which, if witnessed, would have appeared to be exactly the same natural and unmiraculous operation of cause and effect with which we are familiar. After the first creative act, what is described is the formation of earth and its tenants out of a disorderly mass of matter; and this is represented as having been accomplished by movements within the mass itself, that is to say, by means of second causes." This is the theory which the book works out with some ability and ingenuity. If it is not altogether new, it is at least modern. We cannot say we are convinced of its truth. We have no faith in unscientific treatments of the physical phenomena of the universe, or in unlearned criticisms of the sacred text. No man should attempt the discussions of the topics contained in this book who has not had practical acquaintance with the subjects which it involves. The idea of all pervading law in the production of physical phenomena is that which Baden Powell attempts to demonstrate with rare ability in his recent works. We do not recognise any special feature in the "Nuggets from the oldest Diggins" that entitles it to a very high rank in the literature of the subject on which it treats. It may be read with interest by the curious, and be regarded as another addition to the unsuccessful attempts to settle the disputed interpretation of the Mosaic cosmogony.

ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES BY MEANS OF NATURAL SELECTIONS, OR THE PRESERVATION OF FAVOURED RACES IN THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. By CH. DARWIN, M.A., &c., &c. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Montreal: B. Dawson & Son.

This is an abstract of a larger work in course of preparation. It is entitled to most careful perusal. The author is a well known and distinguished Naturalist. He has given much attention to and spent now twenty years of his life in the prosecution of the subject of this book. The title is a good description of its contents. It deals with questions of Natural History in a way most masterly and profound. That its views will meet with much opposition is to be expected. Few will be disposed to go the sweeping length to which our author is disposed to go in the logical issue of his theory. We merely call attention to this able work in the mean time. It promises to create quite a furor in the minds of scientific enquirers. We hope to present our readers with a thorough review of the work either from the pen of one of the Editors, or from the pages of one of the earliest scientific magazines of Europe or America.

80

whic

natu

we a

the 1

matt

mov

seco

with

at le

We

ome

text

tain

the

the

atte

We

the

ture

tere

uns

Mo

ON'

It i

and

spe

ject

It

and

to!

to

the

tin

tifi

rev

fro

ARTICLE VIII. Observations on the Natural History of the Valley of the River Rouge, and the surrounding Townships in the Counties of Argenteuil and Ottawa. By W. S. M. D'URBAN.

(Continued from page 276, Vol. IV)

INVERTEBRATA.

INSECTA.

COLEOPTERA.

Nearly all of the 114 species in the following Catalogue were obligingly determined for me by Dr. J. L. Leconte of Philadelphia. Besides those enumerated, many others were collected, but were unfortunately lost by the accidental fracture of the bottle which contained them.

I have added a list of 34 species, not observed in this district by myself, but brought by Mr. Robert Bell from the Augmentation of Grenville, and the neighbourhood of L'Orignal, on the south bank of the Ottawa.

Cicindela longilabris, Say.-Hamilton's Farm on the River Rouge, 2nd

September.

vulgaris, Say.-Very abundant on sand-banks, River Rouge,

August.

Baltimorensis, Herbst. (repanda, Say.)-Common on sandbanks, River Rouge, July and August.

*The larvae of this species were numerous in their burrows in the sand, by the side of the Rouge, five miles below Hamilton's Farm, 13th August.

CANADIAN NAT.

1

VOL. V. No. 2.

Lebia viridis? Say.-Huckleberry Rapids, River Rouge, DeSalaberry, 30th July.

Patrobus longicornis, Say.-Sixteen-Island Lake, &c., Montcalm, May and June.

Platynus sinuatus, Dej.-Under dead logs, Sixteen Island Lake, &c., Township of Montcalm, May and June.

retractus, Lec.-With the last species.
obsoletus, Say. With the last two species.

Pacilus lucublandus, Say.-Under stones near the town of Grenville,

13th May.

Pterostichus fastiditus, Dej.-Under bark of decaying logs, Sixteen Island Lake, Montcalm, end of May; Lake of Three Mountains, end of September.

patruelis, Dej.-River Rouge.

caudicalis, Say.-Under stones near Grenville, 13th May. orinomum, Leach (vitresis, Esch.)-Township of Montcalm,

June.

Luczotii, Dej. (var. præc?)—Sixteen Island Lake, Montcalm,
May and June.

Lephoglossus rutator Lec.-Under stones near Grenville, 13th May.
Rembus major, Lec.-

Chlenius impunctifrons, Say

แ

Cychrus (Sphæroderus) Brevoortii, Lec.—Under dead logs, Bevin's Lake,
Montcalm, 4th July.

Notiophilus punctatus, Lec.-On rocks, Huckleberry Rapids, River
Rouge, DeSalaberry, 27th July.
Bembidium impressum, Fabr.—On wet sand, River Rouge, 13th August.
punctatostriatum, Say-Very abundant on wet sand, River
Rouge, July and August.

"L patruelis, Dej.-Abundant on wet sand, River Rouge, 13th

August.

lucidum, Lec.-Under stones near Grenville, 13th May. Agabus striatus? Say.-In Sixteen Island Lake, Montcalm, end of May. Coptotomus interrogatus, Fabr.-In Sugar-bush Lake, Montcalm, 23rd June.

Hydroporus proximus, Aubé.-With the last species.

Haliplus immaculaticollis, Harris.-With the last two species.

cribarius, Lec.-Very abundant in Sugar-bush Lake, Montcalm, 23rd June.

Gyrinus (several species not determined)-In various Lakes.

Dineutes (not named)-Very abundant, Sugar-bush Lake, Montcalm, 23rd June.

Philhydrus cinctus, Say.-In a small stream crossing the portage between Gate and Gut Lakes, Wentworth,

and in Sugar-bush Lake, Montcalm.

Necrophorus lunatus, Lec.—Huckle-berry Rapids, River Rouge, DeSalaberry, 27th July.

"

pygmaus, Kirby.-Township of Montcalm, 20th June.