128 NATURAL SCIENCE [August 
of the preceding edition (1893), it is still somewhat unwieldy for a 
“Grundriss.” The original “ Grundriss” (1884) was a small octavo 
volume of 272 pages, and represented an abridged edition of the 
“Lehrbuch,” but it has now increased so greatly in size as practi- 
cally to have replaced the “ Lehrbuch ” altogether, for no new edition 
of the latter work has appeared since 1886. 
One of the special features of the last two editions of the “Grun- 
driss”»—a feature which primarily distinguished the “ Lehrbuch ”—is 
the extensive and valuable bibliography, occupying more than a 
hundred pages. This commends itself strongly to the advanced 
student, and, the titles being classified according to the organs or 
systems of organs dealt with in the memoirs, reference to previous 
literature is greatly facilitated. One of the disadvantages of the 
method, however, arises from the fact that many papers treating of 
several organs demand quotation under a number of headings, and 
this in the book under consideration has, probably to economise space, 
not always been accorded. Thus, while Huxley’s well-known paper 
on Ceratodus is quoted, as it should be, under the heading “ Freie 
Gliedmassen,” it does not find a place under “Schiidel der Fische,” 
although it contains most valuable information upon the skulls of 
Ceratodus, Cestracion, and Notidanus. Numerous other instances 
might be given, but as it is not possible to suggest a remedy without 
adding too much to the bulk of the book (except, perhaps, by some 
system of cross-references) we must be grateful for having our 
attention directed to even a few papers which in the ordinary course 
of work might be overlooked. 
The profusion of illustrations which invariably characterises the 
works of Prof. Wiedersheim, and the subordination of the taxonomic 
to the physiological classification in the arrangement of the chapters, 
are features which render the book attractive and interesting even to 
the beginner. It does not follow, however, that a ready sale will be 
found for the book among English students, for in scope and bulk the 
present work is almost identical with Prof. W. N. Parker’s second 
English edition, 1897, founded on the third edition of the “ Grundriss.” 
There is abundant evidence of careful editing in the volume under 
consideration, but entire freedom from mistakes cannot be admitted. 
Caudalvenen appears for Cardinalvenen (p. 368, last line but two), 
and Metapterygoid for Metapterygium (fig. 96, p. 106), while in fig. 232, 
p. 275, the letters A and B are transposed. The ductus endolym- 
phaticus (fig. 214, p. 252) appears, as in the earlier editions, on the 
external instead of the mesial surface of the labyrinth, and the side 
view of the skull of the greyhound (fig. 88 B, p. 96) exhibits four 
upper incisor teeth ; but such blemishes as these are happily few, and 
the new figures are, on the whole, very good. WG Re 
THE HISTOLOGY OF VERTEBRATES 
LEHRBUCH DER VERGLEICHENDEN MIKROSKOPISCHEN ANATOMIE DER WIRBELTIERE. II. 
ScHLUND UND Darm. By Prof. Dr Med. Albert Oppel. 8vo, pp. viii+682, 
4 plates and 343 text-figures. Jena: G. Fischer. 1897. Price, 20 marks. 
THE second part of Dr Oppel’s laborious task carries out the promise 
of the first. There is the same wealth of detail culled laboriously 
from multifarious sources and expanded by original matter, and the 
same careful citation of .authorities. The author begins with an 
