526 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



BIOLOGY 



Modes of Eesearch in Genetics. By Raymond Pearl. [Pp. vi + 182.] 

 (New York : The Macmillan Company, 191 5. Price $s. 6d. net.) 



Dr. Raymond Pearl is well known in this country as the author of a series of 

 papers in which the methods distinctively termed biometric and those associated 

 with the name of Mendel are skilfully employed in combination. The present 

 volume, although it contains a useful summary of the author's work on the measure- 

 ment of the intensity of in-breeding, is chiefly devoted to a popular exposition of 

 the problem of inheritance and to a criticism of the methods proposed for its 

 solution. The advance of knowledge has been hindered both by popular indif- 

 ference and by the mutual animosity of experts. 



The early work of Prof. Karl Pearson was received by most pure biologists 

 with ignorant contempt, while Prof. Pearson and most of his adherents have, in 

 their turn, adopted an attitude of hostility, rather insecurely founded upon the 

 intellectual superiority thought to be conferred by a knowledge of the differential 

 calculus, towards most phases of Mendelian research. 



Dr. Pearl analyses the fundamental problem into its elements, shows that both 

 the mathematical and the experimental lines of attack are of essential value, and 

 disposes of the claims made by rival schools to a monopoly of truth. 



There will be differences of opinion as to details of Dr. Pearl's criticism, but 

 his book may safely be recommended to the layman in search of an objective 

 study of the subject. 



M. Greenwood, Junr. 



A Vertebrate Fauna of the Malay Peninsula : Reptilia and Batrachia. By 

 G. A. Boulenger, D.Sc, Ph.D., F.R.S. [Pp. xiii + 294, with 79 figures 

 and a map.] (London : Taylor & Francis, 1912. Price 15s.) 



The Government of the Federated Malay States has decided to issue a Vertebrate 

 Fauna of the Malay Peninsula, of which this present volume on Reptilia and 

 Batrachia is the first. Mr. Boulenger is such a well-known authority on these two 

 classes of animals that his name is a sufficient guarantee of the thoroughness and 

 reliability of the work. Much in this volume is also contained in Blandford's 

 Fauna of British I?idia, with which it is uniform. Works of this character are 

 very valuable to zoologists studying the distribution of species, and also to local 

 naturalists, for they form an authoritative source of reference. Little can be said 

 in criticism of the book, since its ultimate value depends on its use in reference, 

 but it is well printed and arranged, and its copious alphabetical index allows of the 

 easy finding of any species that may be required. The systematic index at the 

 beginning enables one to see at a glance the relation any species bears to its allies 

 or to other reptilia or batrachia. It forms a good starting-point for what should 

 be a very useful work. 



C. H. O'D. 



NATURAL HISTORY 



Natural History of Hawaii. By W. A. Bryan, B.Sc. [Pp. 596, with 117 full- 

 page plates.] (Hawaii : The Hawaiian Gazette Co., Ltd., 191 5. Price $5.50.) 



The sub-title of this book describes quite well its contents and the ground it 

 covers : " Being an Account of the Hawaiian People, the Geology and Geography 

 of the Islands, and the Native and Introduced Plants and Animals of the Group." 

 The problem of the volcanic oceanic island is always an interesting one to the 



