170 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



inorganic pliosplionis yielded a suialler percentage. There was also a larger 

 percentage content of ether-solnhle material in tlie In-ains and nerves of tlie 

 phosphorus-fed rabbits than is normal. 



Investigation of neolithic bones of eastern Galicia, M. Dure (Zt.schr. 

 Landw. Tcrsuchsiv. Ostcrr., 12 (J!>0'J) Xo. 2, pp. 77-86). — Fossil bones of bison, 

 horses, sheep, cattle, swine, goats, deer, beaver, and dog which were exhumed in 

 1908 from the remains of a neolithic settlement of the second century. B. C. are 

 briefly described. Ai)parently the equine and probably the bovine specimens 

 were those of domesticated animals, but the others were remains of wild species. 



On the Irish horse and its early history, R. F. Scharff (Proc. Roil. Irish 

 Acad.. 27 (1D09), Xo. 6, »S'eci. B, pp. S1-S6). — In this discussion on the origin of 

 the Irish horse the equine types in the Irish National Museum are compared 

 with other types, and measurements of the museum specimens are given. The 

 author thinks the domesticated Crannog horse, which dates l)ack to the tenth 

 century, is descended from the wild Shandon horse rather than from later im- 

 ported horses of Si)anisli or eastern blood. 



The heredity of secondary sexual characters in relation to hormones; a 

 contribution to the theory of heredity, J. T. Cunningham {Proc. Zool. 8oc. 

 London. J'JUS. Ill, p. 'iS'i). — This is a paper read before the Zoological Society 

 of I^ondou. The author criticises recent theories of the heredity of sex and 

 restates Darwin's tlieory of pengenesis in terms of modern physiology. If hor- 

 mones can pass from sexual organs into the blood it is suggested that con- 

 versely hormones from the soma might affect the gametes and so produce some 

 heredity effect in succeeding generations. If this be so, the hormones would 

 thus possess the characteristics of the theoretical pangens of Darwin. 



Secondary chromosome-coupling's and the sexual relations in Abraxas, 

 E. B. Wilson (Science, n. scr., 29 (1909), A'O. 77/8, pp. 70.','7()(i).—X discussion 

 of the sex heredity theories of Wilson and Castle, previously noted i E. S. li., 20, 

 p. 1071; 21, p. 71). The author cites here cases in which the Y-element is 

 not the vehicle for the transmission of secondary male characters. 



Sterility, H. Leeney (Live Stock Jour. [London], 69 (1909), No. 1827, 

 p. J.S7). — The author calls attention to tlie increasing frequency of sterility in 

 live stock which has been bred for special purposes, and thinks that many cases 

 are due to influences which aft'ect that portion of the spinal cord which lies 

 within the sacrum. Some drugs have a special influence on this part of the 

 cord, but it is not known how far such artificial excitation is desirable or how 

 long fertility may be restored in this manner. 



Fecundity of swine, F. M. Surface (Biomctrila, 6 (1909), No. Jt, pp. J,33-J,36, 

 dgnis. 2). — Frequency curves were fltted to data previously reported (E. S. R., 

 IS, p. 267), and analytical constants for variation of fecundity in brood sows 

 of the Duroc Jersey and Poland China breeds were determined. 



The chief constants for the Poland China are : Mean, 7.435o±0.01 ; median, 

 7.8754; mode, 7.2924; standard deviation, 2.0.38 ±0.01 3 ; coelticient of variation, 

 27.411 ±0.172 ; and skewness, 0.0701±0.01. The constants for the Duroc Jersey 

 are: Mean, 9.3372±0.021 ; median, 9.7631; mode, 9.2064; standard deviation, 

 2.427±0.016; and coefficient of variation, 2r).997±0.1t>9. These constants are 

 of considerable value because of the large number of litters dealt with. The 

 coefficient of variation is somewhat lower than. the average for other animals. 

 The Poland China, with the smaller mean and larger variation, shows a slightly 

 larger skewness. A difference in the value of the means of almost 2 pigs in 

 favor of the Duroc Jersey conlirnis the common observation that this breed is 

 very prolific. 



A short account of an experiment in crossing the American bison with 

 domestic cattle, M. M, Boyu {Anicr. /ireaZcr.s' Assoc. Proc, '/ (1908), pp. 



