No. 4, February, 1922] GENETICS 255 



and is coupled generally with vigor of growth, though many of the most vigorous seedlings 

 have never produced abnormal flowers. It is suggested that these forms may partake of the 

 nature of peloria and that the tendency to produce tetramerous flowers is heritable, despite 

 the fact that such flowers may appear on one spike and not on adjacent ones, or during one 

 season and not another, showing that something additional is necessary for their 

 occurrence. — /. Marion Shull. 



1683. BouLENGER, E. G. Experiments on colour-changes of the spotted salamander 

 (Salamandra maculosa), conducted in the Society's gardens. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1921: 

 99-102. 2 pi., 1 fig. 1921. — In undertaking to repeat some of Kammerer's experiments on 

 the action of changed environment on certain amphibians, the author separated 32 new-born 

 young from a single Salamandra maculosa var. taeniata in 2 lots, one in an aquarium painted 

 yellow on the bottom and sides, the other in a corresponding aquarium painted black. At 

 transformation, Sacerov's results were confirmed, i.e., those reared on the yellow background 

 were "yellower than the mother, and the spots larger and fused together," those on the black 

 being "darker than the mother and the spots smaller and more numerous." The author, 

 however, has no doubt that these 2 types will in time assume the same character. — A.M. Banta. 



1684. Bowman, H. H. M. Deterioration in some horticultural varieties through deficient 

 artificial selection. Jour. Heredity 11: 380-383. 1920. — In the spring of 1919 seeds w-ere 

 purchased of named varieties of China aster, Callistephus chinensis, Zinnia elegans, African 

 marigold (Tagetes erecta), Matthiola incana, and the corn-flower (Centaurea cyanus). These 

 varieties (purchased from the same firm) had been grown in the 2 preceding years under similar 

 conditions. In all cases notable variations were observed which in most cases are considered 

 as deteriorations from the standard. The author believes that there has been much mixing 

 with dominant inferior strains, which has naturally affected the germ plasm of the standard 

 varieties, and that therefore these variations are due to genetic rather than environmental 

 causes. — C. E. Myers. 



1685. Bridges, Calvix B. Triploid intersexes in Drosophila melanogaster. Science 54: 

 252-254. 1921. — A culture of flies produced 96 females, 9 males, and about 80 individuals 

 "intermediate between males and females." Distribution of the genetic characters brown, 

 plexus, and speck, in this culture was so aberrant as to warrant the hypothesis that the chromo- 

 somes involved might sometimes be present in a triploid instead of the usual diploid number. 

 This was confirmed by cytological evidence. The intersexes, which were all sterile, each had 

 3 second chromosomes, 3 third chromosomes, 2 X-chromosomes, 2 or 3 fourth chromosomes, 

 and either with or without a Y-chromosome. The author, describing the appearance and 

 genetic behavior of various flies of this aberrant group, says: "A significant new conclusion 

 proved by the intersexes is that sex in D. melanogaster is determined by a balance between 



the genes contained in the X-chromosome and those contained in the autosomes 



The ratio of 2X : 2 sets autosomes, or 3X : 3 sets autosomes (or IX : 1 set autosomes?) produces 

 a female, while IX : 2 sets autosomes produces a male. An intermediate ratio, 2X : 3 sets 

 autosomes, produces an intermediate condition, — the intersex." After discussing the possi- 

 bilities already found, the author comments on the varying influence of autosomes, and 

 speculates on the effect of additional chromosome ratios. — John S. Dexter. 



1686. Broili, J. Der PoUenstab. [The pollen staff.] Deutsch. Landw. Presse 1920: 

 447—448. 1 fig. 1920. — The author describes a stick to be inserted into the ground to facilitate 

 collection of pollen in vials. It is especially convenient in potato work. [From anonymous 

 review in Zeitschr. Pflanzenzxicht. 8: 45-46. 1921.] — J. P. Kelly. 



1687. Brooks, F. T. The inheritance of disease-resistance in plants. Trans. British 

 Mycol. Soc. 7: 71-78. 1921. — The hitherto unpublished results of Armstrong's work with 

 3'ellow rust of wheat {Puccinia glumarum form, tritici), are outlined. All Fi plants of Wil- 

 helmina X American Club were moderately rusted. The F2 generation, sown partly in 

 autumn and partly in spring, contained 1560 plants, of which 381 were badly rusted, 832 moder- 



