METHODS 



Monographs 



87. 



W. A. GAUNT. 1971. MICRORECONSTRUCTION 



Pitman Medical, London. XII, 108 pp., 21 figs., 8 pis., suDject 



index. £ 2.50 



Contents: 1. Introduction; 2. General considerations; 3. Ori- 

 entation; 4. Methods of making reference marks; 5. Reconstruc- 

 tion techniques; 6. Graphical reconstruction; 7. Solid recon- 

 struction; 8. Reconstruction based on photography 



The author of this posthumous monograph was a descriptive em- 

 bryologist and consequently a great deal of personal experience 

 is embodied in the book. It deals with methods of graphical and 

 solid reconstruction based on serial sections, using a non-math- 

 ematical approach (volumetric methods are outside the scope of 

 the book). The techniques selected for treatment are those that, 

 in the words of the author, "have been found by experience to 

 produce the most accurate results with least expenditure of time 

 and labour". 



The book is sufficiently characterized by the table of con- 

 tents above. As stated, not all techniques and varieties are 

 treated at length, but the bibliography is complete until 1968. 

 Numerous very useful "tricks of the trade" are found throughout 

 the text. The book is well produced and illustrated with good 

 line drawings and photographic plates. 



HISTORY, BIOGRAPHIES, etc . 



Monographs 



88. 



K.E.von BAER. 1967. UBER ENTWICKELUNGSGESCHICHTE DER THIERE 

 Edit. Culture et Civilisation, 115 ,Av. Gabriel Lebon, Bruxelles l6. 

 XXII, 586 pp., 7 pis. ca. $ 43.00 



This facsimile reproduction of von Baer's famous work, which 

 only recently came to our attention, will be welcome to many in- 

 dividuals and libraries. It contains both part one and part two, 

 published in Konigsberg in l828 and l837, respectively, with the 

 accompanying plates. 



The reproduction of the text is satisfactory, although the 

 type is less sharp than in the original, and some pages are 

 rather "dirty". However, even the small type remains well read- 

 able. The quality and colour of the paper are well chosen. The 

 plates have inevitably lost some of their original refinement. 

 Colours matching the original ones fairly closely have been add- 

 ed, but on close scrutiny they have not always been applied cor- 

 rectly. The binding is sturdy and its style properly adapted to 

 the purpose. 



89. 



W.COLEMAN. 1971. BIOLOGY IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY: problems of 



form, function, and transformation 



Wiley, New York, etc. Wiley History of Science Series. VII,l87pp., 



26 figs., combined name and subject index. $ 7.50, £ 3*50 (cloth); 



$ 3.95, £ 1.75 (paper) 



This interesting and admirably concise book was written pri- 

 marily for the educated general reader, but will be of value ^ to 

 those embryologists who are interested in the origins of their 

 science. Embryology as such only takes up one of the seven chap- 



48 



