4/0 'Joiirnol of Comparative Neurology and Psychology. 



paragraph should be amended by the addition of the words enclosed in brackets, as 

 follows: "This is the portion of the gray matter which has previously been called 

 the visceral efferent column. As already stated, the fibers from this column in 

 lower vertebrates pass out through [both] the dorsal [and ventral] roots, but in 

 mammals which have been most used for the study of the sympathetic, they pass out 

 by way of the ventral roots [only]." But such lapses are not common and most of 

 the cases where the reader may question the words of the author are fairly debatable 

 matters of fact or interpretation. The directions for laboratory work impress one 

 as being the part of the book which received the least care. They are not intended 

 to serve as a manual for a coordinated laboratory course; but they do contain 

 many valuable suggestions which we should like to see elaborated into such a manual. 

 It is refreshing to see so many new figures, especially the diagrams and schemata, 

 whose pedagogic value is enormous. Some of the diagrams serve very eff'ectively as 

 summaries of long descriptive passages. All are very clear and most have the legend 

 written directly upon them so that a minimum of time is required for their consulta- 

 tion. 



All students of comparative anatomy and comparative psychology, and not merely 

 the professional neurologists, will find much of value in this book, which is sure 

 to exert a profound influence upon the future course of research in comparative 

 neurology. 



c. J. H. 



Hrdlicka, A. Brains and Brain Preservatives. Proceed. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 30, pp. 245-320. 

 1906. 



The weight and form of the brain have come to be features of such scientific 

 importance that the value of many brain collections depends more and more upon 

 the success with which these features are preserved. With the view of ascertaining 

 the best method for accomplishing this, Hrdlicka has made a systematic study of 

 some of the more promising brain preservatives. Of these the most satisfactory 

 was formaline, but when this is used alone, it produces ordinarily an initial increase 

 in weight which after about a week is followed by a gradual loss. The addition of 

 salt or alum to the formaline did not remedy this defect. Excellent results were 

 obtained by adding alcohol to the formaline; this mixture when rightly propor- 

 tioned gave rise to very little initial change and to almost no subsequent loss of 

 weight. The mixture should be made up in diff"erent proportions for brains of dif- 

 ferent sizes, and Hrdlicka gives an excellent table of the best proportions for 

 brains weighing from 50 grams or less to those above 900 grams. 



G. H. p. 



Hugo Miinsterberg. The Harvard Psychological Studies. Vol. 11. Houghton, Miff in & Co., 

 Boston and New Tork. 1906. Pp. 644. Price $4.00. 



The second volume of the Harvard Psychological Studies, although published 

 under the auspices of Houghton, Mifl3in & Co., is uniform in appearance with 

 the first volume, which was published as a monograph by the Psychological Review. 

 The present volume is a fit companion to the previous one, and is well qualified to 

 serve as a memorial to the opening of Emerson Hall. 



The book under review contains the results of several investigations made upon a 

 variety of psychological subjects. A section each is devoted to optical studies; 



