DECEMBER 15, 1899. ] 
be no aérial respiration by the lungs in the 
tadpole state as the lungs do not communi- 
cate with the exterior, but are closed sacs. 
The apparent aérial respiration of the 
toad tadpole is explicable only on the 
ground that air is taken in and mixed with 
the water which passes over the internal 
gills, something as fish go to the surface and 
gulp air when air dissolved in the water is 
too nearly exhausted. 
Effects of Hydrocyanie Acid Gas wpon Animal 
Life and its Economic Use. W. G. Joun- 
son, College Park, Md. 
A preliminary report upon a series of ex- 
periments with this gas upon animal life. 
A Discussion of Aspidiotus cydonie and Its 
Allies. OC. L. Maruatrr, Washington, 
1D; © 
This paper was published in full in the 
Canadian Entomologist for August, 1899, pp. 
208-211, under the title ‘ Aspidiotus convexus 
—a correction.’ 
The Histogenesis of Muscle in the Metamor- 
phosis of the Toad (Bufo lentiginosus amer- 
icanus). B. F. Kinespury, Ithaca, N. Y. 
The author spoke of the occurrence of 
metamorphosis in the development of cer- 
tain animals, among them the toad, the 
necessity of changes in metamorphosis, his- 
tolysis and histogenesis of the tissues, etc. ; 
the views on the changes constituting histo- 
genesis of tissues, muscle especially ; the re- 
sults of work on the toad and frog; and the 
bearing of these results on general biolog- 
ical principles. 
The Progenitors of the Batrachians. THEo. 
GiuL, Washington, D. C. 
This paper gave evidence showing that 
the Batrachians are probably descended 
from a type of fishes most nearly repre- 
sented in the present fauna by the Polyp- 
terids. 
Observations on the Variations, Life History 
and Habits of a Mimetie Locust ( Gtdipoda 
SCIENCE. 
885 
maritima Uhl). Hrrpert Ossorn, Co- 
lumbus, Ohio. 
Discussion of the possible factors affect- 
ing variations in a locust which shows 
striking protective resemblance and some 
observations regarding habits and life his- 
tory. 
A Chart Illustrating the Origin and Evolution 
of Animal and Vegetable Life. A. D. Hop- 
Kins, Morgantown, W. Va. 
An original scheme for illustrating the- 
ories on the origin and evolution of forms, 
genera, families, orders, etc., of life by 
means of a disk divided into spaces of va- 
rious sizes and forms and by curved and 
straight lines rising from the center of the 
disk. 
Geographical Variations, as Illustrated by the 
Horned Larks of North America. Harry 
C. OprRHOLsER, Washington, D. C. 
Discusses the distribution of the Horned 
Larks ; their relation to faunal areas; their 
distribution compared with other plastic 
groups; geographical variation in the 
Horned Larks, and comparison of varia- 
tion in other groups; anomalies in varia- 
tion of the Horned Larks; an examination 
into the causes of geographical variation. 
C. L. Marzarr, 
Secretary. 
SCIENTIFIC BOOKS. 
REPORT OF THE FUR: SEAL INVESTIGATIONS, 
1896-1897. 
The Fur Seals and Fur Seal Islands of the North 
Pacific Ocean. By David Starr Jordan, Presi- 
dent of Leland Stanford, Jr., University, 
Commissioner in Charge of Fur Seal Investi- 
gations of 1896-1897 ; with the following Offi- 
cial Associates: Leonhard Stejneger and 
Frederic A. Lucas, of the U. S. National 
Museum; Jefferson Moser, Lieutenant-Com- 
mander, U. 8. N., in command of the U. 8S. 
Fish Commission Steamer Albatross ; Charles 
H. Townsend, of the U.S. Fish Commission ; 
George A. Clark, Secretary and Stenog- 
rapher ; Joseph Murry, Special Agent ; with 
