558 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. II. No. 43. 



the effects of stimulation on the cell, including 

 chemical, mechanical, photic, electric irrita- 

 tions, with discussions of chemotropic, baro- 

 tropic, heliotropic, thermotropic and galvano- 

 tropic phenomena, and also sections on fatigue 

 and exhaustion. 



The author shows 'throughout that he has re- 

 ceived a sound scientific training, that he has a 

 good grasp of his subject since he handles all 

 its themes firmly and successfully, so that his 

 book will be found very useful to those who in 

 their teaching wish to give due prominence to 

 the fundamental principles of biology. 



In another edition there will be many changes 

 and additions to make, which will improve the 

 work and render it a more adequate representa- 

 tive of the present status of general physiology. 

 So long as the author deals with philosophical 

 aspects of the subjects it must be deemed a seri- 

 ous omission not to include consciousness. "We 

 may note other omissions, such as the phe- 

 nomena of senescence and growth as a function 

 of age, an omission which is significant to me 

 personally, owing to my having long been spe- 

 cially interested in senescence as a biological 

 problem. Again, the difference between sex 

 and sexuality is left unconsidered ; the theory 

 of the vital force as having a ferment-like effect, 

 the causation and laws of variability, concerning 

 which a good deal is known, and finally many 

 minor points, which are known to this and that 

 specialist, all suggest opportunities for improve- 

 ment. None the less the book as a whole is to 

 be commended, for it takes a great step towards 

 bringing order in a field of science still chaotic, 

 and it is to be hoped that it will become well 

 known in American Laboratories. 



Charles S. Minot. 



Ice Bound on Kolguev. By A. Trevoe-Battye, 

 London, Constable. 1895. Pp. xxviii. and 

 458. Three maps and numerous illustrations. 

 The small Arctic island which forms the sub- 

 ject of this sketch is an interesting place, as it 

 lies just within the Polar circle, to the north of 

 Eussia, between the entrance to the White Sea 

 and the mouth of the River Petchora. 



The two attempts which were made to colo- 

 nize the island in the latter half of the 

 eighteenth century resulted in failure ; and at 



the present time the Samoyede families who 

 eke out a miserable existence there can hardly 

 be called a successful venture in that line, be- 

 cause the . conditions of life force them to a 

 nomadic career, which puts an end to all devel- 

 opment. 



With regard to the structure of the island, the 

 author was not able to find any trace of the 

 rocky character which has usually been assigned 

 to it. He describes the surface as one composed 

 mainly of sandy hills, which are confined to the 

 central and northern portions, while the south- 

 ern districts are occupied by tundras of consid- 

 erable extent. The soil of these tundras, frozen 

 solid during a great part of the year, and only 

 thawed out to a depth of a few feet at best 

 during the summer, limits the amount of the 

 food supply in the most thoroughgoing manner. 



About 110 plants have been reported from the 

 island and of these 95 were secured by the au- 

 thor. He also records 47 birds and 6 mammals. 



The descriptions given in the book, particu- 

 larly those of the birds and their habits and the 

 portions devoted to the plants, are well done, 

 and much interesting information has been put 

 in a very agreeable form ; here and there, how- 

 ever, one occasionally detects in the effusive 

 style the zeal of the 'glorified naturalist.' 



The volume is in the main well written, but 

 some portions would be apt to cause the gram- 

 marians to shudder. As, for example, where 

 we are told that " Powys kept our spirits up 

 with the banjo, and we sang, skinned and ate 

 many figs" (p. 52). 



Our naturalist has done much painstaking 

 work in spite of the comparatively hurried 

 character of his trip. It is, however, to be re- 

 gretted that the portions upon the Samoyedes 

 and their manners and customs were not more 

 carefully expanded. Enough is said to whet 

 the appetite for more. On this island we find 

 perhaps one of the few remaining opportunities 

 for the study of a nearly pure form of bolvan 

 worship ; and if the author had not allowed his 

 feelings of civilized disgust at some of the native 

 performances to get the better of him, he might 

 have worked himself more thoroughly into their 

 good graces, and given us some insight into the 

 rites of Num, the Arctic god. As it is, the sub- 

 ject is dismissed with a footnote and an ac- 



