94 ^f^<^ Irish Natuyalist. April, - 



EEVIEWS. 



THE SIMPLEST FORMS OF LIFE. 



A Treatise on Zoology. Luliled by Sir Rav Lankksthk, K.C.ll.. 

 LL.D., IMv.vS. Part I. (first fascicle), Introduction and Protozoa, 

 by S. j. HiCKSox, F.R.vS. : J. J. LisTiiR, P.R.vS. ; J. W. Gamble, 

 D.Sc, IvR.vS. ; A. WiLi.KV, D.vSc, I-.R.vS. ; H. M. Woodcock, D.vSc. : 

 the late W. F. R. Wei^dox. I'.R.vS., and K. Rav Laxkestkr. 

 K.C.li.. F.R.S. London: A. and C. Black, 1909, pp. xxii. + 296. 

 Price I5J-. net. 



That this volume, together with the one issued six years ago, gives, as 

 vSir Ray J.ankester remarks, a more complete account of the Protozoa 

 than is to be found in any similar work hitherto published may readily 

 be conceded. We noted already, with regret, in the Iriih Xaturalist 

 (vol. xii., p. 242), that it should have 1)een found necessary to break the 

 description of the Protozoa into two volumes. Yet in one respect this 

 division of labour has been an advantage. The stud\- of Protozoa is 

 becoming of more and more importance. Chairs of Protozoology are being 

 established at various seats of learning, and the last few years have 

 witnessed very noteworthy discoveries especially among the patho- 

 genic Trypanosomes. A reliable text-book, giving us the results of the 

 most recent discoveries is. therefore, of the utmost value not only to the 

 zoologist but particularly to medical and veterinary students. 



The diflicult task of editing the accounts furnished by .seven different 

 authors has been accomplished most satisfactorih- by Sir Ray Lankester. 

 In the valuable introduction to the volume he defines the Protozoa as 

 comprising all the non-filamentous, non-chlorophylligerous microscopic 

 forms which are not referable to the vSchizomycetes (Bacteria) or to the 

 simpler Fungi. We are here treading on such debatable ground that this 

 seems almost the clearest definition that can be given. Yet, even among 

 the chloroph\-ll-forniing organisms there are certain forms, the volvoci- 

 ueans for example, which, "on account of their close affinity to the 

 Protozoa, are dealt with in this volume, while they also find a place in 

 works of botany. A few, such as the late William Archer's famous 

 Chlamydomyxa. have defied all attempts at classification. All that 

 Mr. Lister can tell us about it and Cienkovski's Labyriuthula is that 

 they are related in one direction to outlying members of the Gromiidea 

 and in others to the Heliozoa and the Proteomyxa. Though Archer's 

 Chlamydomyxa was not described until 1S75, it may be mentioned, in 

 honour to the Dublin INIicroscopical Club, that, a year earlier, it was 

 exhiV:>ited 10 the members of that bod} on several occasions. 



In the splenditl work before us Prof. Ilickson describes the Proteo- 

 myxa, one of which, causing the well-known disease of "FMnger and Toe '" 

 in turnips, is of economic importance. Li conjunction with the late 

 Prcf. Weldon, he has also undertaken to deal with the Heliozoa. 

 Another group, the Mycetozoa, classed by botanists among the I'ungi, is 

 iliscussed by Mr. Lister. 



