Retneics — F. Priem — Eoohition of Animals, 515 



first list should be of mncli value to the local collector, the second 

 affords matter for thought to the stratigraphical geologist. Care 

 appears to have been taken in determining the species, and the 

 names are commendably up to date; it would appear that many 

 new forms need description. 



The public spirit shown in the printing of these lists deserves 

 support at the hands of all interested in Cretaceous Geology. Since 

 it must be some years before a fresh edition can be brought out. 

 Ml*. Griffith proposes to issue a supplementary sheet from time 

 to time. F. A. B. 



IV. — L'EvoLUTiON DES FoRMEs Animalks avant l'Appakition dk 

 l'Homme. Par F. Priem. 8vo. pp. 384 and 175 Figures. Biblio- 

 theque scientifique contemporaine. (J. B. Bailliere et Fils, 

 Paris, 1891.) 3 fr. 



DID there exist a class of people perfectly familiar with the most 

 technical terms of modern science, and deeply interested in its 

 most abstruse problems, yet at the same time absolutely ignorant of 

 all its conclusions, then we could understand the commercial value 

 of books like the present. As for its educational worth, a book 

 that compresses the history of " all the animal forms discovered in 

 geological strata " into 363 small pages of large leaded type, and 

 that enters therewith into such details as the description of the 

 spines of a single species of Cidaris, may amuse the palaeontologist, 

 but can hardly instruct the student. 



We do not wish to be hard on Professor Priem ; he has done his 

 hack-work no worse than this sort of thing is usually done. While 

 abstaining from rash speculation on his own account, he has given, 

 as a rule, the views of the most recent writers, among whom he 

 has naturally gleaned much from Neumayr, and to a commendable 

 absence of dogmatic statement he joins much fairness in stating the 

 views of those with whom he does not agree. For example, while 

 the history of the Cephalopoda is far sounder than that given in 

 most text-books, the views of Munier-Chalmas on Spirula, and 

 Steinmann on Argonauta, though not accepted, are given considerable 

 (some would say too much) prominence. 



It is the easiest thing in the world to pick holes in patch-work, 

 but the occupation is somewhat unprofitable. Here, however, are 

 a few weak places for the author's consideration. Glohigerina ooze 

 is not found at a greater depth than 4000 metres, because, suggests 

 M. Priem, the high pressure of the water breaks these fragile 

 shells. The tentacles of Echinoderms are not called " ambulacra." 

 The Echinoderm skin is hardly " incrustree \_sic] de calcaire." 

 The " dorsocentral " of a crinoid is not the same as either the 

 " centrodorsal " or the mythical " orocentral." The larva of Antedon 

 resembles many genera rather than Pentacrimis. If the Neritidaa 

 are descended from the Trochid^, how does M, Priem explain the 

 total difference in their radulas ? Helix owns a more remote 

 antiquity than the Lower Eocene ; it has been found in the Gault. 



