622 
Analyses, of Books. 
[October^ 
Catalogue of Canadian Plants. Part II., Gamopetalae. By 
John Macoun, F.L.S., F.R.C.S., Botanist to the Geological 
and Natural History Survey of Canada. Montreal : 
Dawson Bros. 
This Catalogue will, when completed, prove an exceedingly 
valuable document. It is to be noticed how many European 
species — and always, as far as we have noticed, such as are 
least desirable — have not only become naturalised in Canada, 
but accompany the settler wherever he has penetrated. Con- 
cerning certain plants a doubt may prevail whether they are 
truly indigenous or have been imported. 
The flora of British Columbia seems to approach that of 
Europe more nearly than does that of the more eastern parts of 
the Dominion. Thus Vaccinium myrtillus, for which the English 
names whortleberry and bilberry are given as synonyms, is pecu- 
liar to the Rocky Mountains, and thence onwards to Alaska. 
Over all the northern half of Europe it is well known to be com- 
mon. Calluna vulgaris, the common European heather, seems 
to be found only in the extreme east of the Dominion, and there 
in but few localities, as if introduced from Europe. No true 
Erica has been found. Ledum palustre (marsh rosemary of 
Europe, Labrador tea of America) seems as abundant in the 
NearCtic as in the Palaeardtic region. Primula vulgaris and P. 
officinalis are spoken of as “ well-established,” both in Vancouver 
Island and the latter at Cape Breton. 
Rich scope for confusion has been given by the practice, com- 
mon in a'l colonies, of giving the trivial names of European 
plants to native species. Of course they may be distinguished 
by the botanical names, but these are known only to a minority. 
The Geological and Natural History Survey of Minnesota. By 
N. H. Winchell, State Geologist. First Annual Report, 
1872 ; Tenth Annual Report, 1881 ; and Eleventh Annual 
Report, 1882. 
The first of these reports begins appropriately enough with a 
notice of earlier explorations, topographical and geological, in 
the regions which have now become the State of Minnesota. 
Then follows a summary of the general principles of geology. 
The elevations of the country above the respective levels of 
Lake Superior and the ocean are taken chiefly from railway- 
surveys. This, we think, is scarcely legitimate, since railways 
as far as possible avoid the more elevated regions. 
