i\UGUST II, 192 I ] 



NATURE 



743 



Our Bookshelf. 



The North American Species of Drosophtla. By 

 A. H. Sturtevant. (Publication No. 301.) 

 Pp. iv+ 150 + 3 plates. (Washington: The 

 Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1921.) 

 A SYSTEMATIC account of the North American 

 species of Drosophila and related genera, which 

 includes many new species from collections made 

 in various parts of the continent, will be found 

 in this volume. One of the chief features of in- 

 terest in such a monograph lies in a comparison of 

 the systematic differences distinguishing species 

 with those distinguishing mutants. In the latter 

 part of the work this subject is discussed. The 

 species of Drosophila, although often closely alike 

 in appearance, so that only intensive study has 

 succeeded in separating them, are extraordinarily 

 difficult to cross. This applies not only to those 

 having different chromosome groups, which no 

 one has yet succeeded in crossing, but also to 

 those in which the chromosomes are alike. 



Dr. Sturtevant points out that both species and 

 mutants may differ from each other in such 

 features as eye-colour, wing-shape, abdominal 

 pattern, and size and shape of eyes ; but in study- 

 ing specific differences it is "often necessary to 

 ■examine minute characters, such as wing-vein in- 

 dices or the relative sizes of certain bristles, that 

 are seldom examined in material bred for genetic 

 purposes." Many of the mutant characters are, 

 however, similar to those observed between 

 species. The general impression is received that 

 specific differences and mutations may both be 

 found in practically any character studied. The 

 species usually differ slightly in innumerable char- 

 acters, while mutants often differ strikingly in a 

 few. This does not indicate that specific and 

 mutational characters are different in kind, but 

 that only the smaller mutations, by upsetting less 

 the economy of the species, usually survive as 

 specific differences. R. R. G. 



Introduction to General Chemistry. By Prof. H. 



Copaux. Translated by Dr. H. Leffmann. 



Pp. x-t-195. (Philadelphia: P. Blakiston's Son 



and Co., 1920.) 2.00 dollars net. 

 In its translation into " standard English " [vide 

 preface) Prof. Copaux 's excellent little book has 

 suffered considerably. It may be that "chlorin," 

 "sulfur dioxid," and "do not have" are "stand- 

 ard " English, but in many cases the translator 

 does not appear to have understood what he was 

 doing, and the result [e.g. p. 55) is quite unin- 

 telligible. There are numerous minor inaccuracies 

 in translation, and others are added in the foot- 

 notes contributed by the translator. Through 

 someone's lack of care, several dropped letters 

 have been passed unnoticed. It is regrettable that 

 "before sending the book to the printers the trans- 

 lator did not submit his manuscript to someone 

 with a knowledge of physical chemistry. In this 

 way some serious errors might have been avoided. 

 "Wolcott Gibbs " on p. 139 should be "Willard 

 Gibbs." 



NO. 2702, VOL. 107] 



A Last Diary. By W. N. P. Barbellion. With 

 a preface by A. J. Cummings. Pp. xlviii+148. 

 (London : Chatto and Windus, 1920.) 6s. net. 

 To speak frankly, we prefer Bruce Cummings to 

 Barbellion — that is to say, the man as he appeared 

 to others rather than as he chose to appear to 

 himself. This diary, no less than the former, 

 contains some brilliant bits of writing, but its 

 mixture of slang and literariness, of wit and self- 

 exposure, grows wearisome. In style and in sub- 

 stance Mr. Arthur Cummings 's account of his 

 brother is more pleasing. Barbellion 's life was 

 a tragedy, but he succeeded, apparently with in- 

 tention, in depicting it so as to arouse irritation 

 instead of sympathy. One longs to pity him, but 

 that is the last thing he will permit. As a psycho- 

 logical document, however, the book is profoundly 

 interesting, and for the humanist it is redeemed 

 by the gradually touched-in portrait of simple, 

 lovable old Nanny. 



Impressions and Comments. Second series. 



1914-20. By Havelock Ellis. Pp. 248. 



(London: Constable and Co., Ltd., 1921.) 125. 

 It is a pleasure, and in these days a relief, to 

 turn to diarial musings distinguished by sanity, 

 simplicity, and sobriety of statement. Mr. Have- 

 lock Ellis may hold strong views, he may deal 

 boldly with dangerous subjects, but he expresses 

 himself so calmly, so frankly, and with an under- 

 current of such delicate humour that it were 

 surely impossible to take offence. Unkind fortune 

 had not hitherto distributed the books of Mr. 

 Ellis to this reviewer, who therefore was unpre- 

 pared for the discovery that one of whose work 

 in other directions he knew was also among the 

 most delightful writers of our day. 



Here is no room to quote, though one can 

 scarcely refrain in the face of that exquisite" Christ- 

 mas Day, 1919." Nor is this the place to chal- 

 lenge an occasional argument ; yet in suggesting 

 that familiarity made the ancient Greek insensi- 

 tive to the charm of the Athenian atmosphere 

 Mr. Ellis has surely forgotten the famous phrase 

 of Euripides : ael Slo. XafxirpoTtxTOV ^aiVovTCS d^pa^ 

 at^€/oos. 



That which gives a poignant and peculiar 

 quality to the book is the clear-eyed realisation of 

 approaching departure. We seem to see an 

 honoured worker, resting from his labours on the 

 deck of a vessel that bears him over calm waters 

 to a serene sunset. He looks forward and back- 

 ward with equal mind, and ever and anon pens 

 some brief message of wisdom or good cheer for 

 those whom he is leaving on the shore. 



Diseases of the Ear. By Dr. Philip D. Kerrison. 



Second edition, revised and enlarged. Pp. xxi 



-{-596 + vi plates. (Philadelphia and London: 



J. B. Lippincott Co., 192 1.) 355. net. 



This is one of the best works on diseases of the 



ear that have been published for a long time. It 



is very full and comprehensive, and is written 



with lucidity and even literary charm. It cannot 



be too highly praised and recommended. 



