The book contains 17 chapters. The first two are introductory, and among 

 other things contain a short survey of experimental techniques. The following 

 two chapters describe the organization of the egg cell, and the development of 

 seven fundamental egg types. Then follow five chapters dealing with the 

 concepts of preformation (mosaic development), regulation, determination, 

 field and gradient, with examples from many animal groups, but principally 

 from echinoderm and amphibian development. 



The next five chapters deal with the problem of induction. The discussion 

 starts with the organizer concept, and continues with regional factors in induc- 

 tion, the nature of the induction process, induction phenomena in various 

 vertebrates and invertebrates, and finally the role of induction in organogenesis. 



The last three chapters of the book are devoted to nuclear activities in devel- 

 opment, and to the problems of sex development. 



The manuscript of the book was finished in 1956. Consequently the most 

 recent advances are not included. 



The bibliography comprises 32 pages. There are author and subject indexes. 



It is a pity that, owing to the poor quality of the paper, several of the more 

 finely detailed figures have become blurred very badly. The binding of the 

 book is unfortunately also very poor. 



"GRUNDRISS DER ENTWICKLUNGSGESCHICHTE 



DES MENSCHEN" 



5th revised edition, 1959 



by O. Grosser f Springer- Verlag 



(revised by R. Ortmann) Berlin, Gottingen, Heidelberg 



176 pp., 200 figs. Price: D.M. 19.80 



The fourth edition of this book, revised by G. Politzer, appeared in 1953. 

 The present edition has retained about the same size, but the illustrative mater- 

 ial, the most outstanding feature of the book, has^ been extended. The sub- 

 division of the subject matter according to germ layers has been abandoned. 

 Some chapters had to be brought up to date, and results obtained with new 

 techniques have been included in appropriate places. 



"COMPARATIVE ANATOMY" 

 1959 

 by W. Montagna John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 



397 pp., 233 figs. New York 



Price: $ 6.00 



The author of this book has spent much care on making the subject matter 

 presented attractive for the reader. One of his means has been to lay more 

 stress than usual on the functional aspects of the various organ systems. 



More interest and insight is also secured by emphasizing developmental 

 events. An introductory chapter of 20 pages deals with the development of 

 the vertebrate body plan. Moreover most chapters contain rather long sections 

 on the embryonic development of the organ system concerned. 



Another very attractive feature of the book is its lay-out and the illustrative 

 material used. The numerous line drawings are beautifully excecuted and of 

 exceptional clarity. The photographical illustrations have been carefully sel- 

 ected and in many instances provide a very welcome link with the living 

 organism. The printing is very clear. 



236 



