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, i) 



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 frcm 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. F. Leeds. 



SOME NOTES ON THE CRAY-FISH. 



(Astacus 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/rom its winter quarters, it has attached to the un- 



