548 



NATURE 



{Oct. 5, 1882 



Altogether we are not favourably impressed with this 

 part of the work, and do not deem it likely to accom- 

 plish the author's forecast in his preface, viz. " aid in the 

 elevation of the sciences of physical geography and 

 meteorology, now sciences of observation, to sciences of 

 principle" 



The last part of the work, treating of aqueous surface- 

 waves, which we have not space to notice in detail, is a 

 considerable improvement on the foregoing chapters. 

 We are surprised, however, to see that while some notice 

 is taken of the researches of M. Flaugergues and Mr. J. 

 Scott Russell, no reference is made to those of the late 

 Mr. Froude. 



In conclusion, the type and illustrations are decidedly- 

 good, and though we cannot describe it otherwise than as 

 a preliminary investigation into certain portions of the 

 dynamics of certain fluids, accompanied by a good deal 

 of speculation and deduction which still requires verifica- 

 tion, and which is sometimes palpably erroneous, it never- 

 theless represents a very laudable, and to some extent 

 successful endeavour on the part of the author to fill up 

 a gap that admittedly exists in this abstruse branch of 

 science. E. D. A. 



HANDBOOK OF INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY 



Handbook of Invertebrate Zoology for Laboratories and 

 Sea-side Work. By W. K. Brooks, Ph.D. (Boston, 

 1882.) 



THE series of notes and directions issued under this 

 title by Mr. Brooks, of the Johns Hopkins Univer- 

 sity, Baltimore, is an interesting evidence of the progress 

 which the practical study of zoology is making in Ameri- 

 can universities, and more especially of the valuable 

 services which the Baltimore University is rendering to 

 education in science. The book consists of brief notes 

 describing the appearances of a series of invertebrate 

 animals before and during successive stages of dissection 

 or development, as the case may be. Diagrammatic 

 sketches (for the most part original, or copied with a few 

 original touches from English authors) are introduced 

 into the text. The animals chosen by Mr. Brooks are 

 the following : — Amceba, Paramecium, Yorticella, Sycan- 

 dra (Calcispongia;), Eucope (Leptomedusa:), Mnemopsis 

 (Anthomedusre), Asteracanthion, Arbacia (Echinid), 

 Lumbricus, Macrobdella (Hirudinean), Callinectes (Bra- 

 chyurous Decapod Crustacean), Cyclops, Acridium 

 (Orthoptera), Anodonta, Loligo. 



Concerning each of these forms the reader will find 

 original remarks and often detailed observations illustrated 

 by sketches. At the same time the writer does not pretend 

 to offer us a series of monographs, but merely such notes 

 as will be eminently serviceable to students in the labora- 

 tory. It is no doubt to American students and especially 

 to Mr. Brooks's own pupils that this work will be useful. 

 Such descriptions as that of the development of Arbacia, 

 and those relating to the Medusa, have their value im- 

 mensely increased when it is possible to place in the 

 hands of the student the identical material — or perhaps 

 we should say the counterpart of that material — which 

 has served for the preparation of the descriptions which 

 re to guide the student's observation. 



Though class-students in this country will not gain 

 "uich assistance from Mr. Brooks's notes, professed zoo- 



logists will be interested in his treatment of the subject, 

 and may glance with advantage at the more detailed 

 sections, such as that on the Lamellibranch gill, on the 

 anatomy of the Squid, and on the Medusa?. 



If we ventured on a criticism, jt would be to suggest a 

 doubt as to whether the types selected and the relative 

 importance given to their treatment are altogether such 

 as would commend themselves to a teacher who aimed at 

 introducing students to a wide view of animal morphology. 

 Naturally enough, Mr. Brooks has given notes and 

 drawings relating to several animals which he has been 

 able to study attentively. It is, however, hardly wise on 

 his part to repeat in a student's handbook the account of 

 the development of the oyster which he has already 

 published elsewhere. This account, which was incon- 

 sistent with the previous results of other investigators of 

 molluscan embryology (my own included) has been 

 recently shown by Horst to be based upon error. So, too ) 

 it would be well if in a new edition of his notes Mr. 

 Brooks were to take into account the later results which 

 have been obtained as to the anatomy of the earth-worm 

 and of leeches, and would revise both his drawings and 

 statements in various sections of the book, where they 

 touch upon distinctly histological matters. 



The day is not far distant when we shall see inscribed 

 over the door of every zoological laboratory, " Let no one 

 enter here unversed in histology." Geometry was not less 

 indispensable for the intelligent student of Greek science 

 than histology is rapidly becoming for the modern zoo- 

 logical student. The question is how to find time (except 

 in countries where time is not money) to make the student 

 first a histologist, and then a zoologist. 



E. Ray Lankester 



OUR BOOK SHELF 

 Cameos from the Silver-land '; or, The Experiences of a 



Young Naturalist in the Argentine Republic. By E. 



W. White. 2 vols. Vol. II. (London : J. Van Voorst, 



1882.) 

 This second volume has been slow to make its appear- 

 ance, having been printed at Buenos Ayres. It gives an 

 account of the author's voyage up the Uruguay, his trip 

 to Rioja, Catamarca, and Tucuman, a journey to Salta, 

 and a voyage down the Parana. There is a good deal of 

 interesting information in this volume, though it contains 

 very much less natural history than we expected. The 

 wonderful resources of the Republic are well brought 

 befoie us, resources only too feebly made use of; for 

 it is a land of promise teeming with treasures, with a 

 splendid river porterage, and needing only labour and 

 capital to become very great. To a reader wishing to 

 know the actual state of things at present existing in this 

 countr>- we can recommend these two volumes of Mr. 

 White's as most instructive reading. 



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 

 [The Editor dots not bold himself responsible for opinions expressed 

 by his correspondents. Neither can he undertake to return, 

 or to correspond ■with the writers of, rejected manuscripts. 

 No notice is taken of anonymous communications. 

 [ The Editor urgently requests correspondents to keep their letters 

 as short as possible. The pressure on his space is so great 

 that it is impossible otherwise to ensure the appearance even 

 of communications containing interesting and novel facts. ,] 



The Recent Aurora 

 Last night, between 8 and 9 p.m., there was visible here a 

 very fine display of Northern lights, the finest indeed that I 



