220 NATURAL SCIENCE. March, 



factorily worked out. One of the most remarkable innovations is the 

 abandonment of the two suborders Larviformia and Fistulata, which 

 have always seemed unsatisfactory on a priori grounds, and a return 

 to a classification based on the presence or absence of infra-basals. 

 The author admits that this may seem a retrograde step, but as in 

 this mixed world advance does not always spell progress, it is, probably, 

 none the worse for that. 



In a brief notice such as this, one can do but scant justice to this 

 important contribution to palseontological literature. It is unfortunate 

 that it is impossible to get such a work published in England, and 

 that this has had to see the light in a foreign capital. One's 

 patriotism, however, has to get what salve it can from the recognition 

 that this is not a sample of the rule-of-thumb palaeontology which 

 foreign workers seem generally to regard as the characteristic product 

 of the English school. The " Crinoidea of Gotland " is worthy, by its 

 conscientious thoroughness of detail, and its grasp of zoological 

 principles, to rank among the best productions of modern 

 palaeontology. 



The Flora of the Assyrian Monuments and its Outcomes. By E. Bonavia, 

 M.D. 8vo. Pp. xxvi., 215, with 98 figures in the text. Westminster: 

 A. Constable & Co., 1894. 



Dr. Bonavia's books are always worth reading. Even when he puts 

 before us no new facts, he has a way of restating the old ones which 

 is sometimes edifying, sometimes amusing. In the preface to this, his 

 latest work, he has attempted " from the Assyrian real flora, to creep 

 up to their sacred flora, and to interpret certain symbols found woven 

 in with this." He may have succeeded also " in throwing some light 

 on the derivation of other features affiliated to those symbols." He 

 would also have us bear in mind that whenever it may appear that he 

 is too positive in what he states, it is only a mode of diction, and 

 simply means that in his " humble opinion it seems so and so." As 

 regards the Flora of the Assyrian monuments in the British Museum 

 and elsewhere, some plants are unmistakable, as for instance the date- 

 palm, Avhich frequently occurs, and no wonder, considering its 

 immense importance as a food tree, and the reverence paid to it in 

 consequence. The vine, pomegranate, and fig are also easily 

 recognised. Some things looking much like bundles of asparagus 

 are put down for bananas, and we certainly think the doctor makes 

 out a very good case, showing from the geographical and botanical 

 history of the plant that this fruit may well have been known to the 

 Assyrians as an imported and rare article. This also explains why 

 only the fruit and not the plant itself is traceable on the monuments. 

 The pine tree which occurs on several bas-reliefs is identified with 

 Pinus Bnitia, a conifer, ranging nowadays from Syria to Afghanistan, 

 and most likely to have been the one which was common in the liilly 

 countries of Assyria. " A young pine tree, with its symmetrical, 

 candelabrum-like branches . . . makes a very pretty and ornamental 

 object, and such as would attract an artist's attention." The sculptors 

 of those days were also acquainted with a lily, which is identified with 

 the " Madonna Lily " [Lilium candiduni). A plant with acute radical 

 leaves, and long-stalked, composite flowers, has by the aid of the 

 collection of drawings at the British Museum (Natural History) 

 been run down to Hieracimn pannosum, a native cf the rocky regions 

 of Greece, Taurus, Cilicia, South Armenia, etc. It certainly looks like 



