Jan. i, 1885] 



NA TURE 



199 



to their next investigator, for whose benefit also the most 

 elaborate system of general and special indexes is pro- 

 vided. The history of actinological progress is critically 

 exposed, and even the humblest species-maker scrupulously 

 receives his tiny share of immortality, while the veriest 

 trifles of etymology, popular nomenclature, or culinary 

 use, are not forgotten. 



Far more important, however, is the clear schematic 

 account of actinian anatomy, with a recast morphological 

 nomenclature, and thereupon follows the plan of the mono- 

 graph, where our author briefly outlines the general view of 

 Biolo y and of the relations of its sub-sciences which domin- 

 ate the work. This agrees largely with that usually adopted 

 in this country (cf. Prof. Huxley's article, " Biology," in 

 the" Encyclopaedia Britannica "), but differs from it in 

 some important respects, notably in the separation of 

 taxonomy into Sfiecigrafia and Sistematica. Next follows 

 a keen re-discussion of the conception of species, and the 

 limits of gentts and variety. The last he proposes admit- 

 ting as a rule, and then by giving variety an analytic and 

 genus a synthetic aim, and making both changeable as 

 systematists find expedient, he hopes to keep the concep- 

 tion of species near a more constant average. After some 

 useful remarks on nomenclature, the systematic detail is 

 entered upon, and the known species (520 or more), with 

 their endless varieties, described with exquisite minute- 

 ness. Numerous diagrams aid the work of identification, 

 and the volume concludes with thirteen magnificent 

 plates, which reflect the greatest credit alike upon the 

 author's pencil and the care of his lithographers, Messrs. 

 Werner and Winter. The classification differs so much 

 from existing ones as almost to be new. Two new fami- 

 lies Edivardsince and Stichodacty lines, are created ; the 

 IlyanthicicB are almost abolished, the Minyadina wholly 

 so. 



If space permitted, one or two trifling criticisms might 

 be offered, if only to accent the general praise ; yet it is 

 better to welcome the book unreservedly as a new sign of 

 the scientific renaissance of Italy, and its author as hence- 

 forth one of its leaders, who has learned philosophicbreadth 

 from the " Origin of Species " without losing the detailed 

 accuracy of the " Monograph of the Cirripedia." 



A word finally as to the splendid series of monographs 

 to which this belongs, and which, together with the 

 Challenger volumes, mark an epoch in biology. Is it 

 not lamentable that such works — which, if not yet indeed, 

 in time-honoured phrase, "books which no gentleman's 

 library should be without." are certainly needed in every 

 public library, and which even no local natural history 

 society can afford to be without — should be limited to an 

 impression of, after all, only a few hundred copies by the 

 apathy or ignorance of the scientific public ? P. G. 



THE EARTHQUAKE IN SPAIN 



A N earthquake of wide extent and unusual violence 

 -**- took place on Christmas night in the southern pro- 

 vinces of Spain and in the neighbourhood of Madrid. 

 The accompanying map may give some idea of its extent. 

 As many of the towns and villages of Granada, Malaga, 

 and Andalusia are unconnected with the capital by tele- 

 graph, the full extent of the damage is not yet known, 

 but enough information has been received to mark the 

 present as among the most destructive earthquakes of 

 recent years. No precise observations as to time or direc- 

 tion have yet reached this country ; and the officials at 

 the Madrid Meteorological Observatory are reported to 

 have made no observations at all, for there were no funds 

 to purchase instruments for such a purpose. Madrid itself 

 was within the disturbed area, but it was probably mi 

 its extreme north edge, for the effects of the shocks there 

 were slight, and were confined to the rattling of windows, 

 the ringing of bells, and the like. But in the three 

 southern provinces the destruction was great and wide- 



spread, involving in many cases considerable loss of life. 

 There were several shocks, overthrowing whole villages 

 and burying the inhabitants in the ruins. In Arenas del 

 Rey 40 persons were killed, in Albuequeros 150, in Olivar 

 10, and in Cajar 12, and similar numbers in many of the 

 towns and villages of the three provinces. The number 

 of killed on the whole is put down in Madrid, from the 

 reports of the local officials, at more than 1000. Even 

 in large cities such as Granada, Malaga, Jaen, and Seville 

 great damage was done, and much excitement prevailed. 

 The inhabitants encamped in the open air through fear 

 of fresh shocks. At Granada the front of the Cathedral 

 was seriously injured, but the Alhambra was untouched. 

 There is much discrepancy in the reports as to the dura- 

 tion of the earthquake : some village authorities have 

 reported ten distinct shocks, while in other cases it is 

 stated that there were seismic disturbances intermittently 

 on the 26th, 27th, and 28th, the three days succeeding 

 the great earthquake. This is especially reported from 

 Jaen, where there should be ample means of corro- 

 borating the statement. At Cadiz a panic occured 

 in the theatre ; in Malaga the Cervantes Theatre was 

 much injured. It is noticeable that a sharp fall 

 of the barometer was noticed all over the south of 



Spain in the afternoon before the earthquake, and that 

 there have since been frequent fluctuations. There is 

 some doubt whether the number of persons who have lost 

 their lives will not far exceed a thousand, inasmuch as the 

 reports, as they grow more detailed, instead of diminish- 

 ing, largely increase the original estimates. At Periana, 

 in Malaga, a landslip on a mountain in the neighbourhood 

 destroyed a church and 750 houses, from the ruins of 

 which the dead and injured were being taken : similarly 

 at Loja half the houses were overwhelmed. The town of 

 Alhama in Andalusia is reported to have been completely 

 destroyed, with 300 persons. A report is published with 

 regard to Albunuelas, stating that 900 persons are believed 

 to have been killed under the houses thrown down by the 

 earthquake. This would be about one-half the popula- 

 tion of the town. At Antequera the shocks have left three 

 churches in a dangerous condition, and the inhabitants 

 are camping in the fields ; the Cathedral at Seville, 

 especially the Giralda tower, is much damaged ; at 

 Granada the richer classes are living in their carriages, 

 which are stationed on the public promenade ; the others 

 camp out in the squares and open spaces ; at Cordova 

 the inabitants are flying from the town. The loss in the 

 town of Malaga is put down at 100,000/., 227 buildings 

 being injured. It would appear that five distinct shocks 

 took place in this town on Christmas night, and three on 

 the following morning. Five shocks on Friday and 



