Miscellaneous. 489 
] 
and Freshwater Mollusks collected in Japan by Frederick Stearns,’ 
and on the ‘ Mollusca in the Collection of Frederick Stearns from 
the Middle Loo-Choo Islands ;” also a generic index and an expla- 
nation of the plates. 
A Catalogue of this description is of enormous value to the student 
if it possesses the one all-important feature—completeness. Lacking 
this, its utility is in a great measure diminished. It is satisfactory 
to find that in the present Catalogue this condition has been in a great 
measure realized. To ensure no omissions, however, would be all 
but impossible, and entail enormous labour and research. One cata- 
logue we have examined contains more than twenty species, quoted 
from Japan, which are unrecorded by Mr. Pilsbry ; but as this was 
issued as recently as January 1894, it may have escaped the author’s 
attention. It is possible that a few other oversights could be pointed 
out; but, considering the extent of the task, the author is to be 
congratulated on the success achieved. “The current generic 
nomenclature has been revised in certain cases;” but Professor 
Pilsbry appears to object to emended names, as J/ssoza is still left 
Ltissoa, Scutum remains Scutus, and Solemya is preferred to Soleno- 
mya. On p. 28 Neptunea has crept in in place of Chrysodomus, two 
species of Macoma have gone astray on p. 124, and certain untenable 
generic names, such as Volvula, Aspergillum, Macrodon, and Leda, 
are still retained. 
The Catalogue is the most complete as yet published ; it is issued 
in a convenient octayo form, very clearly printed, and the eleven 
plates, two of which are reproductions from the Proc. Acad. Nat. 
Sci. Philadelphia, 1891, are excellent. The artist is fortunate in 
possessing a “ conchological eye,” and seems to have caught the 
individuality of the numerous forms depicted. 
To the student of Japanese Mollusca this useful work will be 
found indispensable. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
On rapid Change of Colour in Gasterosteus. By Jamus Dattas, 
F.L.S., Curator of the Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter. 
Somn time ago I made the following memorandum of observations 
upon a stickleback, which has until now been mislaid. 
On the 28th January | obtained a solitary specimen of a stickle- 
back (Gasterosteus aculeatus), which was placed in an aquarium at 
some distance from the window, and where consequently the light 
was at no time brilliant, and was generally dull. When first cap- 
tured the fish was of a bright dark-greenish colour on the dorsal 
