1881.] Zoology. 475 
scopes and a good deal of apparatus to enable one to successfully 
engage in histological study in botany. The fallacy of this notion 
is well shown in an article in the April Botanical Gazette, by Dr. 
Rothrock, who describes the apparatus and modes of work in De 
Bary’s laboratory in Strasburg. Hartnack’s small upright micro- 
scope, without sub-stage or joint, and costing from thirty to forty 
dollars, are used. The optical parts are, however, of good qual- 
ity, and furnish a power ranging up to about six hundred diame- 
ters. In making sections, razors and pieces of pith are mainly 
relied upon, expensive section cutters not being used. Dulau 
& Co., of London, are to publish immediately an important book, 
“ A Guide to the Literature of Botany,” by B.D. Jackson. It in- 
cludes nearly six thousand more titles than Pritzel’s “ Thesaurus.” 
——*“A Manual for the Preservation of the larger Fungi,” by 
James L. English, is announced as_ in preparation. : Cc. 
Cooke has begun the publication of Illustrations of British 
Fungi, consisting ‘of colored plates of the Hymenomycetes. The 
parts, issued quarterly, include sixteen octavo plates each. 
Professor McBride, of the University of Iowa, has issued a Plant 
Aecord for the use of Students, which in some respects is an 
improvement upon any previously published ones. F 
James, in the Journal of the Cincinnati Society of Natural Fis- 
tory, presents a paper in which he compares the flora o ES 
United States with that of Europe. It is an excellent summary 
of what is known as to the geographical distribution of plants. 
Dr. Gray and Dr. Hooker have finally brought out their long 
Promised report upon the vegetation of the Rocky Mountain 
_Tegion. It is published in Vol. v1 of the Bulletins of the U. 5. 
Geol. and Geog. Survey of the Territories. It will be noticed 
More fully hereafter. Francis Wolle contributes another of 
his valuable notes on Fresh-water Algze, to the April Zorrey Bul- 
letin, An interesting list of the plants of Western Dakota and 
Eastern Montana, by Assistant Surgeon Havard, has just been 
issued from the Government printing office, as an appendix to 
the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1880. 
ZOOLOGY. 
More asour tat Cat.—In the February NaTuratist, I nar- 
rated some instances of unusual sagacity in our pet cat, “Old 
Shorty.” He died on the 19th of that month, deeply lamented 
by his friends. He was not only a model of all the virtues con- 
sistent with the feline life, but possessed many high and noble 
traits not supposed to appertain to this species of carnivores. — I 
mentioned his fastidiously neat and tidy habits, which he main- 
tained down to the last day of his lite. We once had a pet 
Squirrel which was kept in a cage with the usual revolving wheel. 
Shorty” never molested the mischievous rodent unless he hap- 
Pened to escape from the cage, when he was always ready to help 
