some measure at least, to artificial distortion. That nature has accorded to many of them a brachycephalic skull, and also that this feature is so marked as to be regarded as a typical character among the majority of the races of the Western Continent, may be admitted. Still, art has been frequently, almost generally, called in to heighten this conformation in a smaller or greater degree. And it is by no means improbable that its influence may be perceived among the aboriginal crania of the British Isles, especially in this greater or less occipital flatness, which is frequently unsymmetrical."

It was on the faith of this passage, that I was led to speak of Mr. Davis as confirming my views; and that I now feel some surprise on finding him refer to Gosse and other continental craniologists, while wholly ignoring the source of the idea alone originally noted by him. Certainly if the passage is critically analysed, it appears only to credit me with the theory of artificial distortion as one source of the forms in question occurring in American crania, and probably most readers may have assumed the concluding remark relative to the occipital flatness in certain British crania,—since expanded into the paper in the Natural History Review,-as Mr. Davis's own; but as it is little more than a repetition of remarks in the paper to which he refers in the previous sentence, and, indeed, occurring partly on the same page, where Dr. Morton's views on the subject, in its American' aspects, are discussed, it can be no great presumption to believe that "if he had not plowed with my heifer, he had not found out my riddle."

MATERIALS FOR A FAUNA CANADENSIS.

BY WILLIAM HINCKS, F.L.S., B.S.E.,

HON. MEMB. LIV. LIT, AND PHIL. SOC., YORKSHIRE PHIL. SOC., AND BOT. SOC. OF CANADA; CORR. MEMB. OF THE ESSEX CO. INST.; PROF. NAT. HIST., UNIV. COLL., TORONTO,

THE difficulties attending the study of every branch of Natural History in Canada, are greatly aggravated by the want of books fitted to afford to the student, in a convenient and scientific form, such assistance as the present state of our knowledge renders practicable. A lover of Nature, who applies himself to any special department in his own locality, may collect specimens, but they will afford him very little satisfaction unless named and arranged; to which end he must have a good system, and must have characters of the received genera and known species, so that he can ascertain the history of the object

he finds, if known; and if he is so fortunate as to meet with anything new, may have the means of knowing it to be so, that he may communicate his observations upon it without fear of merely repeating what others have done, and perhaps creating useless names, which encumber the science he wishes to advance. To a beginner in the study of Nature, nothing can be more discouraging than to have to search out every object in the most extensive general works (provided he is so fortunate as to have access to them) because there is as yet no attempt at a list of the productions of his country, where the limited number would facilitate his investigations.

Those who contribute local catalogues in any department of Natural History, render important assistance: but something more is required. It has occurred to me that the publication in this Journal of fragmentary portions of a provisional Fauna Canadensis might contribute not a little both to assist the cultivators of Zoological Science and to accumulate useful materials for future labourers who may be enabled to attempt what would now be premature,—a general systematic work on Canadian Zoology. By a provisional Fauna, we mean a systematic arrangement with the essential characters of all such genera and species as have either, to our knowledge, actually been found in Canada, or are deemed very likely to be found therebeing known as inhabitants either of the more northern or the immediately southern regions. In this way, without pretending to be yet in a condition to offer any reliable account of all the living creatures inhabiting our country, we may afford useful assistance to those who are disposed to examine them, and by their labours thus assisted our conjectural list will gradually change into an authenticated record of observed facts. Many, who without such aid could do nothing, or would remain insulated collectors, unable to determine whether what they obtained was known or unknown, scarce or familiar, would be at once enabled, with a great increase to their own enjoyment from the study of Nature, to become contributors to scientific knowledge ;-to assist in determining the range of species, and to call attention to hitherto undescribed forms.

There may be branches of Natural History in which the advances already made, as well as the extent and general interest of the subjects, would warrant the publication of volumes specially dedicated to their illustration. I have already announced my desire, restrained only by necessary considerations of prudence, of publishing from ma

terials now in my hands, a Flora Canadensis, the utility of which I think cannot be doubtful; though no one can be more conscious than I am how much remains to be done in the way of diligent herborisation throughout all parts of the Province, and it is in promoting this interesting labour, that I think the work I propose would be especially useful. The birds which annually visit us are beginning to be well known. We have public and private museums of considerable richness. A French-Canadian gentleman-M. Lemaire-has published in his own language, a good popular account of them, which has met with well-deserved success; and we know that he has proposed to our highly-valued friend, T. W. Cottle, Esq., of Woodstock,-whom nobody excels in a familiar practical acquaintance with the birds of Canada, to translate his work into English, with such modifications as his own judgment might suggest; thus producing an Ornithological manual for Canadians using the English language, which could not fail of giving a great impulse to this attractive branch of Zoology. Even our own means, from the extensive collection of the University, aided by local catalogues and occasional notices, would enable us to do much in relation to the birds of Canada, and we may possibly attempt a sketch of their arrangement; but for particulars respecting species, their distinctions, and their habits, we should gladly come as learners to such an authority as we have named, and we earnestly hope that he will be induced to engage in the undertaking we have referred to. We could easily name a friend who possesses admirable materials for working out several of the more difficult orders of Canadian Insecta; and there are not wanting considerable materials for the illustration of the land and fresh-water Mollusca. How far it

may seem expedient to proceed with these papers we cannot yet judge; but the following fragment relating to Neuropterous Insects will at least shew what we propose, and what means are at our disposal for working out our plan.

The great class Insecta, includes articulate animals with jointed limbs; a distinct head, with two antennae ; respiration by tracheae; and distinct sexes. It is obvious that these characters exclude, on the one hand, Arachnida; on the other, all grades of Crustacea and Annulata, as well as the lower form Rotifera. Thus defined, the class includes a lower sub-class termed Myriapoda, with limbs to each articulation, and whose development is not much beyond that of the larval forms of the higher division; together with the true, or Hexa

podous insecta, having the lower appendages developed on three articulations only, and the upper, assuming the form of wings, if at all, on two articulations only. The Apterous examples will probably appear more certainly the more their structure is understood to be degraded forms of some of the other divisions. It is at least certain that the different groups of Apterous insects differ more from each other than they do from some of what are considered as higher forms, whilst there are various special instances of the absence of wings in species obviously allied to others which are furnished with them; so that on the whole, the distinction of winged and wingless insects is of little value, and the Apterous orders commonly received might probably be appended to others of which they are but less developed examples. The degree of importance really belonging to some other of the characters relied upon in classifying insects, is very doubtful. One much employed is the mandibulate or suctorial character of the oral apparatus, yet it has been proved that the same elements occur in both structures, and the transitions from one to the other are most remarkable. We cannot think that either the abortive hind wings of the Diptera, or their more completely suctorial mouth, should prevent the recognition of their close affinity with Hymenoptera, and we incline to the opinion that these two orders, the most peculiarly typical of all insects, would, combined together, occupy a central position in a natural distribution, around which the other leading forms might be placed in the order of their tendencies of development: 1. Neuroptera; 2. Lepidoptera; 3. Coleoptera; 4. Orthoptera; 5. Hemiptera. Confining our attention now to the Neuroptera, it seems to us, in the first place, abundantly evident that the Caddis-flies, which have been elevated into a distinct order under the name of Trichoptera, only exhibit a modification of the Neuropterous structure in analogy with Lepidoptera. Reviewing, then, the various sections which have been proposed, we are inclined to the following view of the families of Neuroptera. We place first Libellulida, the Dragon-flies, as exhibiting the greatest power and ferocity; 2. Phryganeida, the Caddis-flies; 3. Termitida, the White Ants, distinguished by their social habits and their large consumption of food, obtained without violence; 4. Panorpida, the Planipennes of authors, including several well-marked subfamilies; and, 5. Ephemerida, May-flies, in some respects having the lowest organisation in the order, yet approaching the Libellulida in their imperfect metamorphosis, as well as in the character of their

antennae.

very short setiform,
with not more than
six or seven joints

Mouth

We now proceed to give a synopsis of Canadian Neuroptera. The following table will distinguish the families:

long, variously-formed

Insects

The curious and interesting family of Termitida, which in this

group represents the Ants among the Hymenoptera, may be omitted,