1884.] 
Analyses of Books. 
2 33 
in the order of their atomic weights. The relation existing be- 
tween them he named the “ law of oCtaves.” This is merely 
another name for the periodic law of M. Mendelejeff ! 
Whoever will take the trouble to read this book, and especially 
to compare it with the author’s original communications to the 
“ Chemical News,” will, we think, come to the conclusion that 
the claims of Mr. Newlands are strictly true, and will admit that 
he must rank as the first discoverer of the Periodic Law. 
Geological and Natural- History Survey of Canada. By Alfred 
R. C. Selwyn, F.R.S., Director. Report of Progress for 
1880, 1881, and 1882. Montreal : Dawson Brothers. 
This report — or perhaps we may rather say the reader — labours 
under a serious disadvantage. It is not paged through from be- 
ginning to end, but in each of its sections the paging begins 
afresh. 
We learn that in the Museum there are now 3000 species of 
shells, out of a total exceeding 6000, duly arranged and labelled. 
A collection of Jurassic fossils, representing 598 species, has also 
been lately acquired. 
The coals and lignites of the Bow and Belly River district have 
been examined with very satisfactory results. Workable coal- 
seams occur at several distinCt stages, and extend over large 
areas of country. Some of the beds are of such quality as to be 
suitable for distant transport, and it is said that the railways of 
the North-west must depend principally upon this region for their 
supply of fuel. The deposits of the district completely bridge 
over the gap commonly supposed to exist between coal and lignite. 
The lignites are much superior to most of the lignites and brown 
coal which are successfully utilised in Europe. 
There is an interesting report, by J. Macoun, F.L.S., Bota- 
nist to the Survey, on the plants collected by Dr. Bell along the 
Michepoten River and the southern part of the valley of Moose 
River, in July, August, and September, 1881. The character of 
this flora resembles that of Central Ontario. 
Dr. John Leconte — we regret having to add the late — gives a 
report on the Coleoptera collected in the Lake Superior district 
and in the North-West territories. It is curious that the little 
dung-beetle, Aphodius fimetarius, so common in Europe, crossed 
the Atlantic as far back as 1835, and is now extending through 
the United States and the Dominion. 
Among the minerals found is Samarskite, not hitherto met 
with in Canada, but which has now been discovered just beyond 
VOL. VI. (third series) r 
