460 
NATORE 
[Marcu 17, 1904 
pials, marmosets and lemurs, the hair is found to be 
uniformly directed backwards from head to tail, and 
downwards from the flanks to the toes. From this pre- 
sumed primitive condition there are numerous instances 
of reversal of the direction, accompanied by the afore- 
said whorls and feathering at ‘‘ critical ’’? points, such 
points being correlated, in many instances at least, with 
subjacent centres of muscular activity. 
Natural selection, it is urged, will not account for 
these diversities, and we must, therefore, fall back 
upon habit or use as the inducing cause. This being 
admitted, it follows, according to Dr. Kidd, that ‘ use- 
inheritance’? is a factor in nature, and consequently 
that the doctrine of ‘‘ non-inheritance of acquired char- 
acters ’’ is untrue. 
The author concludes his argument by asserting that 
attempts to bring his facts within the domain of natural 
selection will be ineffectual; and that if any persons are 
induced to discredit his arguments by the assertion that 
as Weismann’s doctrine holds good in other instances it 
ought to obtain in the present case, this is not science. 
With this we leave the case to the judgment of our 
readers. 
We cannot, however, conclude without directing 
attention to the numerous “‘ misprints ’’ with which Dr. 
Kidd’s work is disfigured, errors that might have been 
corrected by half-an-hour’s visit to the British Museum. 
To take only the tables on pp. 153 and 154, we find the 
following errors, viz jumela for jimela, Budonas for | 
Budorcas, jenlaicus for jemlaicus, senegamus for sen- 
ganus, CEpyceros for Aipyceros, sommering for soem- 
merringi, madogna for Madoqua, nalabatus for uala- 
batus, and elephus for elaphus. And there is an erra- 
tum-slip in which not one of these is noted! We may 
add that the author appears to be unaware of the 
existence of the name Boocercus for the bongo ae 
South African Flowering Plants. By Prof. G. 
Henslow. Pp. xii+300. (London: Longmans and 
€o:, 1903.) Price 5s. 
Tuts book is intended to serve aS a guide to students 
and teachers in South Africa who desire to become 
acquainted with the more important features of their 
native flora. Types of the principal orders are de- 
scribed, and instructions given for the practical ex- | I é 
| dish might be omitted as superfluous, and the illustra- 
amination of the different floral structures. The 
general choice of orders and genera is quite judicious ; 
there are certain omissions, such as Asclepias and 
Schizoglossum in the Asclepiadez, and Helichrysum 
in the Composite, and the inclusion of a larger number 
of genera, even though only briefly described, would 
have been advantageous. But regarded as a whole, 
the systematic portion of the book should fulfil its 
purpose, and help towards a knowledge of the subject. 
The introductory chapters are not so satisfactory, for 
the general account of form and function is weak, 
occasionally incorrect, and the ecological discussion 
much too short to enable the reader to comprehend the 
very many striking peculiarities which characterise the 
flora of the country. And in the chapter on the struc- 
ture of the flower the author has presented a dull and 
mechanical treatment of what might be made an ex- 
tremely interesting subject if taken from the develop- 
mental point of view. 
’ Die Bildnis-Photographie. Ein Wegweiser fiir Fach- 
manner und Liebhaber. By Fritz Loescher. Pp. 
xiit180; mit 98 Abbildungen. (Berlin: Gustav 
Schmidt, 1903.) Price 4.50 marks. 
Tue author confines himself solely to portrait photo- 
graphy in this book, and a very complete treatise he has 
given us on the subject. Commencing with a brief 
historical sketch of the early methods of portraiture 
NO. 1794, VOL. 69] 
from the daguerreotype to the silver bromide gelatine 
dry plate, on which he makes interesting comments, he 
then passes through the intermediate stages and de- 
scribes the modern methods. The next chapter is 
devoted to the necessary instrumental equipment of a 
modern studio. This is followed by two chapters on 
portraiture in-doors and out-of-doors, another on work- 
ing accessories, such as furniture, backgrounds, &c., 
and the last two on the production of the negative and 
positive. ; 
Throughout the book the author has given a clear 
straightforward account of the various methods of pro- 
cedure and has illustrated his remarks in a great num- 
ber of cases by appropriate reproductions; in fact the 
illustrations form a distinctive feature of the book. 
Those who make a speciality of portraiture and who 
can read German will, no doubt, find many useful 
wrinkles in these pages, for the author has taken ad- 
vantage of the various methods practised in different 
coun itis and expounded them in their appropriate 
places. 
Descriptive Chemistry. Parts i. andii. By Lyman C. 
Newell, Ph.D. Pp. vit 488+135. (London: Heath 
and Co., 1904.) Prices 4s. 6d. and ts. 6d. 
One feels a certain amount of diffidence in reviewing 
a book which, either in the MS. or proof, has passed 
through the hands (so the preface states) of no less 
than eight distinguished American professors and 
teachers of chemistry, but the task is fortunately 
simplified by finding that the volume, with its small 
|“ experimental’? companion, is written for teachers 
and not beginners. 
One looks, therefore, more to the manner than to the 
matter of the book, but there is nothing in either the 
one or the other which seems to call for special com- 
ment. It is a conscientious, uninspired performance. 
It contains the usual information found in an elemen- 
tary text-book presented in the usual form, with scraps 
of organic and physical chemistry, fragments of 
history, and a description of modern electrolytic pro- 
cesses. It is therefore well up to date, and as an aide- 
mémoire for the teacher is quite trustworthy, provided 
he expands and vitalises what is dull or unconvincing 
in the explanatory matter. The illustrations, though 
not numerous, are good. The picture of a platinum 
tion of calcite crystals might do very well for cleavage 
fragments, but does not represent the familiar forms 
of the mineral. 
The American writers on elementary chemistry have 
not yet reached the level of their writers on nature- 
study, and the present volume seems to emphasise the 
fact that there is still room for a good chemistry for 
teachers. J. Bi 
Onde hertziane e Telegrafo senza Fili. By Oreste 
Murani. Pp. 341; with 172 woodcuts. (Milan: 
Ulrico Hoepli, 1903.) 
Tuis is one of the Manueli Hoepli, and, in uniformity 
with other books of the same series, is of pocket size. 
In it Prof. Murani has endeavoured to bring some 
general knowledge as to the nature of wireless tele- 
graphy within reach of those who start with no pre- 
vious knowledge of electricity. Accordingly, we find 
in the earlier chapters figures of the proof-plane, the 
gold-leaf electroscope, the ice-pail, the frog’s leg, the 
crown of cups and Ampére’s swimmer, much as they 
used to figure in the text-books of our youth. The dif- 
ference of the present book from these old handbooks 
is evident when we come to electric oscillations, Weh- 
nelt interrupters, and ships with antennz to their 
masts. The last two pages give a short biography of 
Mr. Marconi. 
