Bibliographical Noticfis. 138 



Tho author truly says that " the literature of the subject is very 

 large," and adds that *' with Carpenters ' Introduction to the Study 

 of Foraniiiiifera,' Urady's ' Report on the Foraminifera collected by 

 H.M.S. Challenijer,' and Sherborn's ' Index to the Genera and 

 Species of Foraini'iifera ' | published by the Smithsonian Institution, 

 18'Jo-!>(J ;, the student will be able to" begin work in an intelligent 

 manner and to tind references to all that has been published on this 

 subject up to the most recent date." T. 11. Jones. 



A Tnatiseon Zoology. Edited by E. Kw Lankester, M.A., F.R.S. 

 Part II, Porifera ami CceUntera. Ix)Mdon: A. & C. Black, 19 JO. 



The present volume (the second in order of the complete series), 

 dealing with the Porifera and Ccclontera, is in all respects equal to 

 that reviewed in these pages a short time since. 



The Editor contributes an Introduction on the ccelomic system, 

 wherein he contrasts the dis^illCtion3 between tlie Proto- and 

 Metuzoa. This is a most import int and valuable contribution. 

 How much depends on a right understanding of the coeloin will be 

 readily appreciated after a perusal of these pages. " Coelom," says 

 Prof. Laiikester, " is not a term to be used for any and every body- 

 cavity other than the gut (as some eminent writers seem to 

 suppose), but definitely designates a morphological element of high 

 importance." 



For the terms Enterocoela and Coeloraata, Prof. Lankester proposes 

 to substitute Ccelentera and Ccelomoccela. Possible objections to 

 this proposition are anticipated and answered, and probably most 

 will be induced to adopt his suggestion. 



The remarkable displacement of the ca'lom by an irregularly dis- 

 tended system of blood-spaces, "a ha?mocoel"( which. Prof, Lankester 

 has elsewhere shown, takes place in the Arthropoda and MoUusca), 

 is lucidly described in this Introduction. For the swelling of the 

 peripheral portions of the ha?mal system Prof. Lankester suggests 

 the term " plilu?bede.sis." The lucuuar blood-holding spaces resulting 

 from it form the " ha'mocoel." 



This introductory chapter is compressed into some 37 pp. and 

 may well be described as a kind of literary pemmican. It is the 

 most lucid and succinct account that has yet appeared. 



Prof. ^linchin deals with the Sponges; and this part may well be 

 described, without exaggeration, as a masterly contribution, without 

 an equal in any language. It will be invaluable as well to the 

 fctudent of other groups as to the specialist in the Porifera alone. 

 With regard to the derivation of the Sponges, Prof. Minchiu has 

 definitely pronounced in favour of a Choanoflagellate ancestry. 



Dr. Fowler deals with the Hydrozoa. These he breaks up into 

 two groups, Hydromedusaj and Scyphomedusa-. The last he regards 

 as more nearly allied to the Anthozoa, and suggests the desiraliility 

 of uniting these two under the class name Scyphozoa. The fresh- 

 water Medusa* and the GraptolithidEC are treated of as appendices 



