106 BihliograpMcal Notices. 



widely distributed. That diflferences in tint are not necessarily 

 connected with distribution, we learn from the case of Epeira tr'i- 

 folinm, which certainly has not a wide range as compared with //. 

 vcnatoria. The colour variutions of the former species are admirably 

 shown on pi. i. of vol. ii. of this work, and on pp. 331 and 332 of 

 the same volume we are told that variations in colour may be con- 

 nected with moulting, age, gestation, muscular action, and sex. 

 And conversely we are told that variation in environment is not 

 always accompanied by variation in colour ; for on p. 334 we read 

 thai, "... certain species, as notably Arijiope coplunana and (trf/if- 

 ruspis, have undergone a transcontinental distribution, covering wide 

 extremes of climate and conditions without experiencing any notable 

 change in general appearance." Consequently it does not appear 

 that the theory ])ropounded with respect to the distribution of Jf. 

 vetiatoria is established on a very secure basis. 



Dr. McCook candidly expresses his belief in death-feigning 

 (p. 444). This phrase, it ap)pears, can only mean that a spider has 

 a knowledge of death, and attempts to simulate the appearance of a 

 dead brother spider in the hopes of deceiving a man or a lizard into 

 the belief tliat there is no life in his carcase. This is attributing so 

 much intelligence to the little animal that one is tempted to ask, 

 How comes it that such a mind is not also aware tbat a dead body 

 in that state of preservation is (]tute as acceptable as a living one to 

 the collector's bottle or the lizard's palate? The hypothesis that 

 the spider s sole thought, if we may use the word, is to " lie low," 

 or, in other words, to keep stiU and occupy as small a space as 

 possible, seems far simpler and meets all the facts of the ease. 



The subjects, however, open to criticism that a work of this kind 

 presents are practically without end. Those that are here put 

 forward are some few that occurred to us the first time of reading 

 over. Many more no doubt remain, liut on the whole the volumes 

 are decidedly good, showing much care and thought ; and we sin- 

 cerely hope that ere long Dr. McCook will give tis in a similar form 

 the results of his researches into groups other than the Orbitelarioe. 



li. I. P. 



Catalog der Conchi/liiD-StomnluiK/, von Fk. PAr.iia. 

 Parts 11. and HI., 1^89-1^90. 



A suoKT notice of the first part of this Avork appeared in these 

 'Aniuils' for ISt^S (vol. ii. pp. 420-422). The second and third 

 parts, which complete the Catalogue, are now published. 



This work, whiih purports to give a complete list of all the known 

 families, genera, and sjiecies of shells, is the most extensive of the 

 kind yet issued. Xo doubt it will be largely used by collectors who 

 wish to ascertain the extent of their oAvn collections, to mark off 

 desiderata, to find out habitats, names of authors, &c., and as a plan 

 to be followed in the arrangement of their cabinets. 



As an assistance to scientific workers, however, it will be of less 



