ZOOLOGY. 227 
interesting as being the last scientific letters written by their 
lamented author : — 
Tron OF ae i re ž 
na, 
Dea ar Sir :—M friend Mare O6u has ‘somnntintoated to me 
toppidan. I will now hunt up everything that is worth noticing 
upon the subject, and if you-will allow me an examination of your 
specimen, the zoological characters of the creature might be made 
out from the parts preserved, as we do of imperfect fossil remains. 
I would also-ask leave to publish the substance of your letter to 
Mr. Marcou, in connection with this. With great regard, kings 
very truly, signed 
ALEX. Murray, Esq., St. John, Newfoundland. 
MUSEUM or COMPARATIVE ZooLoGY, 
Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 26, 1873. i 
My Dear Marcou: a for the letter and the photograph 
that Mr. Murray has sent t is very curious, and with your 
permission, I shall publish fo contents accompanied with remarks 
if Mr. Murray should send me one of the large suckers in order 
to compare it with those of the species of cephalo pods known on 
our coast. Ihave written him to this end. I have made a copy 
of Mr. Murray’s letter, and return you tlie original. The more I 
consider this discovery, the more does it interest me. It is truly 
important for the history of cephalopods. Ever yours, 
(Signed) L. ea 
Prof. Jutes Marcov. - 
‘Laws or ĢQEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION IN Norra AMERICAN 
Maumars anD Brrps.— My attention of late having been again 
especially directed to this subject, I wish to say a word respecting 
a discussion that occurred concerning it in the NATURALIST some 
_ months since, during my somewhat protracted absence in the 
west; particularly in respect to Mr. Ridgway’s article in the Sep- 
' tember number (vol. vii, pp. 548-535). With all due deference to 
the important contributions Professor Baird has made towards our 
-present knowledge of this subject, I think Mr. Ridgway has hardly 
fairly represented the case. After stating what he claims as Pro- ` 
fessor Baird’s generalizations, four in number (see Mr. Ridgway’s : 
article), he says: “Here then are three laws of climatic or re- 
‘ gional variation in size and proportions, and'two of color, in which 
Mr. Allen i is anticipated by Professor Baird.” 
