ANIMAL rUODUCTTON. 269 



Tliroiifxliout lli(» article tlic results are eoiniiared with these obtained by 

 previous iuveslipitors. The literature on the subject is appended. 



Comparative anatomical and physiological investigations of fast and slow 

 horses (Fiihiing's Landio. Ztg., 57 {1908), Nos. 23, pp. lOI-lOJ,; 2J,, pp. 83U-8','i ; 

 5S (1909), No. .'i, pp. 153-158).— In this series of articles by H. Rodewald, T. B. 

 vou Neergaard, and K. L. von Liitzow are discussed the methods used in the 

 iuvestiirations noted above. 



Studies on the physiology of reproduction in the domestic fowl. Regu- 

 lation in the morphogenetic activity of the oviduct, Iv. Pearl {Jour. Expt. 

 ZouL, G {1900), No. 3. pp. 339-359, pis. 2. ffgs. 2; abs. in Science, n. ser., 29 

 {1909), No. l.'il, p. 1/28). — This paper, which is the first of a series on reproduc- 

 tion iu fowls, contains an outline of the work in progress at the biological 

 laboratory of the Maine Station, and reports a case of regulation in the morpho- 

 genetic activity of the oviduct. 



The first egg of a Barred Plymouth Rock pullet was abnormal iu shape (long 

 and narrow and concave on the side). As other eggs were successively laid 

 there was a gradual change iu shape from the abnormal condition- found in the 

 first egg to a substantially normal condition. The progressive regulatory change 

 was iu accordance with tlie logarithmic curve of the type y=a+bx+c log x, 

 where y deuotes the length-breadth index of the egg, x its ordinal number iu 

 the series hiid, and a, b and c are constants. 



From tlie data obtained in this case it is concluded that the shape of the egg 

 is determined by the active contractions of the muscular wall of the uterus. 



Resection and end-to-end anastomosis of the oviduct in the hen, without 

 loss of function, R. Pearl and F. M. Surface {Atner. Jour. PJnjsioL, 22 {1908), 

 No. 3, pp. 351-361, fig. 1; ahs. in Jour. Roy. Micros. Soc. [London], 1908, No. 6, 

 p. 707). — To determine whether or not a portion of the oviduct of a hen could 

 be removed without permanent loss of the egg-producing function, the author 

 remove<l a piece of tlie oviduct about 10 cm. long from the middle of the 

 albumin-secreting portion. A perfect end-to-end anastomosis was obtained. 

 Four months later the hen began to lay and the eggs produced were normal 

 except for a slightly smaller size than the average for a normal hen of the same 

 breed. 



The artificial modification of the epithelial elements of the mammalian 

 ovary, A. Rrsso {Mem. R. Accad. Lined, CI. Set. Fis.. Mat. e Nai., 5. ser.. 6 

 (1907), No. 12, pp. 315-384, pis. 5). — The author describes the histology and 

 physiology of the ovary and discusses Mendelian and other theories of sex 

 heredity. His experiments consisted in making subcutaneous and intraperi- 

 toneal injections of lecithin in rabbits. From the results obtained he concludes 

 that the proi)ortion of females can be increased in this way. Two kinds of 

 ova are figured and described. Those in which more or less fat is in evidence 

 are said to be females; the others males. Throughout the article are numerous 

 references to literature on the subjects discussed. 



The influence of lecithin on the determination of sex and in Mendelian 

 characters, C. Basile (Atti R. Aecad. Lined, Rend. CI. Sei. Fis., Mat. e Nat., 

 5. ser., 17 (1908)., I, No. 10, pp. 6Jj3-652) .—The author repeated Russo's experi- 

 ments (noted above) but did nof get an increased number of females. There 

 was, however, an increased reproductivity and also an increase in the mortality 

 of young germs. 



Note on Russo's attempt to show differentiation of sex in the ovarian ova 

 of the rabbit, W. IIeape ( I'ror. Cam bridge I'll, J. Soe., /.'/ (1908). No. li. pp. (109- 

 672).— The author discusses the results found by Russo (see above) and shows 

 that tlje male ova figured are degenerate forms and are of common cK^qmrtjuce. 



