3o6 NATURAL SCIENCE. Oct.. 



The Salmon of the Elbe. 



Der Elbelachs : eine biologisch-anatomische Studie. By Professor Dr. Anton 

 Fritsch. 8vo. Pp. ii6, with 84 figs, and i coloured plate. Prague: F. 

 Rivnac, 1894. 



In the midst of numerous other occupations during the past twenty- 

 five years, Dr. Anton Fritsch has been engaged in collecting infor- 

 mation concerning the salmon and salmon-fisheries of the Elbe. So 

 long ago as 1871 he published some preliminary observations on the 

 subject, followed later by other notes ; and now he has done good 

 service by summarising the results of his long-continued research in 

 the little profusely illustrated volume before us. The first part of 

 the work is devoted to a sketch of the life and migrations of the 

 salmon ; the second and third parts deal respectively with economics 

 and the anatomy of the fish ; and a few remarks are appended in 

 reference to the future of the salmon-fishery of the Elbe. The volume 

 is issued with the aid of a grant from the Bohemian Parliament, and 

 will prove of great value to those concerned in the industry of which 

 it treats. 



The account of the salmon fisheries, as might be expected, 

 occupies the greater part of the work ; but the chapter on anatomy 

 is by no means meagre, and the descriptive details are illustrated 

 with numerous drawings by the author. There are also sketches of 

 external features which vary at different periods, and a few illustra- 

 tions of the principal parasites known to infest the fish. 



The Organisms of Ponds and Rock Pools. 



Ponds and Rock Pools : with Hints on Collecting for, and the Management of the 

 Micro-aquarium. By Henry Scherren. Small 8vo. Pp. 208, with numerous 

 woodcuts. London: Religious Tract Society, 1894. Price 2s. 6d. 



This attractive little volume comprises a series of articles recently 

 contributed by Mr. Scherren to the Leisure Hour. It is adapted as 

 well for the general reader as for the beginner, and differs from most 

 works of its kind in being much more than a second-hand compilation. 

 The author is an enthusiast in his subject, and has himself verified 

 most of the facts he records ; while all the hints as to collecting and 

 the management of the aquarium are the result of wide personal 

 experience. It is, in short, a noteworthy book, not only to be recom- 

 mended as a guide to the amateur, but one likely to infuse enthusiasm 

 in a youth who has previously had little opportunity of looking into 

 the subject of which it treats. 



Mr. Scherren's hints on " pond and rock-pool hunting " are, as 

 we have said, thoroughly practical. He writes not only for the 

 wealthy pedant, who can afford elaborate apparatus, but remembers 

 also the humble school-boy who is obliged to make his own simple 

 tackle. The introductory chapter on these matters occupies over 

 thirty pages, and has nine illustrations. The second chapter deals 

 with " the beginnings of life," and emphasises more clearly than 

 usual the difference between unicellular and multicelluar animals. 

 The remarks on classification are also surprisingly up-to-date for a 

 popular work. There are good figures of the Amoeba, Vorticella, and 

 other typical Protozoa. Chapter III. treats of sponges, hydrozoa, 

 etc., and is illustrated by several original figures, chiefly of marine 



