which the validity of the theory might be tested. 



It is impossible to consider the chapters of the book one by one. The table of 

 contents is printed below. Suffice it to say that the discussion of the "epigenetic 

 system" in chapters 4-7 mainly concerns the cell, not the organism as a whole. 

 Epigenesis in embryonic systems is not discussed before chapter 8, which 

 includes a section entitled "Talandic properties of embryonic systems". 



The book has a foreword by Prof. C. H. Waddington. 



Table of contents: Chapter 1: Introduction. Chapter 2: System and environment. Chapter 3: 

 Control systems and rhythmic phenomena in cells. Chapter 4: The dynamics of the epigenetic 

 system. Chapter 5: The statistical mechanics of the epigenetic system. Chapter 6: The 

 relaxation time of the epigenetic system. Chapter 7: Statistical properties of the epigenetic 

 system. Chapter 8: Applications and predictions. 



6. PHYSIOLOGICAL MAMMALOGY 



Vol. 2, Mammalian reactions to stressful environments 

 1965 



Editors: W. V. Mayer and R. G. van Gelder Academic Press 



326 pp., 44 figs., 35 tbs. New York — London 



Price: 28 s. 



This is the second volume of a new serial publication in which the emphasis 

 is on other than the normal laboratory mammals. The first volume dealt with 

 mammalian populations and included data on the effect of population size on 

 reproduction and development (contribution by J. J. Christian). The present 

 volume opens with an essay by S. A. Asdell entitled "Reproduction and 

 development". This may be said to supplement Asdells compilatory book 

 reviewed above (see review no. 2). The present essay is concise (36 pages) 

 but its scope is broad. It deals with such aspects as evolution, anatomy, and 

 physiology of reproductive organs; implantation and placentation; develop- 

 ment, gestation, and birth; the numbers of young; lactation; secondary sexual 

 characters. The stress is on physiological mechanisms throughout. 



Although Asdell's contribution bears no direct relationship to the subject 

 indicated by the title of this volume, it nevertheless provides some of the 

 normal morphological and physiological information necessary for the evalua- 

 tion of research on the influence of stress on reproduction. 



The chapter is not illustrated. It has a bibliography of five pages. 



The other two chapters of this volume deal with water metabolism (Chew) 

 and hibernation (Kayser) respectively. In Chews essay some attention is 

 devoted to the role of the water balance in reproduction, pregnancy, and 

 lactation. 



Contributors to vol. 2: Asdell (Ithaca, N.Y.), Chew (Los Angeles, Cal.), Kayser (Strasbourg). 



7. REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY 



Comparative reproductive physiology of domestic animals, laboratory animals, 



and man 



2nd ed.. 1964 



by A. V. Nalbandov W. H. Freeman & Co. 



316 pp., 44 figs., 57 tbs. San Francisco — London 



Price: 54 s. 



The first edition of this student's text book appeared in 1958 and was 



336 



