i8 93 . PROFESSOR BLAKE ON AMMONITES. 143 



fication ! The size ! We congratulate Professor Blake on this 

 discovery. We believe it to be entirely his own, and entirely 

 original, and we will not say a word to destroy the charming sim- 

 plicity of the idea. Incidentally, we are treated to a most interesting 

 piece of information about " Ammonites planorbis, now called Psiloceras " 

 — "the fry are abundant, but the race was really gigantic, as may 

 be seen by the specimen, over three feet in diameter, in the British 

 Museum." 



It would be strange if true ; but, happily, this giant is not 

 a specimen of "Ammonites planorbis, now called Psiloceras" ; it is a 

 senile example of Ammonites conybearii, now called Vermiceras, which 

 not uncommonly attained the size of three feet across. It was not a 

 contemporary of planorbis at all ; but it lived much later, namely, in 

 the time of Pentacrinus tuber cnlatus. That the label is incorrect in the 

 British Museum implies no fault to anyone connected therewith. 

 For one man to arrange the whole of the Cephalopoda — a subject 

 which engages the attention of many specialists — is a too gigantic 

 task ; and accuracy in all cases cannot, therefore, be expected. That 

 the public who take all the labels in the British Museum for gospel 

 are thereby misled, is a pity ; but while an overburdened museum- 

 curator might successfully plead excuses for an incorrect label, no 

 such plea can be allowed to such an authority on Cephalopoda as 

 Professor Blake. 



To illustrate the confusion which arises in the mind of the student 

 — not the confusion which arises in his own mind on a subject about 

 which he poses as a teacher — Professor Blake compares (p. 29) the 

 generic grouping given by Buckman and by Futtlerer (sic), and 

 remarks what " most observers " would do in such cases. How 

 useful to appeal to " most observers " ! " Most observers " would not 

 make egregious mistakes in classification in any science. Does 

 Professor Blake wish us to believe vox popnli vox Dei ; and does he 

 forget that it was not only Carlyle who uttered a sentiment akin to 

 vox popnli vox stultorum ? When the immortal Mr. Pickwick went to 

 the election and shouted " Slumkey for ever ! " he was asked, " Who 

 is Slumkey ? " He replied, " I don't know ; it's always best on these 

 occasions to do what the mob do." " But suppose there are two 

 mobs," said Mr. Snodgrass. " Shout with the largest," said Mr. 

 Pickwick. It will always be a case of the specialists against 

 01 7roAAot. If Professor Blake wishes to emulate the immortal Mr. 

 Pickwick, and shout with 01 ttoWol, he is quite free to do so. It is to 

 be hoped that when asked his reasons he will be equally candid, and 

 reply " I don't know." 



" Most observers," says Professor Blake, " would place the 

 former (species put by Buckman into two genera) not only in the 

 same genus, but almost in the same species, and the latter (Futterer's), 

 not only in distinct genera, but in distinct families." We don't doubt 

 it for a minute ; and thereby the observers would show their profound 



