146 
NATURE 
[Fune 18, 1885 
place aad enable Prof. Biitschli to give a decisive opinion 
upon many points on which authorities have hitherto 
differed. Many of the illustrations in the admirably 
engraved plates are also original. 
We may perhaps remind our readers that it is to Prof. 
Biitschli that we owe the first important paper in the 
recent development of our knowledge of the karyokinetic 
figures of dividing cell-nuclei. It is his investigation 
which demonstrated the identity of the changes in the 
nuclei of Ciliate Infusoria with the curious fibrillation of 
normal tissue-cells when in course of division, and more 
than any others have given a wide basis to the recent 
generalisations on this subject. 
Our author is not only extremely fair and scrupulous 
in citing all discoverable authorities for the facts which 
he sets forth as to the structure, &c., of Protozoa (our 
English microscopists of all ranks will find themselves 
cited and fairly considered), but he exhibits admirable 
judgment, temper, and caution in his treatment of vexed 
questions. He has wisely withheld his full discussion of 
the classification of the Radiolaria until such time as 
Haeckel’s Challenger work on the group is published. 
In the meantime his analysis of the various forms of 
skeleton which occur in that group is a masterly essay 
on a very difficult subject. 
With regard to the question of the chlorophyll cor- 
puscles of some Protozoa—considered by Brandt as 
parasitic Algze—we gather that Prof. Biitschli leans to 
the acceptance of that view ; but we shall look for a more 
definite judgment from him in relation to that question 
when he has to discuss such forms as the Ciliata, Ster¢or, 
Bursaria, and Ophrydium. 
It is noteworthy that Prof. Biitschli includes the Vol- 
vocina and the “ Protococcus” forms in the Flagellata, 
being convinced of their relationship here in spite of their 
“holophytic” nutrition. 
It would be impossible here to point out the numerous 
new views of importance which are advanced in Prof. 
Biitschli’s work. It must be sufficient to say that the 
book is absolutely invaluable to every student of micro- 
scopic life, and is perhaps the most remarkable attempt 
yet made by a distinguished original observer to co- 
ordinate and render available for use the entire series of 
works of his predecessors in a large and important field 
of study. E. R. LANKESTER 
PHENOLOGY 
Resultate der wichtigsten phlanzen-phainologischen Beob- 
achtungen in Europa, nebst einer Friihlingskarte. 
Von Dr. H. Hoffmann, Professor der Botanik in 
Giessen. Anhang, Dr. Egon Ihne, Die Norwegischen, 
Schwedischen, und Finnlindischen’ Beobachtungen. 
(Giessen: J. Ricker’sche Buchhandlung, 1885.) 
HIS work, the results of forty years’ labour, forms a 
most important contribution to the literature on the 
subject of phenology. 
The work begins with an introduction, in which is 
explained the importance of phenological observations, 
particularly with regard to comparative climatology and 
biology. Then follows an investigation of the degree of 
accuracy to be obtained by this kind of observation, 
succeeded by a discussion as to how many years such 
observations ought to be continued for obtaining useful 
and trustworthy information for comparative investiga- 
tion. A table is then given of those plants and their 
phases which the author, after forty years’ observations, 
thinks the most proper for adoption with a view to inter- 
national reception. The number is fifty-three, and they 
are arranged according to the calendar, to facilitate 
observation; which system appears with regard to 
accuracy preferable to an alphabetical arrangement. 
A short notice follows of the most important general 
results of the work with respect to climatology and 
biology, abstracted from the observations from the whole 
of Europe. At the end of the introduction the author 
points out the next tasks for phzenological researchers. 
The remainder of the book contains an alphabetical list 
of all phaenological stations throughout Europe (about 
2000), with the geographical situation and elevation above 
sea-level. Under each station are given in an alphabetical 
arrangement the mean dates of the simple phases known 
from the place, with the number of years of observation. 
It is to be seen that from a great number of these but 
one or two years’ observations have been published, 
whereas others extend to above thirty years. These 
dates are to be employed for comparing any single place 
with all the others. The mean dates are given as com- 
pletely as possible, because such comparisons are the chief 
object of the author for publishing this work. They are 
extracted and calculated from a vast number of lists pub- 
lished in a great many periodicals and works of all 
nations. 
With regard to spring flowers, the author himself has 
followed the plan of comparisons, giving under each 
station an indication of the number of days the single 
species open their flowers, sooner or later than at Giessen, 
the residence of the author, from which place, generally 
speaking, the most comprehensive observations have been 
published. Ina “spring map” of Europe at the end of 
the book the results of these investigations are entered, 
by which the mean progress of spring through different 
countries may be seen at a glance. 
OUR BOOK SHELF 
Louis Pasteur, his Life and Labours. By his Son-in- 
Law. Translated from the French by Lady Claud 
Hamilton. (London : Longmans, Green, & Co., 1885.) 
THE name of M. Pasteur, owing to his many brilliant 
and eminently practical discoveries, has been for some 
years so prominently before the general public that a 
popular and connected account of his life and labours 
cannot fail to be interesting and instructive reading to 
every educated member of the community. In this 
respect the present volume must be considered a signal 
success and a valuable addition to popular scientific 
literature. But the importance of the book reaches a 
step further, for it gives to the scientific world an authentic 
account of the development and progress of M. Pasteur’s 
discoveries, since it is written by one who has been and is 
still living with M. Pasteur in the bonds of intimate friend- 
ship, and who has received his information directly from 
M. Pasteur himself. While to the general reader the 
achievement of a discovery is the only and great point of 
interest, to the scientific reader it is only one of many, 
the history of a discovery being one of them, and not the 
least important one, for it reveals methods and manner, 
and it gives us a true insight into the working of the 
