564 EXPElllMElfT STATION RECORD. 



Mendelism up to date {Jour. Heredity. 7 {1916). Xo. 1, pp. 17-23. fig. 1).— 

 A reAiew of the book entitled The Mechanism of Mendelian Heredity, by 

 Morgan et al. (E. S. R., 33, p. 869). 



Some experiments in m.ass selection, W. E. Castle {Amer. Nat., ^9 (1915), 

 No. ,588. pp. 713-726, fig. 1). — The author comments on the results of Pearl's 

 investigations with poultry (E. S. R.. 34, p. 74), and takes exception to the 

 statement that selection can change a population but not a character. 



Fecundity in the domestic fowl and the selection problem, R. Peael 

 (Amcr. Nat.. 50 {1916), No. 590, pp. 89-105) .—The author answers the criti- 

 cisms made by Castle (see above), and sets forth his reasons for holding the 

 opinions he does in regard to some phases of the selection problem. 



Further data on the measurement of inbreeding, R. Pearl {Maine Sta. 

 Bnl. 243 {1915), pp. 225-248, figs. 6). — This is a continuation of material pre- 

 viously reported (E. S. R., 30, p. 66) in which the theoretical consequences 

 of continued mating of first cousins and continued inbreeding of individuals 

 exhibiting the avuncular type of relationship, that is. uncle X niece or nephew 

 X aunt, is considered. It is shown that all types of cousin and aA-uncular mat- 

 ings if continued lead to values of the coefficient of inbreeding approaching 100 

 per cent. Relationship coefficients and the method of calculating them are de- 

 scribed and illustrated by references to pedigrees of certain Jersey bulls and 

 their progeny. 



Heredity and sex {Jour. Heredity. 7 {1916), No. 1, pp. 9-11). — It is statetl 

 that the re.sults of inbreeding experiments by Helen D. King at the Wistar 

 Institute, Philadelphia, Pa., in which more than 22,000 albino rats have been 

 bred and studied, indicate that disproportionate sex ratios are due to in- 

 heritance, it being found possible to alter considerably the normal ratio by a 

 proper method of breeding. 



Sex in live-stock breeding, E. X. Wentworth {Jour. Heredity, 7 {1916), 

 No. 1. pp. 29-.U). — Examples of inheritance of characters as affected by sex are 

 given, but the author concludes that this phase of here<lity does not offer great 

 possibilities to the practical breeder at the pre.sent time. 



Two pheasant crosses, J. C. Phillips {Jour. Heredity, 7 {1916), No. 1, pp. 

 12-16, figs. 3). — In crossbreeding experiments with phea.sants it was found that 

 reciprocal matings gave widely different results in female and identical results 

 In male offspring. The females proved practically sexless. The possibility of 

 sex linkage is given as an explanation of these phenomena. 



The gain, maintenance, and condition of germ-free animals and their 

 significance in a study of the natural life processes, KCster {Arh. K. 

 Gsiidhtsamt., J,8 {lOl.'f), No. 1, pp. 1-19. figs. 16).— This article treats of the 

 organisms found in the digestive tract of animals and of the effect of fee<llng 

 sterilized feeds under germ-free conditions upon the general health and condi- 

 tion of such animals. A bibliography of literature cited is appended. 



The reliability of weight averages for live animals, B. Tacke {Jahrb. 

 Weideir. v. Futtcrbaues, 2 {1914), PP- 36-49). — Data are presented which dem- 

 onstrate that the averages of three successive days' weighings of cattle are 

 more reliable than single days' weighings, which often show an unaccountably 

 largf* variation. 



Development of limbs in ox and pig, N. Suschkina-Popowa {Bui. Soc. 

 Imp. Nat. Mo.'icou. n. scr., 28 {1914). PP- 209-278, pis. 2; abs. in Jour. Roy. 

 Mieros. Soc, No. 6 {1915), pp. 559-561). — The author has studietl the develop- 

 ment of the extremities of Bos and Sus and has compared the ontogeny with 

 what can be inferred from the paleontological series in regard to the phylogeny. 



