Brief Notices. 283 



It consists of (1) a short statement of the principles of classification ; 



(2) a systematic synopsis containing diagnoses both, of the divisions 

 of higher rank than generic, and of all new genera and species; and 



(3) figures of the new species. 



To the general reader by far the most interesting section is the 

 two pages devoted to the principles of classification ; though the 

 actual systematic scheme carries much that is of interest to the worker 

 of Polyzoa, particularly to the specialist of Tertiary forms. And it is 

 satisfactory to note, in this connection, that the fundamental divisions 

 of the Cheilostomata adopted by Levinsen have been accepted here. 

 The plates, too, call for congratulation, being, apparently, photo- 

 graphic reproductions of the originals, and, as such, are comparable 

 with the excellent microphotographs of Cretaceous Polyzoa published 

 by Brydone in the Geological Magazine. 



It is a pity that, with the need of establishing many new genera, 

 more accuracy was not obtained in putting together the names. 

 Here, especially indeed, the reviewer, having experienced the 

 difficulties involved, would temper his criticism with sympathy. 

 If the Latin ending -ella be permitted, to Greek stems, the names 

 Otionella, Dacryonella, Aeclimella and others are both pleasant to 

 hear and easy to pronounce ; but not so Stomachetosella, which is also 

 incorrectly formed, as are Stamenocella and Trematoichos. But Metro- 

 periella is impossible, for irepl is followed by nothing but a diminutive 

 ending. Metracolpo&a and Sohizaropsis would be more correct if, in 

 the former, the first a were o and the final a dropped, and, in the 

 latter, the second syllable omitted. Velumella, though sounding well, 

 is an impossible form ( Yelella is, of course, preoccupied). What 

 Lewis Carroll would have called the 'portmanteau' words 

 Membrendoecium for "Membranipora with endozooecial avicularia", 

 Gribrendoecium for "Ciibrilina with endozooecial ovicells", Schizemiella 

 — " ' schizos,' slit" (there is no such word as 'schizos'), " ' emi,' 

 abbreviation for peristomie " (not very obvious !) — , and Schizomavella 

 — " ' mav,' abbreviation for median avicularium," whether pleasing 

 or not, are ingenious. To take one more case — Metradoliicm should 

 have o instead of a, and even then should mean " a thing that 

 deceives its mother — (or ovicell) ", and not " a deceptive ovicell ", as 

 intended. 



It is impossible in a short notice to discuss adequately the 

 principles of classification adopted. Possibly a better opportunity 

 for this will arise when the larger monograph is published. Mean- 

 while we would offer our best wishes to the authors for their coming 

 work, and our congratulations on its little forerunner. 



W. D. L. 



IV. — Brief Notices. 



1. (1) BlBLIOGRAPHIE PRIMITIVE RELATIVE AUX BrYOZOAIRES. By 



F. Cant;. Bull. Soc. Geol. Prance, ser. 4, vol. xv, pp. 287-292. 

 1916. 



(2) BlBLIOGRAPME PALEONTOLOGIQUE RELATIVE AUX BrYOZOAIRES DU 



Bassin de Paris. By F. Canu. Bull. Soc. Geol. Prance, ser. 4, 

 vol. xv, pp. 293-305. 1916. 



