Referate. 



Walter, H. E. Genetics: an introduction to the study of heredity. 12 mo. 

 pp. XIV and 272. New York. Macmillan 1913. 

 In twelve comparatively short chapters the author has written a 

 delightful little book on the elements of genetics. It is not a treatise on 

 the subject and was not so intended, it is hardly comprehensive enough 

 to be used as a textbook, but it does give the layman a good clear idea 

 of the principles of heredity in a style that is charming without being 

 imaginative. In the preface it is asserted that a writer not engaged in 

 investigating genetic problems holds some advantage over the seasoned 

 expert in writmg for the beginning student. One might be inclined to 

 doubt this statement as a generality, but Dr. Walter leaves a good argu- 

 ment in its support in this particular volume at least. 



After a short introduction the book deals successively with the physi- 

 cal basis of heredity, variation, the inheritance of acquired characters, 

 Mendelism including Johanssen's work and sex-limited heredity, and 

 eugenics. The author does not propose new theories, nor sit in judgment 

 on old ones. He simply gives a very readable account of recent work in 

 a way that will be acceptable to most biologists. Of course since many 

 theories are under discussion in present day biology, anyone might think 

 it proper to differ from the author on certain points, but perhaps the only 

 fair criticisms should be directed against his sins of omission and his choice 

 of illustrative material. The general consequences of a belief in the mutation 

 theory, the genotype theory or the Mendelian theory are hardly touched 

 although their discussion takes up a large part of the work. In other 

 words the conception of heredity is rather one of parts than of a whole. 

 Again, such a subject as gametic coupling would seem to deserve mention. 

 On the whole, however, the author is to be congratulated on a work that 

 is eminently sane though progressive. E. M. East. 



Drinkwater, H. Account of a family showing Minor-Brachydaetyly. Journal 

 of Genetics. February 1912. Vol. 2. No i. S. 21. 

 Drinkwater beschreibt eine Familie mit einer besonderen Art von 

 Kurzfingerigkeit, die er ,,Minorbrachydactyly" nennt. Während er früher 

 (Proceedings of the Roy. of Edin. Vol. XXVIII, Part. I) die Brachydactylie 

 als die Verschmelzung einer sehr kurzen 2. Phalange mit der 3. zu einem 

 Stück geschildert hat, versteht er unter „Minorbrachydactyly" gleichfalls 

 die Verkürzung der 2. Phalange, die aber als selbständiges Knochenstück 

 erhalten bleibt. Es handelt sich also, wie den beigefügten Photographien 

 zu entnehmen ist, gewissermaßen um eine mildere Form der ausgesprochenen 

 Brachydactylie: die Hände sind kürzer und breiter, die Finger plumper als 

 normal, doch sehen die Hände, da kein Gelenk fehlt, den normalen ahn- 



