468 



NA rURli 



[.March i6, 1899 



uninjured to wriggle continuously without stimulation, 

 or to move violently when bitten by the larva of the 

 wasp. 



The fifth plate (p. 23) is reproduced in Fig. 2, and 

 shows Ammophilix urnaria using a stone to pound down 

 the earth with which the entrance to the burrow is 

 covered. This very interesting observation is confirmed 

 by the study of Ammophila Yarrowi in Western Kansas 

 by S. \V. Williston. 



The remaining plates show the appearance of many 

 other species which were studied, and also include re- 

 presentations of their burrows, prey, and several very 

 interesting " locality studies " made by wasps of many 

 species before they leave a freshly dug burrow to seek 

 for prey. The representation of these comple.K move- 

 ments in the neighbourhood of the burrow strongly sup- 

 ports the authors' conclusions in favour of the dominant 

 importance of the sense of sight in these Hymenoptera— 



ations on this point are greatly needed, including a long 

 series of experiments in which wasps of many kinds are 

 held in the forceps and made to sting their natural prey 

 in various parts of the body. The question of mala.xation 

 suggests another most interesting field of inquiry ; in 

 fact, the great value of the work depends as much upon 

 its suggestive and inspiring spirit, as upon the full record 

 of discovery which it contains. 



The type is clear and good, although the quality of 

 the paper leaves much to be desired. There are a few 

 obvious misprints and erroneous references which will 

 soon be detected by the reader. 



The volume ends with the following paragraph — and 

 the reader will admit that very solid gr^iunds are given for 

 the conclusions. " The general impression that remains 

 with us as a result of our study of these activities, is that 

 their comple.xiiy and perfection have been greatly over- 

 estimated. We have found them in all stages of develop- 



wfhila I 



iing stone lo pound down earth over nest. 



conclusions which they also support by many other 

 observations and experiments. 



The following activities or performances are regarded 

 as truly instinctive : stinging, the methods of attack, 

 capture and carriage of prey peculiar to each species, the 

 kind of prey selected, the general style and situation of 

 the nest, the form of cocoon. 



If the exigencies of space permitted, it would be of 

 great interest to discuss many of the points raised in 

 this valuable research. It is only possible on the pre- 

 sent occasion to point to certain observations which 

 indicate that the action of the wasp's poison on the 

 ganglionic centres may be through the ha-molymph and 

 not necessarily direct. If this be so, it disposes of the 

 necessity lor any great precision in the locality of the 

 sting. .\ puncture anywhere would produce effect, 

 although probably more rapidly and completely if made 

 in the neighbourhood of a ganglion. Further observ- 



NO. 1533, VOL. 59] 



ment and are convinced that they have passed through 

 many degrees, from the simple to the comple.x, by the 

 action of natural selection. Indeed, we find in them 

 beautiful examples of the survival of the fittest." 



E. B. P. 



SIR JOHN STRUTHERS, Af.D., LL.D. 



ON February 2 ( death removed from amongst us the 

 doyen of the professors and teachers of anatomy 

 in Scotland. 



John Strulhers was born at Dunfermline in 1823. He 

 began to study medicine in the University of Edihburgh 

 in 1841, and obtained the degree of Doctor of Medicine 

 in 1845, when he wrote his thesis "On the Physiology 

 and Physiological Anatomy of the Muscles and Ner\'es 

 of the Eyeballs, and on the Theory of their Derangement 



