90 Physiologie. 



I- and d-Camphor-/?-Sulphonic acids and finds no evidence of 

 a difference in the activity of the two acids. The rate of hydro- 

 lysis by Hydrochloric acid and by d-CaiTiphor-/:?-Sulphonic acid 

 was tested on Cane Sugar and on Milk-Sugar. The activities 

 of the two acids are by no means the same towards the two 

 carbohydrates being about 100:90 in the case of Cane Sugar 

 and 100 : 70 in the case of Milk Sugar. Cane Sugar is less 

 sensitive to the attack of Hydrochlocic acid than are other 

 SUgars. E. Drabble (London). 



Charabot, E. e t Alex. Hebert, Etüde sur les ^tats suc- 

 cessifs de la matiere vegetale. (C. R. de l'Acad. des 

 Sc. de Paris. 17 Octobre 1904.) 



Les determinations ont porte sur le Basilic (Ocymum 

 basillciim), le Mandarinier (Citrus madurensis) et sur l'Oranger 

 ä fruits amers (Citrus bigaradia). Eiles ont montre que si les 

 organes sont suffisamment d^veloppes, c'est la feuille qui 

 renferme la plus forte proportion de matieres solubles tant 

 organiques que minerales. La proportion de ces matieres est 

 minima dans la racine. D'une maniere generale, pendant le 

 deveioppement d'un organe, la proportion de matieres solubles 

 s'abaisse; toutefois, eile ne parait pas varier sensiblement dans 

 la feuille oü sa predomirance s'accentue par consequent de plus 

 en plus. Jean Friede!. 



Jennings, S. H., Contributions to the Study of the Be- 

 havior of Lower Organisms. Carnegie Institution. 

 Publication No. 16. p. 256, fig. 81. 1904. 



A group of seven papers dealing with the reactions of 

 various forms of the lower organisms. While the papers are 

 zoological, there is much that is of interest to botanists. The 

 first article describes the reaction to heat and cold in the ci- 

 liate Infusoria, while the second is concerned with the reactions 

 to light of both Ciliates and Ftagellates. In the latter Crypto- 

 monas ovata and a Chlamydomonas, are among the forms 

 taken up. In general finds that the reaction to light is 

 not in accord with the usual tropism theory. It is a motor 

 reaction in which the organisms perform a definite set of actions. 

 The third paper is on reactions to Stimuli in certain Rotifera, 

 in which is considered the reaction to mechanical, chemical, 

 thermal, electrical and light Stimuli. The fourth deals with the 

 theory of tropisms. Here the writer states his own view, that orien- 

 tation is not a primary or striking factor in response to Che- 

 mical and thermal Stimuli or to various osmotic pressures. 

 Response said to be produced through a motor Stimulus, con- 

 sisting of a movement backward, followed by a turning of the 

 organism towards a structurally defined side. In the reaction 

 to light, orientation is a striking factor, but not a primary one. 

 The organism reacts as a unit. In the fifth paper, on physio- 



