BOOK NOTICES 61 



diversified areas in Great Britain. So diversified, indeed, is " Tay," 

 that it may safely be said that in spite of this valuable contribution 

 to our knowledge, much necessarily remains to be accomplished ere 

 the fauna of the innumerable mountains, moorlands, woods, and 

 lochs of the fair county of Perth, which forms the greater part of 

 the Basin, are worked out with the thoroughness they so well deserve. 



Mr. Harvie-Brown, however, affords us much information about 

 the mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians of this singularly 

 attractive area ; also a full description of its physical features, and 

 his views on a number of problems relating to the distribution of life 

 therein. The fauna of the Tay area is, as we should expect, a rich one. 

 It comprises 43 mammals, 236 birds, 3 reptiles, and 4 amphibians. 



The volume contains in all 463 pages; and there are 21 full- 

 page plates, a number of text illustrations, and 5 maps. 



W. E. C. 



THE CAMBRIDGE NATURAL HISTORY, VOL. I. Protozoa, by 

 Prof. Marcus Hartog, D.Sc. ; Porifera (Sponges), by Igerna B. J. 

 Sollas, B.Sc. ; Coelenterata and Ctenophora, by Prof. S. J. Hickson, 

 F.R.S. ; Echinodermata, by Prof. S. W. MacBride, F.R.S. London : 

 Macmillan and Co. Ltd., 1906. 



This outstanding " Natural History " is now nearing completion, 

 and the appearance of the present volume, occupying as it does the 

 first place in order in the series, has naturally been looked forward 

 to with some impatience. Its issue at this late date, instead of at 

 the beginning of the enterprise, has, however, been a distinct advan- 

 tage, in that it has enabled the authors to take cognisance of recent 

 important researches in their respective subjects. The volume, 

 which is a bulky one, extending to close on 700 pages, is in every 

 way a worthy companion to its forerunners. 



In a series of well-written chapters, occupying 160 pages 

 none too many Dr. Hartog deals with the Protozoa, starting with 

 an examination of " the structure and behaviour of protoplasm and 

 of the cell as an introduction to the detailed study of the Protozoa, or, 

 better still, Protista, the lowest types of living beings, and of animals 

 at large." 



The classification of the Protozoa is admittedly a matter of 

 great difficulty, and that adopted by the author is probably as good 

 as could at present be devised. In the succeeding section, to which 

 78 pages are devoted, Miss Sollas gives a clear and well-arranged 

 account of the Porifera or Sponges, in which is included a key to 

 British genera. Prof. Hickson's treatment, extending over 180 pages, 

 of the Phyla Coelenterata and Ctenophora for to this rank does 

 he raise the latter strikes us as particularly good from whatever 

 point it is regarded. And the same has to be said of Prof. 

 MacBride's account of the Echinodermata, which occupies 197 pages. 

 In both the systematic part can be highly commended. The Sea- 



