154 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



pints. In places it was four or five inches wide, and extended 

 for quite a quarter of a mile. . . . The bay extends for 

 about eighty miles, and is more or less sandy along the whole 

 length, and shallow, the five-fathom line ranging about one and a 

 half miles from the beach — in fact, I do not think any part of the 

 bay exceeds seven fathoms. The bottom in patches is densely 

 covered with a growth of sponges and seaweed, with muddy ooze 

 containing Lima and other mollusca." 



Mr. Earland discusses in detail the relationship of the 

 " balloon " chamber and the inner float chamber, and the latter, 

 he suggests, may possibly be used to modify the specific gravity 

 of the shell, as a means of travelling upwards from the sea 

 bottom or vice versd. 



In view of clearing up many points of great interest and im- 

 portance regarding the function of the " balloon " chamber and 

 its reproductive contents, it is hoped that local naturalists here 

 and elsewhere, who are favourably situated, will look out for such 

 occurrences, and endeavour to preserve the fresh material either 

 in spirit or formalin for future observation. Hitherto this par- 

 ticular form has been usually found in the neighbourhood of coral 

 reefs and in lower latitudes. 



As Mr. Earland observes, these shoals of organisms must have 

 been driven ashore by steady currents caused by the north wind, 

 which had been blowing in the same direction for some days. — 

 F. Chapman, A.L.S. 



BOOK NOTICES. 



Nature in New Zealand. Compiled by Jas. Drummond and 

 edited by Capt. F. W. Hutton, F.R.S., Director Christchurch 

 Museum. Christchurch : Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd. 

 1902. Price 2S. 6d. 

 " Nature in New Zealand," the editor tells us, originated in a 

 series of conversations between Mr. Drummond and himself, 

 which formed the foundations for several newspaper articles, 

 entitled " Rambles in a Museum." These, it was afterwards 

 thought, with a little modification would form a suitable Natural 

 History reading book for schools, hence the book under notice. 

 Though designed for a school book, it is written in such a form 

 that many an older student will be glad to avail himself of its 

 pages, and to Australian students it is especially valuable. It is 

 charmingly written, well illustrated, and beautifully printed. New 

 Zealand being naturally so deficient in mammals, reptiles, and 

 insects, the authors have been compelled to make considerable 

 use of birds, but geology and plants have not been forgotten, 

 while some seventy pages are devoted to the origin and history of 

 that extremely interesting race, the Maoris. An appendix giving 

 the principal authorities on New Zealand natural history and on 



