io6 



NA TURE 



[November 26, 1908 



positive value of manures for cocoa. A comparison of 

 rubber \ielded by Castilloa and Hevea trees points to the 

 superiority of the latter both as to quality and facility 

 of preparation, but the Hevea demands shelter from gales. 

 It is mentioned that clusters of dates were obtained for 

 the first time from trees introduced some years ago. 



In the course of a lecture reported in the V,'csi 

 Australian (September 21) upon the adaptation of plants 

 to their environment, Dr. A. Morrison refers to some of 

 the modifications displayed by West Australian xerophytes. 

 Calythrix flavcscens and Nuytsia floribunda are mentioned 

 as examples of extensive root development, where, how- 

 ever, the main roots run horizontally, while the smaller 

 roots dip downwards. In the dry north-west, where trees 

 are scarce, the few growing there are protected either by 

 a thick cork or a smooth, white bark. Eragrostis 

 eriopoda, a grass, is remarkable for the excessive hairy 

 ■covering on the leaf sheaths, and Poa nodosa is charac- 

 terised by the formation of bulbous swellings at the base 

 of the stem. 



Messrs. F. E. Beckkr and Co. have issued a series of 

 lantern-slides, prepared from botanical photomicrographs, 

 that will interest teaching botanists who make use of 

 the lantern for lecture purposes. Among the first series 

 of fifty slides are sections of stems, roots, and leaves of 

 phanerogams, mostly illustrating regular structure, but a 

 few specimens of irregular structure, as exemplified by 

 Caiycanthus, Strychnos, &c., are included. The sections 

 of fossil plants from the Oldham Coal-measures are likely 

 to meet with the largest demand. The slides of 

 Zygopteris peliole and Heterangium stem provide verv 

 good representations, being in some respects superior to 

 the other specimens that have been examined. 



The reports of the sugar-cane experiments in the Lee- 

 ward Islands for the year 1906-^ are full of interest, 

 especially to those who have followed the course of the 

 experiments that have extended over several years. Turn- 

 ing to the trial of different varieties, it is clear that con- 

 siderable advantage will be derived from the introduction 

 of new seedlings. So far, the introduction of new seed- 

 lings into plantations has proceeded more rapidly in .St. 

 Kitts. owing to certain circumstances detailed in the re- 

 port. .Another feature that has become more marked as 

 the series of experiments has lengthened lies in the 

 suitability of different canes for Antigua and St. Kitts. 

 Thus Sealy Seedling provides the best record for the heavier 

 soils of Antigua, while B. 208 heads the list for St. Kitts. 

 The difference is only partially due to the soil, as the 

 climatic conditions in St. Kitts are also more favourable 

 to B. 208, that matures early, but is susceptible to drought. 

 The varying yield of cane per acre, the quality of the 

 juice, immunity to disease and other characteristics furnish 

 data for discrimination of the varieties. 



Plankton workers in general will welcome an addition 

 to the somewhat sparse literature dealing with that 

 interesting and difficult group, the Peridiniales, in a re- 

 port on the Peridiniales of Danish waters, by O. Paulsen, 

 issued from Copenhagen in the Meddelelser fra Kom- 

 missionen for Havtmdersogelser (plankton series). The 

 report is in English, and deals in a masterly way with 

 identification keys to the various sections of the group. 

 The figures and descriptions given of the various genera 

 and species are apt, and likely to be of great use to 

 observers who make identifications from preserved speci- 

 mens. The bibliography appended is extensive and up to 

 date. The section on the genus Ceratium is worthy of 

 commendation on account of its careful treatment of this 



NO. 2039, VOL. 79] 



very variable section of the Peridiniales. The descriptions 

 and figures of species suggest the great need of cultural 

 treatment of a genus, the growth forms of which tend so 

 stronjjly to break down specific limits. 



Students of the occult will welcome the elaborate paper 

 by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh in the current issue of the 

 Journal of the Royal .Anthropological Institute on 

 Sinhalese magic. He illustrates with copious detail the 

 equipment of the magician, devil-dancer, and astrologist, 

 describes their methods, and provides an ample supply of 

 curious charms, amulets, and horoscopes. He does not 

 enter upon the question of the origin of this system of 

 magic. Probably, as is the case with its religion, Ceylon 

 is indebted for most of its magical lore to the neighbour- 

 ing peninsula of India. 



In the October number of Man Father W. Schmidt 

 throws new light on the disputed question of totemism in 

 Fiji. He points out that there is a fundamental distinc- 

 tion between principal and secondary totems, the former 

 being always double, an animal or a tree, both of which 

 are protected by a rigid tabu ; the latter consisting of 

 various products used for food, as the yam, taro, or 

 banana, which may be eaten, but only under specially 

 defined conditions. He also discusses the relationship of 

 totemism in Fiji to that of certain Australian tribes, like 

 the Arunta. In both these regions we find a great number 

 of plant totems ; totemism is closely connected with magic, 

 especially with rites intended to produce abundant crops ; 

 in both countries it is associated with conception and child- 

 birth ; and in both we find localisation of totems. It is 

 worth noting, also, that while in North Australia the tabu 

 is confined to the eating, in South Australia it extends to 

 the killing of the totem. In this respect the system in 

 Fiji resembles that of the northern Australian tribes. 



In the current issue of the Journal of the Royal Anthro- 

 pological Institute Dr. C. S. Myers sums up his con- 

 clusions on the investigation of the races of Egypt. The 

 current view is that from time immemorial there have 

 always been at least two races in Egypt, the one Caucasian 

 (Mediterranean) and the other Negroid, and that to this 

 day both races are present throughout the country, though 

 prevalent in different degrees in different regions. In 

 opposition to this. Dr. Myers holds that every province 

 contains a homogeneous population, notwithstanding that 

 the mean measurements vary in degree of " negroidness " 

 according to province, and that there is no anthropometric 

 evidence of duality of race. Hence he concludes that the 

 Egyptians were always a homogeneous people, who varied 

 now towards Caucasian, now towards negroid character- 

 istics, according to 'their environment, "showing such 

 close anthropometric affinity to Libyan, Arabian, and like 

 neighbouring peoples, showing such variability and possibly 

 such power of absorption, that from the anthropometric 

 standpoint no evidence is obtainable that the modern 

 Egyptians have been appreciably affected by other than 

 sporadic Sudanese admixture." In support of these novel 

 and valuable conclusions he provides a copious statistical 

 apparatus. 



A NOTE by Maud DeWitt Pearl and Raymond Pearl, of 

 the Biological Laboratory of the Maine Experiment 

 Station, on the relation of race crossing to the sex- 

 ratio appeared in the September issue of the Biological 

 Bulletin. Some breeders have held that hybrids exhibit 

 an e.Kcessive proportion of males, and the authors have 

 examined the birth statistics of Buenos Aires with the 

 view of testing this belief. It appears that during the 



