THE NAUTILUS. 83 



P. 253. "There are 1,000 Unionidae," pp. 267-268, " Unio, 

 Retzius, shell thick, hinge toothed [sic !]. This genus includes more 

 than a thousand species." Seven other genera are cited, e. g., Ano- 

 dotila, Qnadrula, but Lampsilis is not, although mentioned on p. 240. 

 (A few points on the morphology and anatomy of Unionidx will be 

 reviewed elsewhere). That the larval embryo of the Mutelidse is a 

 lasidium, might have been added. 



P. 251. In fig. 228 A it is surprising to find the brush- or candle-like 

 processes of the soft parts of a glochidium designated as " teeth of 

 the shell "(S); the figure and explanation are taken over from 

 Lankester's article (fig. 149 A), after Balfour. 



These few criticisms on details do not mean to detract from the 

 merits of the book in a general way. It cannot reasonably be ex- 

 pected that a man writing a book on a certain large group of ani- 

 mals be familiar with every detail. V. STERKI. 



FREDERICK STEARNS. 



Frederick Stearns was born in 1832, and died in January of the 

 present, year. He was the founder of one of the greatest pharma- 

 ceutic establishments in this country. In 1887 Mr. Stearns retired 

 from active business partly for the purpose of recuperating his 

 health, which too strenuous devotion to business had somewhat 

 impaired. The following years were devoted to travel abroad. 

 Always observant and critical, he began as an amateur collector, 

 and among his earliest achievements in this line is a magnificent 

 collection of Japanese and Korean art objects, some 16,000 of which 

 he donated to the Detroit Museum of Art having a few years pre- 

 viously by his money and influence assisted in building the fine 

 museum itself. Various smaller collections, such as coins, precious 

 stones, etc., claimed his attention for a time. Then he took up con- 

 chology and devoted his time and money for several years to what 

 was to him an absorbing diversion, and to science a work of great 

 value. Over 10,000 species of shells classified and arranged in 

 systematic order and catalogued are in the Detroit Museum as a 

 monument to his activity in this line of human endeavor almost a 

 life-work in itself. His book, " Marine Mollusks of Japan," on which 

 Dr. H. A. Pilsbry of Philadelphia collaborated, is a standard work 

 based on his collection. 



