462 MISCELLANEOUS. 



talent the officers of the Survey have worked in their special departments. But 

 ■while ia looking over these Maps, we are struck with astonishment at the amount 

 of labour bestowed on the Map of Geological detail ; still there is a feeling of 

 regret, that while such a vast area has been explored so little has been done for the 

 sister sciences, Not that I reflect at all on the Members of the Survey, they have 

 had enough to do in their own departments, but it is a subject for regret that 

 the living organisms have been so entirely overlooked. Surely the expense of a 

 ]S"aturalist with a separate canoe which he would require, would not have added so 

 very considerably to the cost of the Survey, and we should have had now such 

 materials for the elucidation of the Flora and Fauna of the country as can seldom 

 be obtained. Probably these would not differ much from those of the Northern 

 tates of the Union, but now that the local distribution of species is becoming of 

 so much importance for the determination of their Geographical distribution such 

 knowledge would be most valuable. In confirmation of this I quote from the 

 article referred to before : 



" The time is now passed when the mere indication of the continent whence an 

 animal has been obtained could satisfy our curiosity. And those Naturalists who 

 have had an opportunity of ascertaining closely the particular circumstances under 

 which the animals they describe are placed in their natural home, are guilty of a 

 gross disregard to the interests of science when they neglect to relate them. Our 

 knowledge of the distribution of animals would be far more extensive and precise 

 than it now is, but for this neglect. Every new fact relating to the Geographical 

 distribution of the well known species, is as important to science as the discovery of 

 a new species." 



Were the Canadian Institute to bring this before the Government, they possibly 

 would be induced to lend some assistance to the carrying out of such an object — 

 although the benefit might not be so apparent as in the search after minerals. 

 And possibly among those gentlemen who have turned their attention to these 

 branches of science, some one might be found sufficiently capable, who would not 

 require a very high salary ; or, who urged by his zoological ardour might be 

 induced to offer his services, for the payment of the necessary expenses, and the 

 privilege of retaining for himself his duplicates, on depositing a specimen of each 

 species collected, wherever the Government may direct. 



MISCELLANEOUS, 



THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH. 



Among the triumphs of Science in the 19th century, we can scarcely anticipate 

 another which shall east into the shade the successful laying of the great electric 

 cable along the ocean bed of the Atlantic. There appears sometliing of the calm 

 and unostentatious dignity becoming so great an enterprise, in the unheralded 

 announcement of success. Previous failures had prepared all minds for defeat- 



