524 
NATURE 
[JuLy 25, 1912 
Pyeraft, may account for several reyrettable mis- 
prints in the titles of the plates. 
There is no more interesting and, at the same 
time, more difficult question to unravel than the 
origin of many of our domesticated animals; and 
the cattle come into the category of those about 
the ancestry of which the last word has not yet 
been said. The subject is discussed at some length 
in his little volume (5) on cattle by Mr. Lydekker, 
who appears to think it fairly well established that 
European cattle are descended from the extinct 
aurochs (Bos primigenius) and the zebus, or 
humped cattle, from the living banting (Bos son- 
daicus); and that the zebu-like characters observ- 
able in some European cattle are due to the intro- 
duction of zebus into south Europe. It may be 
so, but the evidence adduced in support of this 
is susceptible of other interpretations. There are 
also very strong reasons for doubting the banting 
descent of zebus, especially as some of the latter 
exhibit a character, namely the light spinal stripe, 
which is regarded by Mr. Lydekker as certain 
evidence of aurochs descent when it is present in 
European breeds. The volume, nevertheless, is a 
useful compilation, since it brings together in a 
small compass much of what is known about the 
aurochs, British park cattle, and other European 
and exotic breeds, about existing species of the 
genus Bos, and the hybrids that have been pro- 
duced by crossing them. 
Within. the limits of a short notice it is im- 
possible. to do justice to Dr. Scharff’s volume 
on the “Distribution and Origin of Life 
(6). All zoologists who have worked 
at the geographical distribution of recent animals 
have been met with the difficulty of squaring the 
regions and minor areas into which the earth seems 
divisible when one group is considered with those 
that are indicated by another group. Probably no 
agreement on this point well ever be reached, be- 
cause animals which are later in origin have as 
in 
America ” 
a rule a different distribution from those of earlier 
date. Even when, as in the case of the mammals, 
a mass of evidence has been accumulated to reveal 
the faunas of past epochs, there is commonly a 
wide divergence of opinion as to the position of the 
evolutionary centre and the lines of migration of 
any given group. One of the facts which 
makes decision on this point uncertain is 
the difficulty of being sure that strata 
assigned to a particular system in one continent | 
coincide in time with strata assigned to the same 
system in another continent. 
Again, the author of a volume like the one 
under notice, which deals not only with all groups 
of terrestrial animals but with plants as well, is 
NO. 2230, VOL. 89] 
of necessity dependent upon the expert for the 
determination and affiliation of species; and this is 
often a fruitful source of error and perplexity. For 
instance, Dr. Scharff is, naturally enough, utterly 
nonplussed by the intimate relationship alleged to 
exist between the prairie wolf ot North America 
and the antarctic dog of the Falkland Islands. 
He will be comforted, therefore, to know that this 
is a complete fallacy. He is also puzzled, quite 
needlessly we think, by the belief held by some 
that that pariah, the dingo, is indigenous to 
Australia. If paleontology teaches that, then so 
much the worse for paléeontology. 
These, however, are points of subordinate inter- 
est which Dr. Scharff cites to prove the difficulties 
to be contended with. The really serious under- 
taking he has attempted is the record and recon- 
ciliation of the varied and often opposing views 
touching the subject-matter expressed by the title _ 
of his volume; and since there is ample evidence 
for the former union of North America with Asia 
by way of Behring Sea and with Europe by way 
of Greenland and Iceland, and of South America 
with Africa or Europe on one side and Australia 
on the other, the difficulties the question presents 
and the wide field for speculation it opens up need 
no demonstration. 
Mr. W. L. Sclater’s volume (7) on the birds of 
Colorado is a model of what a book of this kind 
should be. The characters, distribution and 
habits of each species are concisely recorded and 
analytical keys to the orders, families, genera and 
species have been carefully compiled. It is this 
last feature which gives to the book its stamp of 
merit, because it is the best available testimony 
that the author has taken the trouble to master 
his subject and present it in a form intelligible to 
others. Would that the same could be said for 
all ornithological works ! 
The two volumes on British desmids (8) and tuni- 
cates (9), published by the Ray Society, call for little 
comment, since they fully reach the standard of 
that institution aims at achieving. 
Great credit is due to Mr. Hopkinson for his able 
editorship of the last instalment of the MS. of 
the late Messrs. Alder and Hancock’s monograph 
of the British tunicates, which, as we are told in 
the preface, was accepted by the Ray Society 
somewhere about half a century ago. The work, 
although admittedly incomplete, will be most valu- 
able to students of the group; and the insertion 
of Canon Norman’s portrait at the beginning of 
this volume, with which the monograph closes, is 
an appropriate tribute to his share in the editing 
and publication of the two preceding parts. 
Resioeks 
excellence 
