876 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



Italian breeds of poultry, M. Guardasoni (Indus. Latt. e Zootec, 9 (1911), 

 No. 13, pp. 203, 20.'/; ahs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Bui. Bur. Agr. Intel, 

 and riant Diseases, 2 (I'Jll), No. 7, p. 1728). — The Leghorn and Val d'Arno 

 breeds of fowl are described. 



Egg-laying competitions, 1910-11, D. F. Laurie (Dept. Ayr. ,S'o. Aust., 

 Egg-Laying Competitions, 1910-11, pp. 36). — This is the official report, giving 

 full details as to the method of feeding and tlie egg production of the com- 

 peting flocks. 



Size inheritance in ducks, J. C. Phillips (Jour. Expt. Zooh, 12 (1912). Xo. 3, 

 pp. 369-3S0). — ^A preliminary report of crosses between Frencli Rouen ducks 

 and the common domestic Mallard duck. In the Fi generation inheritance of 

 size was intermediate between both parents, with very little variation; in the 

 F2 generation there was an increased variability. 



The utilization of bird feathers in France, Menkgaux and Content (Agr. 

 Com. [Paris], 8 (1911), No. 12, p. 296; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], 

 Bui. Bur. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 2 (1911), No. 7, p. i729).— Statistical 

 information on the trade in feathers of both wild and domesticated birds is 

 given. 



Treatise on histology. — General and special cytology. Histology and 

 microscopic anatomy, A. Prenant, P. Bouin, and L. Maillard (Traite D'His- 

 tologie. Paris, 190//, vol. 1, Cytologie G^n&rale et Sp^ciale, pp. XXXII+977, 

 figs. 791; 1911, vol. 2, Histologie et Anatomic Microscopique, pp. XL + 1199, figs. 

 572). — In volume 1 of this work the principal topics discussed are the nature 

 of protoplasm and cell structure, embryonic cells and tissue, cells for special 

 purposes, cell division, reproduction of the individual, oogenesis, spermatogene- 

 sis, fertilization, and theories of heredity. 



Volume 2 treats of embryology, and the histology of embryonic and mature 

 tissues of all organs in the animal body. 



Recent progress in some lines of cytology, M. F. Guyee (Trans. Amer. 

 Micros. 80C., 30 (1911). No. 2, pp. lJ/5-190). — A review of recent investigations 

 on the chemistry of the cell, the colloidal nature of protoplasm, the permeability 

 of cell membranes, dynamics of cell division, relation between chromosomes and 

 hei'edity, the accessory chromosome, and the determination of sex. There are 

 many citations to the literature on these topics. 



Protozoan germ plasm, G. N. Calkins (Pop. Sci. Mo., 79 (1911), No. 6, pp. 

 568-580, figs. 13). — It is pointed out that there is a specific germ plasm and 

 somatic plasm with natural death in unicellular animals, and that therefore 

 Weismann's hypothesis that there is a fundamental difference between unicellu- 

 lar and multicellular animals is not wholly true. 



On a possible source of the biological individuality of the tissues and 

 tissue fluids of animal species, T. B. Robertson (Univ. Cul. Pubs., Physiol., .'1 

 (1911), No. 5, pp. 25-30). — It is pointed out that the individual constituents 

 and relative proportion of protein complexes afford an intelligible explanation 

 of the individuality of the tissues and tissue fluids. See also previous notes by 

 Abderhalden and Funk (E. S. R., 23, p. 702) and Graetz (E. S. R., 25, p. 702). 



Anatomy and histology of the male reproductive organs of birds, A. 

 Trawinski (Bui. Internat. Acad. Sci. Cracovie, CI. Sci. Math, et Nat., Ser. B, 

 1910, Nos. 7, p. 720; 8, pp. 721-727, pis. 2; 1911, No. 2, pp. 76-81,, pi. J).— The 

 anatomy of the reproductive organs of the drake, gander, swan, teal (anas 

 querquebale) are illustrated and described. 



Some experiments in fertilization and incubation of hens' eggs (Geflugel- 

 Welt, 3 (1911), No. 27, p. 207; ahs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Borne], Bui. Bur. 



