cvi Journal of Comparative Neurology. 



position and rearrangements of parts, there come to be, finally, two 

 of the original segments included under the roof of the greatly ex- 

 panded mid-brain, and three under the dorsal wall of the fore-brain. 

 It is not, at bottom, primitive segmentation of the brain with which 

 we are dealing, but primitive segmentation of the embryo ; and the 

 anterior end of the body undergoes the most extensive modifications, 

 and departs most widely from the early segmented condition. 



Reform in Anatomical and Descriptive Terminology. 



Nothing more clearly demonstrates the necessity for reform in the 

 cumbrous and ambiguous nomenclature of anatomy than the per- 

 sistence with which various solutions of the problem are urged. It is 

 fashionable in some circles in America to sneer at these attempts and 

 to minimize the extent to which some of the reforms have been adopt- 

 ed, but it is noticeable that such animadversions do not come from 

 those who have seriously struggled with the practical difficulties of de- 

 scriptive anatomy. Professor Wilder's name is associated with a sys- 

 tem which, in spite of what appear to many serious infelicities is yet 

 the most consistent and complete yet formulated. 



On the whole one can now see that the zealous advocacy and use 

 of the system has had a profound influence. Curiously enough it is 

 in Europe that his or similar suggestions are taking strongest root. 

 The substitutes from time to time offered often serve to make the ear- 

 lier system seem more desirable by contrast. 



A recent article by Dr. Alpheus Hyatt 1 calls attention to the com- 

 prehensive attempt to revise descriptive terms recently offered by F. 

 E. Schulze. 2 The terms of position and direction as applied to bi- 

 lateral animals may be said to be reasonably settled, but in the case 

 of Synstigmata or Centrostigmata having a single imaginary centre 

 other difficulties are encountered. The central point is called the 

 "centrum," points at the centre are centran, those near the centre 

 are central, those which lie toward the centre are centrad or prox- 

 imad ; opposed to these terms are compounds of proximus. Any part 

 at right angles to radii is tangential, if external, or paratangential, if in- 

 ternal. 



Remarks on Schulze's System of Descriptive Terms. American Naturalist ', 

 XXVII, 329, 



2 Bezeichnungen d. Lage u. Richtung im Thierkorper. Biol. Centralblatt, 

 XIII, I, 1893. 



