Reviews—Prof. K. v. Zittel’s Palichthyology. 125 
ZEU SEG Mae VV SS. 
i er 
].—Pror. Dr. von Zrrret on PALicnutuyonoey. 
Kart A. von Zrrren, HanpBpucH DER Paumontotogiz. Papnxo- 
zootocie. Band III. Lief. I. Il. (R. Oldenbourg, Munich, 
1887-88.) 
HE latest two instalments of Prof. von Zittel’s valuable “‘Hand- 
buch” form the first part of the third volume, which is to be 
devoted entirely to the Vertebrata. The parts consist together of 
436 pages, extending as far as the end of the section upon Amphibia; 
and no less than 333 pages are occupied with the discussion of the 
Pisces. Woodcuts, as usual, are numerous and excellent; and in 
the last-named section these are over 300 in number, while many 
are so novel for a text-book that to glance over the pages is quite 
refreshing. 
The introductory remarks upon the class of Fishes, in which we 
are somewhat astonished to find Amphioxus still included, occupy 
fifty pages, and form perhaps the most philosophical concise account 
of the anatomy of the fish-skeleton that has hitherto been published. 
The scales are first treated in detail, and then other dermal 
structures, like spines and fin-rays; next follow the teeth; and, 
lastly, the various parts of the endoskeleton. Full references are 
given to the principal memoirs ; and the description of the anatomy 
is followed by some brief remarks upon the systematic arrangement 
of the class. 
As remarked by Prof. Cope,’ the classification adopted is one of 
the very few remnants of a bygone era of Ichthyology to be noted 
in the work. Moreover, family-terminations are often used in 
ordinal-names, and ordinal-terminations in family-names; and 
whereas, in some cases, the vernacular designation of the families 
is placed after the scientific name (e.g. Notidanide Grauhaie), the 
non-German reader especially is liable to be perplexed in other 
cases where precisely the same punctuation is employed and an 
author’s name is substituted (e.g. Scylliolamnide Hasse). However, 
these are small matters, and when the rich store of information is 
indexed, the work will be as convenient for reference as it would 
have been had the principles of the more precise systematists of the 
present day been strictly followed. The summary is, indeed, so 
complete to the date of publication that in reviewing the work it 
seems most profitable to note the bearing of later researches upon the 
facts and speculations recorded. 
Dismissing the unnecessarily introduced “ Leptocardii,” the 
Cyclostomi follow for consideration. The only fossil remains said 
to have been referred to this “sub-class” are the well-known 
Conodonts, and these problematical bodies are regarded as being so 
doubtfully assignable to the Vertebrata, that they are treated only 
in a long footnote. Zittel and Rohon’s conclusion is adopted, that 
they are almost certainly annelid jaws. 
1 American Naturalist, 1887, p 1014. 
