320 The Irish Naturalist. October, 



volume of Proceedings which the Society has issued, extending from 1863 

 to 1907 — a fine record for a local Irish Society. The issue before us 

 includes the usual reports, accounts of field meetings, and abstracts of 

 papers read, the only exceptional feature being three plates illustrative 

 of the fauna and flora of Lambay, reprinted (by permission but without 

 acknowledgment) from this Journal. 



1 





REVIEW. 



• .. .. x 7 



THE SENSE OF TOUCH. 



The Sense of Touch In Mammals and Birds. With special 

 reference to the Papillary Ridges. By Wai/TER Kidd, M.D., F.Z.S. 

 London : A & C. Black, 1900. Price $s. net. 



This book consists of three parts, of which the first two are anatomical 

 and the third phj^siological. Part I. deals with macroscopic anatomy of 

 the hand and foot in mammals, and of the foot in birds, the general 

 and larger modifications of the palms and soles being considered in the 

 first chapter and the arrangement of the papillary ridges in chapter 2. 

 Both these chapters are illustrated with numerous drawings both from 

 the actual specimens and from impressions. These drawings are ex- 

 ceedingly interesting, and whether one agrees with all the author's 

 interpretations or not, it is exceedingly instructive to go through the 

 series keeping in view the habits of each animal as one goes along, and 

 noting the modifications in the structure of the manus or pes in connec- 

 tion with modification of function, e.g., elongation of fingers and toes in 

 connection with climbing; compare lemurs, figs. 14-19, and squirrel, figs. 

 7 and 8, with the Cape Sea Lion, fig. 11. With regard to this part of the 

 subject, it is a pity that more animals are not shown which use their feet 

 solely for walking on the ground. 



Part II. deals with the microscopic anatomy of the skin, and is illus- 

 trated with numerous photomicrographs of sections of the skin. 



Part III. deals briefly with the sense of touch, especially in connection 

 with the thesis which Dr. Kidd supports, viz. : — that the papillary ridges 

 are mainly concerned in the sense of touch in opposition to the view held 

 that they are mainly concerned in preventing slipping and giving firm* 

 ness of prehension in climbing and walking. The author has certainly 

 made out a good case for his view, and his book is most interesting. 



Fig. 52A is a very rough copy, and in fig. 52B the part labelled 

 "papillae of corium," should be stratum lucidum, while the " duct ot 

 sudoriparous gland " is a portion of the Malpighian layer, with no sudo 

 riparous duct near. 



■ ' 



J. A. C. 



