418 Scientific Intelligence. 



It is thus shown that, according to present knowledge, the Hor- 

 ney Sponges of the eastern and northern parts of the Indian Ocean 

 are not so similar to the Australian as those from the remoter 

 African coast of the Indian Ocean and those from the still more 

 remote American coast of the North Atlantic. " The similarity of 

 the Mediterranean and Australian faunas and the dissimilarity of 

 the European Atlantic and Australian are very striking." The 

 species, it is remarked, are typically shallow water forms. The 

 greatest number occur at depths of 20 to 50 meters and only 17 

 are reported from depths over 100 meters; the greatest depth of 

 any is 750 meters. 



The figures of sponges are mostly photo-lithographs taken 

 direct from the types, and are admirable. A large part of the 

 plates are devoted to anatomical dissections, and all are remarka- 

 bly fine. The bibliography occupies 68 pages. The author adds 

 to his acknowledgments : " Throughout my labors I have had the 

 constant assistance of my wife, and by her the greater number of 

 my microscopic preparations were made." 



6. The Bermuda Islands ; a Contribution to the Physical 

 History and Zoology of the Somers Archipelago with an exam- 

 ination of the structure of Coral JReefs. Researches under- 

 taken under the auspices of the Academy of Natural Sci- 

 ences of Philadelphia; by Angelo Heilprin. 231 pp. 8vo, 

 with 17 plates illustrating the zoology of the Bermudas, and 

 others, its scenery and geology. — Professor Heilprin has made an 

 attractive volume for the Bermuda traveler, by his vivid descrip- 

 tions of the islands and of their scenery above the water and be- 

 neath it, illustrated by phototypes, and by his account of the 

 coral reefs and discussion of their origin. The scientific reader 

 will find that the subject of the reefs and that of Bermuda zool- 

 ogy is presented by one who fully understands the problems he 

 deals with, and is familiar with much of the life of the seas. His 

 conclusion on the question of the origin of Coral islands he ex- 

 presses as follows : " If the theory of subsidence cannot, per- 

 haps, be considered to be absolutely demonstrated, it accords best 

 with the facts, and, indeed, may be said to be in substantial 

 harmony with them." . The additions to the list of Bermuda 

 species of invertebrates is quite large. The number of known 

 marine mollusca living about the reefs is increased from about 80 

 to 170 species, all of them excepting less than a dozen, "members 

 of the West Indian or Floridian faunas. Eleven are peculiar to 

 the islands, and are here first described. So again the number 

 of known species of terrestrial mollusks is increased from about 

 20 to 30; sixteen of all are West Indian, and three are species of 

 East Atlantic islands. Similarly the lists for other departments 

 of invertebrates are much increased, and made valuable by origi- 

 nal notes. 



To his own notes on the faunas, the author adds chapters on the 

 Actinology of the Bermudas by Professor J. Platfaie McMttr- 

 rich, on the Insects by Dr. P. R. Uhler, on the Spider fauna, by 



