2?5 



NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 





Elements d'Anatomie Comparee. Par Remy Perrier. Two vols. 

 8vo, 1208 pp., with illustrations. Paris : J. Bailliere et 

 Fils. 1892. 



The greater part of this book is apportioned to the Inverte- 

 brata, as the fashion of the day would lead us to suspect ; but 

 some 400 pp. are given over to the Vertebrata. Each of the first 

 twelve chapters is devoted to a consideration of some one or 

 more great groups, and the remaining nine embody a more 

 definitely organological treatment of the Vertebrates alone. The 

 bulk of each of the first series and the first of the last series is 

 in each case preceded by a classificatory review in tabular form ; 

 and the more general consideration of broader affinities and 

 genetic relationships are in all cases relegated to conclusions in 

 small type. We heartily approve of this method. The order of 

 presentation appears at first sight somewhat capricious, for while 

 the Mesozoa are telescoped in between the Protozoa and Porifera, 

 and the Echinodermata follow the Coelenterata, the Arthropoda 

 and Brachiopoda stand at opposite ends of a series, linked together 

 by the Nemathelminthes, Rotifera, Bryozoa, and Chastopods (with 

 the Gephyrea and Hirudinea), and followed by the Platyhel- 

 minthes. For the treatment of the Arthropoda before the 

 Segmented Worms there is much to be said, and the position of 

 the Brachiopoda in the author's scheme is explained by his 

 having adopted the view that segmentation of their larvae implies 

 their origin from segmental animals. Protospongia and Mago- 

 sphasra are swallowed outright, but the author is fortunate in 

 discussing the affinities of certain of the more difficult groups. 

 The arguments involved in this or that notion of the relation- 

 ships of the Porifera, Mesozoa, and Gigantostraca, are set 

 forth in lucid and unbiassed terms, and although the author is 

 prone to hint at definite opinions, he never forces his hand in 

 favour of either his own or anyone else's extreme views. The 

 hypotheses which would point to a possible relationship between 

 the respiratory organs of Limulus and Arachnids are duly recog- 

 nised, but the Gigantostraca, with Limulus, are retained among 

 the Crustacea; and we similarly find Rhabdopleura, Cephalo- 



