The Laboratory Mouse. Its Origin, Heredity 

 and Culture. Clyde E. Keeler, 81 pp. Harvard 

 University Press. 193 1. 



A brief statement of the geographical distribu- 

 tion of the mouse is followed by an informing 

 account of the antiquity of the fancy mouse. It 

 appears that dominant spotting, albinism, and 

 waltzing were all recorded before the present era. 

 The other breeds were distinguished much later. 

 Since in the classical literature the same word 

 Mns was used for both the mouse and the rat, it 

 is only possible to determine which is meant by 

 the help of indirect evidence. 



Some twenty-four breeds of mice are briefly 

 described and these descriptions followed by a 

 useful table, listing for twenty-seven varieties the 

 fanciers' term, the scientific term and the genetic 

 formula. 



The genetics of normal and abnormal inherit- 

 ance are then considered, and the book closes with 

 a chapter on the laboratory breeding and care of 

 these animals. 



Twenty-one life-size figures, in black and white, 

 indicate the habit and coat color in the several 

 breeds. — H. H. Donaldson. 



