i6 The West American Scientist. 



Valley, San Jose, Cal., is a good one lo follow. Those who wish 

 to form a chapter in this city are invited to co-operate with the 

 editor of this mag^azine. 



Dr. R. E. C. Stearns gives his pleasant recollections of the 

 venerable conchologist, Dr. Simon Newcomb, the second sketch 

 in the series of ' Reminiscences.' 



Another new year is at hand. What will it yield us ? A happy 

 new year. 



* Yea, hope and despondency, pleasure and pain, 

 The sunshine and rain.' 



NECROLOGY. 



Dr. Ferdinand Van Vere Hayden died at his residence in 

 Philadelphia, Dec. 22, 1887, altera protracted illness. He was of 

 Puritan descent, born in Westfield, Mass., September 7, 1829. 

 He was a distinguished scientist and widely known as a geologist. 

 He entered Oberlin College when 16 years old and graduated. 

 He was a member of the National Academy of Science, and 

 honorary and corresponding member of a large number of scien- 

 tific bodies in foreign countries. He occupied more than twenty 

 years in expeditions to the great West, and has extended his 

 investigations over a great portion of Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, 

 New Mexico, Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Utah. Among his 

 publications were 'The Great West: its Attractions and Resources,' 

 in 1880, and' North America,' in 1883. 



AMONG THE MAGAZINES. 



The Budget is profusely illustrated. 



Ihe Swiss Cross deserves a wide circulation. With The West 

 American Scientist, $2.00 a year. 



The Cottage Hearth, one of the best home magazines, $1.50 a 

 year, will be sent with this magazine one year for only $1.50. 

 Sample free by addressing the publisher at Boston. 



Whittier's beautiful poem, telling the legend of ' The Brown 

 Dwarf of Rugen,' will delight all the readers of this number. It 

 is illustrated by the frontispiece and other drawings by E. H. 

 Blashfield. 



Mrs. Burnett continues her fascinating story, 'Sara Crewe; or, 

 What Happened at Miss Minchin's,' with the excellent illustra- 

 tions by R. B. Birch; and Mr. Stockton concludes ' The Clocks 

 of Rodaine, 'which began in the December number. 



The Century^ as usual, is loaded with good reading. Buy it 

 and read the table of contents, and you will read the rest. 



