25 



during the last 25 years has been included. This very valuable survey will 

 eagerly be read by a great number of workers in biology, medicine and veteri- 

 nary science to whom we highly recommend this second edition. 



P. D. NIEUWKOOP 



"ANATOMY OF THE CHORDATES" 

 1951 

 by Ch. K. Weichert McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 



921 pp. with 506 illustrations New York-Toronto-London 



Price: 60 s. 



The textbook will form a general guide into chordate anatomy for more 

 advanced students. After an introduction and a concise treatment of the classi- 

 fication of the chordates with many illustrations of characteristic representati- 

 ves of each order, the third chapter deals with the development of the indivi- 

 dual. Although the author emphatically states in his preface that he considers 

 this chapter as very essential since much of the subsequent material on indivi- 

 dual organ systems is presented from an embryological point of view, this 

 chapter is very short and elementary. Particularly the process of germ layer 

 formation, so fundamental for a good understanding of the chordate anatomy, 

 is much too schematized and in several aspects incorrect. The general discus- 

 sion on the further steps of organ and tissue formation is also given in a too 

 brief form for a textbook of this stature. 



The discussion of the various organ systems is comprehensive and well 

 organized. Each chapter is richly illustrated with clear diagrams and drawings. 

 It would only be desirable to extend the chapter on skeletal system and nervous 

 system, particularly the discussion of skull and brain structure, which are so 

 essential for comparative and functional studies, while some further illustrations 

 might help to bring the anatomy and formation of the cephalic nerves closer 

 to the reader. 



In the third part of this book some representative animals are described in 

 detail. It is quite understandable that the choice has been made out of American 

 species easily available. We feel it however as a serious lack that the groups 

 of reptiles and birds are not represented. In our opinion it is highly desirable 

 that students come into direct contact with at least one representative of each 

 of the main vertebrate classes. The very extensive treatment of e.g. the mus- 

 cular system of the cat makes a somewhat exaggerated impression. 



The total absence of references to other textbooks, review articles or original 

 publications forms a serious objection to a textbook of this size and stature. 



We must confess that we feel rather much criticism towards the content of 

 this book, but give our criticism as suggestions which might lead to a marked 

 improvement of its second edition. 



P. D. NIEUWKOOP 



