692 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXIX. No. 1010 



applies as well to species in which the female 

 is the heterozygous sex as to those in which 

 the male is heterozygous. The author does not 

 hesitate to locate these factors in the chromo- 

 somes (though only one of them is in the X- 

 chromosomes), and he is at considerable pains 

 to show how this representation may be in 

 harmony with the facts regarding several well- 

 known cases of sex-limited inheritance. Cross- 

 ing over (Morgan) is a modification of the 

 regular process, but in no wise a contradiction. 



Chapter XIII. is largely new. It relates to 

 polymery, interference of genetic factors, 

 sterility of hybrids and coupling of factors. 

 Breeders, especially in Germany, come in for 

 some sharp criticism for not adopting Men- 

 delian methods and terminology. Inheritance 

 in man is discussed in the final chapter of the 

 book, which is new, and an extensive list of 

 literature appearing from 1911 to 1913 is 

 added to the old bibliography. 



Numerous other changes, both additions and 

 emendations, are made elsewhere. Many of 

 these are made for pedagogical reasons. Some 

 are of interest as indicating possible changes 

 of the author's opinion. Thus, the author is 

 now more inclined than formerly to regard 

 the mutability of Oenothera lamarckiana as 

 due to the hybridity of that species. He now 

 leans more to the " Presence and Absence " 

 theory of Bateson as representing the real 

 truth. The chapter on inheritance of acquired 

 characters is clarified, but the author's views 

 are apparently little changed. 



In a growing subject a book can scarcely 

 be without errors. Thus, the four armadillo 

 embryos of a litter are still referred to the 

 first four blastomeres of the egg, whereas the 

 reasons for so regarding them seem to have 

 disappeared in the work of Patterson.^ Typo- 

 graphical errors are few. Unfortunately, sev- 

 eral of these have crept into the illustrations, 

 but attention is directed to them in the legend. 



The book is so good, however, that one can 

 overlook its few faults. The new edition is 

 plainly an improvement over the old. One 



2 Patterson, J. T., Jour. Morph., Vol. 24, No. 4, 

 1913, pp. 559-662. 



could wish it were to be translated into Eng- 

 lish for the benefit of the American students 

 who will not read it in the original. 



A. Franklin Shull 



Solvents, Oils, Gums, Waxes and Allied Suh- 

 stances. By Frederic S. Hyde, S.B. Con- 

 sulting Chemist, New York. New York, 

 Van Nostrand. 1913. Price $2.00. 

 These notes are for the use of factory 

 chemists who wish a book on the subjects 

 named which shall be condensed and authori- 

 tative. 



The title suggests one of the good features 

 of the book, that which gives the solvents for 

 many of the substances mentioned; besides 

 this, however, methods are given for the analy- 

 sis of these compounds. In attempting to 

 cover such a wide field it is not surprising that 

 inaccuracies have crept in. For example, the 

 statement regarding the Maumene-Sherman 

 test (with sulphuric acid) is in error, as no 

 dilution of the oil is necessary when using the 

 ninety per cent. acid. The general unreli- 

 ability of the Valenta test is not clearly stated. 

 It is to be regretted that the " saponification 

 equivalent " is again revived as it is infre- 

 quently met with at present. It should be 

 noted that the New York State Tester is not 

 commonly used for the ordinary lubricating 

 oil — the Cleveland Cup is the one commonly 

 employed. In the analysis of paints no refer- 

 ence is made to the use of the convenient cen- 

 trifuge. 



The book is one which will be very useful 

 to all having to do with these substances. 



A. H. Gill 



SPECIAL ABTICLES 



ADAPTATION OF THE TAMARISK FOR DRY LANDS 



Although a si)ecialist in the line of cereal 

 investigations, the writer has had occasion 

 during the past ten years, in connection with 

 grain experiments in dry-farming in the 

 Great Plains and Western States, to observe 

 the comparative adaptation to conditions of 

 drought of various orchard and forest trees. 

 While certain trees, such as the black and 

 honey locusts, the elm, Osage orange, hack- 



