his work has been published. In the spring of 1897 E.W. Nelson and E.A. Goldman made an expedition to the Tres Marias, and the results are embodied in No. 14 of the Memoirs devoted to the North American Fauna published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture at Washington. Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Crustacea, and Plants are described by Nelson, Steineger, Rathburn, and Rose. The number of species of animals and plants now known for the Tres Marias are 11 Land Mammals, 83 Birds, 18 Reptiles, 2 Fresh-water Fish, 1 Fresh-water Shrimp, and 6 Land Molluscs. The plants enumerated are 136. The surprising result is in the number of species peculiar to these islands, which are clearly continental islands from the absence of a deep separating channel. Thus in species and subspecies, 7 Mammals, 23 Birds, and 1 Reptile appear to be peculiar to the islands. Mr. Nelson also adds a bibliography of the Tres Marias Islands.
America is still the head-quarters for Economic Entomology. We have just received a lengthy and well-illustrated memoir published by the University of Kansas, and forming the sixty-fifth contribution from the Entomological Laboratory. It is entitled "Alfalfa, Grasshoppers, Bees; their relationships," by S.J. Hunter. Melanoplus differentialis is the destructive locust which is particularly referred to, and its anatomy is well illustrated. "In alfalfa culture, if the Grasshopper proves an incentive to proper cultivation, the insect is a blessing in disguise. Disking alfalfa fields in the early spring, after the frost has left the ground, and before vegetation has well started, increases the yield of the first crop one-third; matures the second crop earlier, and brings from it an equally increased yield; destroys the native Grasshopper eggs placed therein, and kills the native grasses which frequently threaten to reclaim the field."
The Royal Mail steamer 'Stola,' according to the 'Aberdeen Journal,' has just had the not unique experience of running down a Whale. The steamer was on her passage on Wednesday, April 26th, between Stromness and Scapa, in the Orkney Isles, when a violent shock was felt abreast of Swanbister. Immediately afterwards a large Whale rose under her quarter with a fearful gash in its body, and throwing up blood and water from its blowhole to a height of fifteen feet. The 'Stola' was steaming twelve knots, and must have nearly cut the Whale in two. As the captain had the mails on board he could not stop, but as long as the Whale was visible it was seen to be lashing the water furiously.
The 'Daily Chronicle's' Liverpool Correspondent says:—"A gem of French colonial protectionist policy reaches me from Loango. The
