Nov. 8, 1883] 



NA TURE 



27 



a very primitive member of the Holothurian group, near 

 which comes Elpidia, the authors disagreeing in this 

 respect with Dr. Thdel, who, taking into consideration 

 the bihiteral form of Elpidia, gave it a high place amongst 

 Holothuiians. 



Prof. Stcenstrup's and Dr. Liitken's account of Myrio- 

 troclius Rinkii, St., has been supplemented in the above 

 report from numerous specimens found at Spitzbergen ; 

 and Myriotrochus brevis, Huxley, is considered to be iden- 

 tical with Oligotroclitis vitreus, described by Sars in 1865. 



In describing the new genus Trochostoma (instituted 

 for Molpadia botrale, Sars, Molpadia oolitica, Pourtales, 

 Haplodactyla arcHcum, and a new form, T. Thomsonii) 

 the authors discuss at considerable length the function of 

 the respiratory trees, and conclude that they are in all 

 probability secretory organs belonging to the intestines. 

 After dealing with another new genus (Ankyroderma) this 

 very valuable and interesting memoir concludes with a 

 list of the Holothurians collected by the Expedition, and 

 a table showing the depth, temperature, bottom, &c., 

 where each was procured. 



The descriptive text is illustrated by thirteen excellent 

 lithographed plates, and a map showing the position of 

 the zoological stations where the various specimens were 

 obtained. 



In the memoir on the Annelids collected by the Expe- 

 dition, Hansen commences by entering a protest against 

 the number of genera instituted in this class by Malmgren, 

 and he especially considers that the distinction on which 

 Malmgren lays so much stress, viz. the difference between 

 the bristles of different members of the class, is not 

 in reality present. The scales, on the other hand, are 

 considered by the author to be much more distinctive 

 specific features, and from the character of the scales 

 accordingly he opposes the wholesale heaping together 

 by Mobius, and after him by Tauber, of proposed genera 

 and species into a single specific group. Of a large 

 number of Annelids procured a description is given only 

 of new species — about 28— and of a few others which are 

 little known. The description of these forms is almost 

 limited to their external characters, especially to the form 

 and structure of the scales. 



The Annelids collected are divided into two groups, 

 first, those found in the warm, and next, those from the 

 cold, area. The list containing those from the warm area 

 gives the depth, temperature, &c., at the various stations, 

 but in addition a useful column is added containing their 

 geographical distribution as far as known. A further list 

 appears of the Annelids collected in the cold area ar- 

 ranged under their respective families, from which it 

 appears that most of them are represented in the frigid 

 area, and most of the species occurring there are also 

 found in the fjords and temperate ocean tracts. The 

 author states that there are few indications that the deep 

 bottom-current off the coast of Norway in which the 

 temperature is below zero (C.) should be characterised by 

 a fauna of its own. " Of one Annelid only, Polynoe 

 globifera, G. O. Sars, can we infer with comparative cer- 

 tainty that its favourite, if not its sole, habitat is confined 

 to the cold bottom-strata." 



From a specimen of Serpula, Protiila arctica, procured 

 from a depth of 1163 fathoms, temperature — i°'i C, 

 bottom biloculina clay, it is inferred that the Serpulidas 



do not absolutely require solid matter on which to con- 

 struct their shells. From a specimen of Hydroides Nor- 

 vegica met with on a muddy bottom with the tube not, 

 as is usually the case, tv.isted but straight, it is inferred 

 that in such cases the tubes penetrate the mud like those 

 of many other tube-forming Annelids. 



In referring to colour and sense organs, the author 

 says that an Oniipliis hyperborca brought up from 299 and 

 412 fathoms, "a greater depth than that to which light 

 and vegetable life are supposed to penetrate," was never- 

 theless vividly coloured and provided with eyes. 



This volume also is illustrated by several plates and a 

 map. The letterpress of both volumes is printed in 

 English and Norwegian in parallel columns. They to- 

 gether form a solid contribution to our knowledge of two 

 groups which are becoming more and more interesting to 

 the zoologist. 



OUR BOOK SHELF 

 Catalogue ana Handbook of the Archaological Collec- 

 tions in the Indian Museum. Part I. Asoka and 

 Indo-Scvthian Galleries. By John Anderson. (Cal- 

 cutta, 18S3.) 

 This is a model of what a guidebook to a museum should 

 be. The antiquities described by Prof. Anderson are of 

 the highest interest, and the fullness and clearness of his 

 description is worthy of them. The Indian Museum, 

 though only founded in 1S66, now contains a mine of 

 wealth for the Indian archjeologist. The collections of 

 the Asiatic Society deposited in it have been • nriched by 

 the sculptures from IBharhut, the Gandhara bas-reliefs, 

 the Buddha Gaya discoveries of the Archaeological Sur- 

 vey, and the casts from the early temples of Orissa. A 

 flood of light has been thrown on the history of ancient 

 Buddhist art and belief, as well as upon the relations of 

 Buddhist India with Greece and the west. The dome- 

 shaped Stupa of Bharhut belongs to the second century 

 B.C., and is adorned with sculptures representing scenes 

 from the legendary life of Buddha ; the ruins of Buddha 

 Gaya have been excavated near the site of the famous 

 Bodhi tree under which Buddha sat, and which was 

 visited by the Chinese pilgrim Hiouen Thsang in 637 A.D., 

 while the rock-cut temples of Orissa carry us back to a 

 period still earlier in the life of Buddhism than that of 

 Bharhut. In the Indo-Scythian Gallery the most inter- 

 esting remains are those from Mathura (or Matra) and 

 Gandhara. Here, too, the sculptures are partly Buddhist, 

 though also partly Jain — Jainism itself being but an older 

 form of Buddhism, if we are to believe Mr. Thomas. The 

 chief interest attaching to them is due to the fact that many 

 of them owe their inspiration to Grsco-Roman — if not 

 even Byzantine — art. The dress of several of the figures 

 represented in them is also interesting as pointing to a 

 northern climate. The same may be said of a group of 

 figures at Sanchi, which have bandages round the legs 

 like those still worn in Afghanistan. 



In looking through this catalogue we cannot fail to be 

 struck by the contrast between the care now taken by the 

 Indian Government of the antiquities of the country, and 

 the official neglect to which the ancient monuments of 

 our own islands are exposed. To say nothing of the 

 Archaeological Sun-ey, which has already done so much 

 to bring to light the hidden treasures of early Indian art, 

 no pains seem to be spared to protect the memorials of the 

 past which are scattered over the surface of the soil. It is a 

 pity that some little of the intelligent interest taken by the 

 Indian Government in the historical monuments of India 

 cannot be reflected on our rulers here. It is true that, 

 fortunately for archeology, India is still governed by a 

 small body of educated men, while an extended franchise 



