject of which it 
treats so skillfully handled, is indeed a credit to the science of 
any country, and it is with a sense of extreme satisfaction that 
we know that the literature of paleontology has been enriched 
by the addition of a contribution so thoroughly exhaustive in 
character, with its matter presented in a form so gratifying to 
the eye. R. W. Shufeldt. 
Fort WINGATE, N. M., August 14, 1888. 
BOTANICAL NOTES. 
On the Mississippi recently, at Prairie du Chien, I found a 
single plant of the hoary verbena (Verbena stricta), with pure 
ivory-white flowers, the normal color being blue. 
The flowers of this species are larger than those of the other na- 
tive species, and their color clear and most noticeable. The 
white-flowered specimen was a conspicuous object, seen against 
a close, unpainted board fence, about 300 or 400 feet south of 
Dousman’s Hotel, a well known house located directly at the rail- 
road station. 
At the same station with Verbena stricta is to be found the pro- 
cumbent V. bracteosa, and the ordinary blue vervain (V. hastata) 
of the Atlantic States. 
Six miles frem Rochester, a blotched Brunella vulgaris was 
found with one or two leaves perfectly white or cream-colored, 
and most of the others partially so. 
SEPT. 25, 1888. B. feiieeds. 
SOME NOTES ON THE CRA Y-FISH. 
(Aslacus Fluviatilis.) 
The cray-fish is sometimes called the fresh water lobster on ac- 
count of its resemblance to that crustacean. 
In the spring, about the middle of March, when the female cray- 
fish comes forth from its winter quarters, it has attached to the un- 
