210 



The Journal of Heredity 



in cases involving inheritance and 

 property, indeed in many instances the 

 census records would constitute the 

 only documentary evidence of parent- 

 age. 



To summarize: Present census meth- 

 ods give statistical pictures of the popu- 

 lation, but do not trace personal or 

 family fortunes. The addition of only 

 two items to the population schedule — 

 "the name of the father, and the full 

 maiden name of the mother," would 



permit the analysis of census returns on 

 the personal and family-history basis. 

 The fortunes of the nation are indis- 

 solubly united with those of the indi- 

 vidual, and since the rate and extent of 

 "overturn" in personal fortune is an 

 index to the quality of national growth, 

 the value of the proposed analyses would 

 repay many times the relatively slight 

 additional cost and effort involved in 

 adding the two desired items to the 

 population schedule. 



Six Hundred Twins 



Twins Which Were Separated 



The x\merican Genetic Association 

 through the generous cooperation of the 

 press has been placed in communication 

 with over six hundred twins and several 

 hundred of them have sent excellent pho- 

 tographs illustrating in many cases most 

 remarkable similarity. It is particularly 

 important in the researches that are 

 being carried out that such identical 

 twins as have lived in entirely different 

 environments be found and further pub- 

 licity leading to the discovery of pairs of 



Already Discovered 



in Babyhood Especially Sought 



identical twins, the individuals of which 

 have lived in dift'erent countries and 

 have been taught from childhood 

 different languages is desired. All 

 communications should be directed to 

 the American Genetic Association, 

 Washington, D. C. 



Any twin cooperating with the Asso- 

 ciation will be supplied with any special 

 articles published relating to these 

 researches. 



The Beginnings of the Nervous System 



THE ELEMENTARY NERVOUS 

 SYSTEM, by G. H. Parker, Sc.D., 

 Professor of Zoology, Harvard Uni- 

 versity. Pp. 229 53, illustrations. 

 Price, $2.50 net. Philadelphia and 

 London; J. B. Lippincott Co. (Mono- 

 graphs on Experimental Biology), 

 1919. 



Confining himself mainly to such 

 simple forms of life as sponges, jelly- 

 fishes and hydroids, Dr. Parker has 

 outlined in detail the nature of the 

 elementary nervous system, particularly 

 with a view to showing its limitations. 

 His point of view is described in his 

 preface: "The dependence of human 

 affairs upon the nervous system of man 



is so absolute that it was" inevitable, as 

 soon as this relation was understood, 

 that the activities of the simpler 

 animals should be interpreted as though 

 these creatures were miniature human 

 beings. That such interpretation was 

 carried far beyond its legitimate bounds, 

 even by the scientifically trained, is now 

 admitted on almost all sides. That 

 these bounds are vastly more restricted 

 than has usually been supposed is 

 certain. An approach to a clearer 

 understanding of what they are is as- 

 sured through the application of experi- 

 mental and quantitative methods to 

 the questions concerned rather than by 

 a continuation of the older more purely 

 observational procedure." 



