DibUojrnphical Notices. 407 



terminations to our scientific names wc should follow Grimm's law 

 in the substitution of Litiu letters or diphthongs for their Greak 

 tMjuivalcuts, as, iiidcod, is universally done in our English version 

 of the Xow Testament. 



The mention of Ailurus, or ^Elurus, brings to notice the circum- 

 stanco that Dr. Trouessart places this genus — as represented bv the 

 Himalayan Panda — among the Boars, instead of with the Raccoons. 

 And although its molar teeth do present a cert;iin very curious 

 similarity to those of the Parti-coloured Bear {.E'uropus), yet the 

 proposed innovation is, to say the least, open to a considerable 

 amount of doubt. While on the subject ot Bears, it may be noticed 

 that the author (following Gray) places the Grizzly Bear in a sub- 

 genus aj)art from the Brown Bear ; and yet there are naturalists who 

 consider that botli are but different local modifications of oue and 

 the same species I Another innovation which may be open to 

 criticism is the placing of a number of extinct Lorauroids in the 

 family Tarsiida^, although recent observations as to the generalized 

 characters of the living Tarsius may perhqjs render it well- 

 founded. 



One more criticism and we have done. This relates to the 

 so-called Scomber sconiher principle, wliich, to our great personal 

 regret. — for it is too ridiculous and absurd — seems slowly but surely 

 making its way among naturalists. Here, again, the author is not 

 uniform in his treatment, for whereas we have Gorilla gorilla and 

 Jjidnt Intra, we find Meles ta.vns in place of Mcles meles. 



It is in no carping or disparaging spirit that the above remarks 

 are penned : the object of the reviewer being to urge how important 

 it is for naturalists to come to some general agreement on the points 

 mentioned. Before this can be done, every one must agree to submit 

 his own individual views to the opinion of the majority and to adopt 

 a spirit of give and take. 



Dr. Trouessart's work will be of the highest value to all students 

 of Mammals, and indeed absolutely indispensable to every worker 

 in the subject. The care and precision with which it has been 

 compiled, the fullness of the references, the extreme freedom from 

 typographical errors, and the excellent style in which it is printed, 

 render it alike creditable to the industry of the author and to the 

 establishment of his publishers. U. L. 



The Geology of the English Lake District, with Notes on the Minerals. 

 By J. PosTLETHWAiTE, F.G.S. Small 8vo. 78 pages, with Illus- 

 trations. Bakewell, Keswick, 1897. 



The Author, having lived in the Lake District and carefully 

 studied the geology of Cumberland and Westmoreland for maiiy 

 years, has from time to time published several descriptive papers on 

 the local rocks, their structure, minerals, and fossils. He now 

 applies his geological and mineralogical experience to the production 

 of this little book, in which he systematizes what has been observed 



