on the Logan county Nickle mines deals 
wholly with facts, ignoring; the time-serv- 
ing cry; "any thing to bring capital into our 
state." The reader, in following the facts 
so succinctly stated, must agree that "these 
deposits are not suitable for mining, for 
the quantity of nickle dust is too small to 
warrant the expectation of any returns up- 
on the money invested." Mr. A. H. Rak- 
er in the list of Mammals of western Kan- 
sas, mentions a Prairie Dog town of more 
than sixty miles in length and says much 
damage is done to the crops. The advance 
guard of the Lepus cainpestris (White- 
tailed Jack Rabbit) and Lfpus callotis, 
texianus (Black-tailed Jack Rabbit) have 
passed eastward and are now not d as 
numerous in Kansas. Mr. W.T. Swingle, 
Ass't Botanist, Kansas Experimental sta- 
tion, contributes a list of species of 
Peronosporaceae The date of the ap- 
pearan>.e of this blight or mildew on 
the varieties of Grape and other plants, is 
of vital interest to the Horticulturist. The 
artificial key to the Kansas grasses by Dr. 
W. A. Kellerman, of the state Agricultur- 
al College, gives to the Botanist a valua- 
addition to their places of growth and 
classification. Want of space compels the 
omission to notice, at this time, other m- 
teresting articles, but enough has been 
said to demonstrate that Kansas contains 
within its borders a body of trained, schol- 
arly men, fully able to undertake a system- 
atic survey under state patronage. We 
are indebted to Mr. B. B. Smyth, librari- 
an, for a copy of the work above men- 
tioned. 
The Extermination of the American Bison, 
by William F. Hornaday, sup't. of the 
National Zoological Park. Government 
print. 1889. 181 pages with IV pages 
of index. A double page frontispiece, 
21 full page plates, I sketch map and a 
map of North America, 18x24, illustrating 
the extermination of the Bison. Being a 
portion of the National Museum Report, 
l886-'87. The work before us gives the 
life history of the Bison, as far as known. 
The probable d;ite of discovery of the spe- 
cies. Geographical distribution, abuntlance, 
character, food and economic value, with 
a list of Bison herds and individuals now 
in captivity, omitting, however, the herd 
at Chelsea Park, this city. Part II speaks 
of the causes, methods, progress and com- 
pleteness of the wild Buffalo's extermina- 
tion. Part III is a description of the 
Smithsonian expedition in quest of repre- 
sentatives for that institution, which re- 
sulted in a total catch of twenty-five head, 
which included 10 old bulls, I young bull, 
7 old cows, 4 young cows, 2 yearling 
calves and I three month calf, which was 
caught alive but died in captivity. From 
these specimens the huge group of six 
choice I5ison, of both sexes and all ages 
were selected. They are mounted with 
natural surroundings and displayed in a 
superb mahogany case 16 feet long, 12 
feet wide and 10 feet high. The Wash- 
ington Star, after describing the surround- 
ings, savs: "In front of the pool, as if just 
going to drink, is the huge Bufl'alo bull, 
the giant of his race, the last one that was 
secured by the Smithsonian party in 1888, 
and the one that is believed to be the larg- 
est specimen of which there is authentic 
record. Near by is a cow eight years old, 
a creature that would be considered of 
great dimensions in any other company 
than that of the big bull.,|,^,»lt is around 
the big bull that the romance and main in- 
terest centres. ^.j^It seems as if Providence 
had ordained that this splendid animal, 
perfect in limb, noble in size, should be 
saved to serve as a monument to the great- 
ness of his race, that once roamed the 
prairies in myriads. Bullets found in his 
ijody showed that be had been chased and 
hunted before, but fate preserved him for 
the immortality of a museum exhibit.*** 
The group was mounted by Mr. Horna- 
day, assisted by Messrs J. Palmer and A. 
H. Forney. ***This group, with its acces- 
sories, is, in point of size, about the biggest 
thing ever attempted by a Taxidermist and 
is regarded as a triumph of the taxidermal 
art. It tells in an attractive way, to the 
general visitor to the Museum, the story 
of the Bufialo, but care has been taken at 
the same time to secure an accuracy of de- 
tail that will satisfy the critical scrutiny 
of the most technical Naturalist." 
Magazines Received. 
The Exchangers'' Monthly. Vol. V , Nos. i, 
2, 3, 4 and four copies of No. 5. 25cts. 
per annum, 3cts. per copy. Thos. Cham- 
berlain, Jr., Jersey City, N. J. Publisher. 
Contents for March: A Trip Through 
Mexico, Yttria and Thoria Minerals from 
Texas, Petrifying Spring, Exchanges, 
Opening of a Pyramid and Geology. 
A Fish Story? 
The Trade Gazette states that a farmer 
in Dakota, while driving home from town, 
had an eagle light on his shoulders and un- 
dertake to get away with him. After a hard 
tussle the bird was overpowered, tied up with 
the lines. Returning to town, the farmer sold 
the bird to get money to bring his family to 
Dakota. It was caged with the intention of 
jubileeing when the territory became a state. 
The Gazette should have an Ornithologist 
identifv the specimen and give further details 
of the rather doubtful story. 
will be in.sci'ted fi ee for actual subscribers. 
Copy must be detached from letter imd 
written on one side of paper only ; not to ex- 
ceed live lines, incliidinfr address, estimat- 
ing eight words to the line. 
Named shells of Cal., Florida, Ma.ss., W. I., 
E. I., Mi'cUt., etc., lor other sliclis. Send lists. 
F. 0. lirowne, Kraminghaui, Mass. 
I have Harrison medals of 1840 and 1841 and 
■souvenir of the corn palace, Sionx ("ity, la., 
in t lie shape of brass medals, to exchange tor 
Indian relics and minerals. H. L. liowers, 
:M W. Park St., Home, N. Y. 
I J J Uelics, Minerals, Fo-ssils, Coins, 
riDlan Confcd. money and curiosities. 
I.aigc illnsiraled price list forstamp. 
8 J.ooniis & Schnec, Cuj ahaga Kalis, Ohio. 
Pens for Naturalists. 
The best all round steel pen on the market 
for Naturalists and everyone is E. K. Isaacs^ 
"Penman's Ideal," Double Elastic Steel Pen. 
Retail Prices. 
l!ox of lid pens, post paid, $ .2.5 
Four M gro. boxes in gro. box, post paid, .30 
Wholesale (trade) Phices. 
,5 t;ross. post paid, 3.75 
10 " bv express, fi.oO 
33 " 15.00 
*,*Pcns to toreign Countries, only by Kxp. 
Address all orders to 
R. B. TROUSLOT & CO. 
(iKNEitAL AGKNTS FOR THK WoKl.D, 
1808 N. 6tm St.. " Kansas City. Kansas. 
WE WANT 500 SUBSCRIBERS fo the 
Empire State Exchaqe, 
a new 12 page monthlv for collectors (with 
cover), onlv -IS) c a year. Devoted to Numis 
uiatics. Philately, Mineralogy, Geology, 
Archa3ologv, Botany, Natural History and to 
the exchanging of specimens. Sample free. 
Ads. 25cts. an inch. Pkrrine Bros. Water 
Valley, N. V. 
Skate's Eggs, 5 cts. each. Shark's Eggs 
15 cts. Sent post paid on receipt of price, 
Naturalist's Exchange, Box 69, K. C. Mo. 
Subscribe for The Naturalist. 
\xiD\m HEiiira 
inets, Schools, Museums and Dealers. Agate 
Goods. Send stamp for large Illustrated Cart^ 
alogue. t.. W. Stillwcll Deadwood, So. Dak. 
7-8 
Periodicals, Jewelry and Printing in any 
quantity. For particular.s send stamp to Na. 
tional Book Exchange, Kansas City, Kansas. 
TANNING LIQUOR 
For Tanning Skins 
That are to be used, for Mats or Robes. 
This Liquor was used by Prof. Cur- 
rier many years in preparing Sheep Skins 
for fancy mats. The ease and quickness 
with which it can be used will commend 
it to all. 
DiKECTIONS FOB USE. 
Wash the skin to be tanned, well, in 
strong soap suds. This may be done as 
soon as the skin is removed from the ani- 
mal. Stretch it on a board, the flesh side 
out. let it remain till the water has 
drained off (not too dry). With a sponge 
apply the Liquor to the flesh side (only) 
using care to wet the entire surface, fair- 
ly well. It will act rapidly and in a few 
hours the skin will be fomid tanned. With 
sand-paper or a scraper, remove the fat 
and flesh that may be on the surface, in 
thin skins using care not to scrape 
through. \V hen this is done rub the sur- 
face thoroughly, with fine sawdust and 
plaster of Paris mixed, and the finish 
will be complete. Any degree of softness 
mhy be obtained by breaking the skin by 
rubbing. It can also be softened by go- 
ing over the surface with a cloth saturat- 
ed with sweet oil (not excessively). Jf 
11 is desired to tint the finish, it can be 
(lone by the color that accompanies each 
bottle. 
Price $1.00 per Quart. 
(Sufficient to tan 12 fox skins). 
Address, 
ED 1 10 R Xt^rURALlST. 
SCIENTIFIClililAN 
EST<«>.BLI SHED -1845. H 
Is the oldest and must popular scientiBc ard 
iiifchaniciil paper published and has (he largest 
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t'MllT illustruted. Best class of Wood Enarav. 
I 1 1. 1.. anw..4 ft.<f anaoimar 
f ully niustruieu. oesL L-iaso \jv ». w,^u 
ir(ts. Published weekly. Send for ipecimec 
copv. Price f3 a year. Kour months' trial, |1. 
mCnN & CO., PUBLISHERS, 361 Broadway, N.T. 
ARCHITECTS & BUILDERQ 
Edition of Scientific American. W 
A ureat success. Each issue contains coloreo 
lithiiKrapliic plates of country and city residen- 
ces or public buildings. Numerous engravings 
and full I'lans and specifications for tlie use 01 
sm hascontempliite building. Price $2.50 a year, 
2icts a copy. .MUM^N & CO., Publishkrs. 
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MUNN Ac CO., Patent Sallcltors. 
GENIUAI. OFFICB: 861 BUOADWAY, N. T 
Mr. L. S. P'oster is anxious for informa- 
tion ah to tiie winter liome of the Snowy Ow 1 
{Nyctea nyctea). His address is New York 
City. 
