解:$(2)$∵$n - 1<\sqrt {a}<n,$∴$(n - 1)^2<a<n^2,$
$a$的个数为$n^2-(n - 1)^2-1=n^2 - n^2 + 2n - 1 - 1=2n - 2$
∵$n<\sqrt {b}<n + 1,$∴$n^2<b<(n + 1)^2,$
$b$的个数为$(n + 1)^2 - n^2-1=n^2 + 2n + 1 - n^2 - 1=2n$
∵$2n-(2n - 2)=2$
∴满足条件的$a$的个数总比$b$的个数少$2$