Bibliographical Notices. 235 



to date. This was nccopsitated by tlic removal of Dr. Bcmham to 

 New Zealand after the MSS. had left his hands ; thus justice his 

 been done both to author and tliose for whom the book is intended. 



Three other appendices to the Platyhelmia contain descriptions of 

 the remarkable and extremely puzzling forms TrlchopJax, Pemmalo- 

 discKS, and Salia-'Ua. Concerning these the autlior remarks that, 

 " with the exception of PemmatodiscHs, they have only been met 

 ■wich in a ' domesticated ' condition in aquaria, and it has been 

 suggested that they are in reality imperfectly developed animals — 

 embryos which cannot attain full development owing to these con- 

 ditions." 



The illustrations are numerous, singularly clear, and well 

 executed, and for the most part original. 



Use-inheritance. Illustrated by the direction of Hair on the Bodies 

 of Animals, liy Walter Kidd, M.D., F.Z.S. London: Adam & 

 Charles Black, loOl. Pp. i-47 ; 16 text-cuts. Price 2s. dd. 



The author attempts to show " that certain inherited characters 

 of animals can only be interpreted by considering them to have 

 arisen in ancestors of those animals by Tise or habit." He bases his 

 argument upon the disposition of the hair on the bodies of animals. 

 Frankly admitting that the general direction of the hair-slope on 

 the body is open to selectionist interi)re(ations, ho contends that the 

 familiar whorls and featherings of the hair found in the domestic 

 horse, for example, can have but one explanation — " a dynamical 

 one." 



We do not find the author's arguments, often very obscurely set 

 forth, at all convincing. At times, indeed, we venture to think 

 that his method of winning converts is distinctly unfair and calcu- 

 lated to rouse much opposition. Thus he tells us that " The triflin" 

 intrinsic importance of these characters (whorls and featherings) . . . 

 produces the impression . . . t\xat exceid for maintuinimj the credit of a 

 great theory, such as that of Weissmann, there is only one way of 

 interpreting them, and that is according to Lamarck." We protest, 

 and protest vigorously, against the imputation contained in the words 

 we have italicized. Moreover, Lamarckism, by the majority of those 

 qualified to speak, has been weighed and found wanting. It 

 may well be that many things are as yet inexplicable by anv 

 theory yet promulgated, and till the light comes, let us say 

 frankly, with ^lontaigue, ''Nor am 1 ashamed .... to confess I 

 know not that which 1 do not know." 



A Guide to the Shell and Star-/lsh Galleries (Mollusca, Polifzoa, 

 Brachiopoda, Tunicates, Echinoderma, and Worms), Department 

 of Zoolofjy, British Museum {Natural History). 1901. Price ikl. 



Maxy even of those who cannot visit the Natural History Museum 

 will be glad to have this book. Like its predecessors, it is a won- 

 derful production, well written and well illustrated, the text-cuts 

 being not only numerous but most excellent of their kind. 



