1879.: 
Notices of Books. 
141 
Bulletin of the United States Geological and Geographical Survey 
of the Territories. Vol. iv., No. 2. Washington: Govern- 
ment Printing-Office. 
This issue contains “ Field Notes on Birds observed in Dakota 
and Montana along the 49th parallel, during the Seasons of 
1873 and 1674,” by Dr. Elliott Coues. The most interesting 
result is the capture of a n*ewly- fledged Bohemian waxvving, 
showing that this species must breed at no great distance. 
The next paper consists of Notes on a Collection of Fishes 
from the Rio Grande, in Texas,” by Dr. D. S. Jordan. Mr. A. 
R. Grote follows with “ Preliminary Studies on the North- 
American Pyralidas,” Dr. C. A. White with “ Descriptions of 
New Species of Invertebrate Fossils from the Laramie Group ” 
— strata extending through Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. The 
species collected, with the exception of a few insects and crusta- 
ceans, are all molluscous. 
Dr. Hoffmann gives an interesting account of the mineral 
species found in Nevada. 
The Scottish Naturalist; a Quarterly Magazine of Natural 
History. Edited by F. Buchanan White, M.D., F.L.S. 
No. 30. April, 1878. Edinburgh : Blackwood and Sons. 
Is the increasing number of journals devoted to Natural History 
the “ outward visible sign ” of a corresponding increase in the 
amount of facts recorded and of work done ? Or is it merely a 
distribution over a wider field of the subject matter formerly 
found concentrated in a few organs ? If the former, as we 
trust, is the true supposition we wish these new comers every 
success. 
The issue before us contains the continuation of an essay on 
Migration, by Col. Drummond Hay. It contains a number of 
interesting facts, but the author seems to take exception to Mr. 
Wallace’s remarks on the dangers incurred by migratory birds 
in crossing the ocean upon mere a priori and teleological views. 
He considers that in “ Nature’s proper course there shall be no 
undue loss of life, and that everything should fulfil its own special 
purpose and maintain its own proper balance ; and though man 
may disturb it by the ruthless destruction of many creatures, 
that in no way sets aside the design of a beneficent Creator.” 
It is difficult to comprehend the relevancy of /such a passage, 
unless the author is seeking to contend that species never become 
scarcer or disappear without human intervention. 
