344 NATURAL SCIENCE [November 



operation as this is nothing less than the intelligent use of a tool, a 

 phenomenon which is well-nigh unexampled even among the higher 



mammals. 



Throughout the whole memoir there occur records of observations 

 of the greatest interest,— for example the part taken by the males of 

 the genus Trypoxylon in guarding the nest from parasites during con- 

 struction ; the deterrent effect of the odour of a bug upon a spider ; 

 the readiness of some wasps to steal the victims of their sisters, and 

 their unwillingness to accept spiders offered to them by the observers; 

 while hardly less interesting are the not infrequent mentions of 

 apparent failure of instinct. Eight primary instincts are recognised 

 as the result of these very complete observations, viz. — stinging; 

 taking a particular kind of food ; method of attacking and capturing 

 prey ; method of carrying prey ; preparing nest and then capturing 

 prey, or the reverse ; mode of taking prey into the nest ; general style 

 or locality of nest ; spinning or not spinning of a cocoon, and 

 its specific form when made. Variations showing an appreciative 

 adaptation to slight changes of environment are regarded as acts of 

 intelligence. 



The work is an excellent example of the value of systematic and 

 painstaking records compiled in the field, and has a healthy outdoor 

 flavour about it. It should be of immense use to many of our Natural 

 History Societies as a model to the zealous amateur of the way in 

 which he may by the careful study of the habits of animals haunting 

 his own paddock or garden contribute to the storehouses of our know- 

 ledge facts which help to elucidate some of the most difficult and 

 abstruse problems in bionomics. 0. H. L. 



Alcoholism 



The Temperance Question from a Biological Standpoint. By G. Archdall Reid, 

 M.B. The Medical Magazine, June and July 1898. 26 pp. 



In the case of a treatise written from a profoundly scientific point of 

 view, fault might be found with the use of the word " Temperance " in 

 the title. As it stands the title suggests a scientific discussion as to 

 moderation in all respects ; but the treatise itself is only concerned 

 with moderation in one particular case — in regard to the use of alcohol. 

 So in a scientific discussion the author starts by using a term in its 

 popular sense. 



This is not intended as a captious criticism. In a scientific dis- 

 cussion exactitude in terminology is an absolute necessity. Much of 

 the trouble and half the disagreement shewn in such discussions 

 arise from the fact that it is not always easy to understand whether a 

 writer uses a term in its literal or in its popular sense. So that care 

 in this matter is most essential. In a notice in these pages of a 

 previous work by Mr Reid, it was pointed out that he used the term 

 ' evolution ' in two senses. He has in the present case profited by 

 the criticism so far as to admit this, and to state in which sense he 

 now employs it. 



To come to the question at issue. In regard to Alcoholism Mr 

 Reid puts forward the following as his surmises and arguments :— 



1. That acquired characters are not transmissible. 



