October 25, 1906] 



NA TURE 



64- 



prolifpiaiion may be c-auspd by thi' mechanical effect of the 

 formalion in first enveloping the larva so closely as to 

 prr'venl its movement, and then the continued formation 

 producing suflicient internal pressure slowly but surely to 

 crush lo death the foe whose attack has called forth this 

 as self-defence on the part of the plant." Proliferation 

 may be stimulated by puncturing the cotton-buds, while 

 strains should be selected for cultivation in which the 

 proliferating tendency is most marked. Already the effects 

 of proliferation in keeping the weevil in check appear to be 

 of more importance than those duo to parasites, and it Is 

 e.spected they wil! rapidly increase. Of course the weevil 

 will endeavour to accommodate itself to the new con- 

 ditions, but, since man is on its side, it is hoped th.it the 

 pl.iiil will coni.|UPr. 



Is the latest issues of the fishery series of the publications 

 of the Danish Commission for the Study of the Sea 

 (Meddelelser fra Kommissionen for Havunderscigelser : 

 Fiskeri, vol. ii., Nos. 1-3, Copenhagen, 1906), the larval 

 and post-Iarval stages in the life-history of certain members 

 of the flat-fish and cod families are described in great 

 detail, with a wealth of illustration. The plaice, dab, and 

 flounder form the subject of the first part, and while the 

 features by means of w'hich the young stages of each may 

 be recognised are pointed out, the illustrations show the 

 manner in which the symmetrical larva gradually changes 

 into the unsymmetrical "flat-fish." The statement that 

 young plaice have been found while in the early bottom- 

 stage in deep water is shown to be due to confusion with 

 the dab, and the special need of protection by the former 

 on account of its shallow-water habitat is emphasised. 

 .'Vtti'ntion is directed to the curious circumstance that when 

 leaving the pelagic for the bottom stage these fishes 

 diminish in size. From the other species the dab, when 

 it reaches the bottom-stage, is distinguished by its large 

 eyes and narrow bodily form. In the second part the 

 early stages of several of the more typical members (Gadus, 

 S:c.) of the cod-family are described and illustrated, while 

 in the third part the species of ling (Molva) receive atten- 

 tion. -All the lings are distinguished from cod by the great 

 length of the pelvic fins in the early stages, and it is not 

 a little remarkable that two such nearly-related species as 

 the common and the blue ling should differ widely in regard 

 to the development of pigment-bands on the hinder part of 

 the body at this period of life. The blue ling in this 

 respect occupies, indeed, a position intermediate between 

 the common ling and the torsk (Brosmius). 



In the fourth part of the " Plankton " series of the 

 above-mentioned publication Mr. O. Paulsen discusses the 

 distribution of the crustacean Calanus finmarchicus in 

 Icelandic waters. This species, which forms the staple 

 food of several kinds of fishes, breeds chiefly in the spring, 

 when death follows propagation. There is, however, reason 

 to believe that a certain percentage breeds at other seasons. 

 Reproduction takes place only in the sea to the south- 

 ward of Iceland, these crustaceans being carried to the 

 we^t, north, and east coasts of that island by the Irminger 

 current. As the species forms an essential element in the 

 food of the herring, it is probable that the migrations of 

 the shoals of the latter fish are largely influenced by the 

 presence of swarms of the crustacean. Towards autumn 

 the numbers of Calani at the surface decrease, and as the 

 species has then reached its second developmental stage, it 

 is probable that it descends into deep water to pass the 

 winter, rising again to the surface with the return of 

 spring to undergo the final transformation. 



NO. 1930, VOL. 74] 



In the Calcutta Medical Journal, vol. i.. No. 2, Mr. 

 C. L. Bose is the author of an article on the toxic prin- 

 ciples of the bitter variety of the fruit of I.uffa ac^ypliaca. 

 The fruit is not infrequently compounded into a curry, and 

 in consequence of a case where the effect was injurious an 

 examination was made resulting in the extraction of two 

 glucosidcs, the one resembling colocyiithin in some of its 

 reactions. 



To accompany a collection of botanical books and por- 

 traits illustrating the history of plant classification, arranged 

 in the botanical gallery of the Natural History Museum, 

 South Kensington, the keeper of the department has drawn 

 up a short guide explaining the chief features of the 

 various exhibits. Among early works may be seen the 

 " Materia Medica " of Dioscorides dated 1499, Brunfels's 

 " Herbarium," Gerard's " Herbal," and Bauhin's " Pro- 

 dromus. " The collection also includes a copy of Linnaeus's 

 " Systema Naturae," and volumes by de Jussieu, 

 dc Candolle. and more recent noted systeinatists. 



The botanical series of Memoirs of the Department of 

 Agriculture in India is inaugurated with a volume giving 

 an account of the early stages in the development of the 

 haustoria of Santaliim album, by Mr. C. A. Barber. The 

 haustoria arise on the root of the seedling as early as the 

 lateral rootlets, and independently of any stimulus due 

 to contact with foreign bodies ; they continue to form on 

 the voung rootlets, providing the most Important absorbing 

 organs. The chief features are the central core or nucleus, 

 and the external clasping folds ; when the haustorium comes 

 into contact with an inorganic body, a succession of nuclei 

 and folds may be produced. Frequently a strand of 

 glandular cells is developed that assists in penetration. 



The number of Engler's Botanisches Jahrbuch issued in 

 August, vol. xxxviii., part ii., contains a series of deter- 

 minations of new .African plants, forming the twenty-ninth 

 fascicle of " Beitriige zur Flora von Afrilia." The volume 

 opens with a short list of Cyperaceac, prepared by the late 

 Mr. C. B. Clarke. Dr. R. Schlechter, who contributes 

 a quota of Orchidacere and Burmanniaceae, alludes to the 

 rarity of species of the latter order ; five species are now- 

 added, of which two, allied to Thismla, are placed under 

 new genera, Afrothismia and Oxygyne. The Composite 

 and Labiate are determined by Drs. M. Guerke and O. 

 Hoffmann. The paper in the supplement on the Cornacea; 

 deserves attention, if only for the discussion of the aberrant 

 genus Garrya. The writer, Mr. \V. Wangerin, restores the 

 order Garryaceje, and places It near the Betulaceae and 

 Salicaceae. Evidence is also adduced for separating the 

 genera Alangium, Nyssa, and Davidia from the Cornaces. 



The new series of archaeological monographs to be issued 

 by the Bureau of .American Ethnology starts with a de- 

 scription of the antiquities of the Jumez Plateau, a moun- 

 tainous region in New Mexico lying west of the Rio 

 Grande del Norte. This country supported at one time a 

 numerous population, but on account of climatic changes 

 it was abandoned some six or eight centuries ago. It 

 abounds in the ruins of ancient settlements, which fall 

 into two classes — cliff-dwellings, some of which are 

 artificial, some natural, and the pueblos or many-chambered 

 houses inhabited by several families. One of the latter 

 contains upwards of six hundred rooms, and they were 

 usually erected in situations capable of defence. The 

 popular theory that the cliff-dwellings were the work of 

 the ancestors of the present Indian tribes must now be 

 abandoned, partly because there is no resemblance between 



