194 



SOME NEW BOOKS. 



Worms, Rotifers, and Polyzoa. 



The Cambridge Natural History, edited by S. F. Harmer and A. E. Shipley, 

 vol. ii. Flatworms and Mesozoa, by F. W. Gamble ; Nemertines, by Miss 

 L. Sheldon ; Threadworms and Sagitta, by A. E. Shipley ; Rotifers, by Marcus 

 Hartog ; Polvch.^te Worms, by W. B. Benham ; Earthworms and Leeches, 

 by F. E. Beddard ; Gephyrea and Phoronis, by A. E. Shipley ; Polyzoa, 

 by S. F. Harmer. 8vo. Pp. xii, 560, with numerous illustrations. London : 

 Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1896. Price 17s. nett. 



This second volume of the Cambridge Natural History is certain to 

 prove a most welcome addition to English zoological literature. It 

 deals with a series of animal groups, ail deeply interesting to the 

 specialist in morphology ; some important from their economic rela- 

 tions to other living things, others in their life-histories rivalling the 

 marvels of fairy-tales. And the style in which they are here treated 

 is also interesting : history and the early observations of the older 

 writers lend their charm ; accounts of habits and mode of occurrence, 

 of life, in a word, from the cradle to the grave, are given in ample 

 detail, accompanied by full references to modern and current literature. 

 The whole is admirably illustrated : the figures, as may be seen from 

 those kindly lent us by the publishers, well chosen, well executed, 

 clear and of excellent size. British species are freely alluded to ; 



Fig. I. — Leptoplafia tremellaris. Example of a Polyclad Turbellarian. Three, 

 quarter ventral view, x6. ph, pharynx protruded from mo, mouth ; br, brain ; mg, 

 stomach ; mgc, marginal groove ; pe, penis ; sc, sucker; ut, uterus ; vd, vas deferens; 

 ? female genital aperture; i male ditto. 



indeed the account of the Polyzoa is avowedly based solely upon 

 thern. The work will appeal to the student working for examination, 

 but it ought also to stimulate in the amateur naturahst an intelligent 

 interest in animals too much neglected and ignored by him, usually 

 because short yet comprehensive and not too technical accounts of 

 their structure and classification are unavailable. The want is now 

 charmingly supplied. Nowhere, save in monographs, will the 

 lover of pond-life find a better description of the Rotifera, or the 

 wanderer by the sea-shore of the Polyzoa. Indeed, help in relation 



