190 Scientific Intelligence. 



plants. The treatise is stimulating and suggestive throughout. 

 Even where one cannot agree with the conclusions of the author 

 he must confess deep indebtedness for new lines of thought. 



G. L. G. 



9. Heather in Townsend, Mass. — In this Journal, Oct., 1888, 

 I gave a full description of the occurrence of Galluna vulgaris 

 at a locality not far from the railroad station in West Town- 

 send, near the New Hampshire line. On Saturday, July 14, 

 1906, this place was revisited by me for the purpose of ascertain- 

 ing what changes might have occurred in the distribution of the 

 plants. In a subsequent notice 1 shall hope to give details regard- 

 ing the present condition of the heather, but at present I will 

 merely state that the plant has steadily extended over a larger 

 area, and, although in certain spots it has suffered from various 

 agencies, it appears to be so well established as to wage a strong 

 and perhaps successful fight with the contending native plants. 

 The best time to visit this interesting station is early August. At 

 that date, the whole area is said to be a mass of bloom. At this 

 present writing, however, there were only slight indications that 

 the flowers this year would be numerous, but the dried capsules 

 from last year's blossoms were very plentiful. g. l. g. 



10. The Biology of the Frog ; by Samuel J. Holmes, Ph.D. 

 Pp. ix + 370, with 94 figures. New York, 1906 (The Macmillan 

 Company). — This work is designed particularly as a text-book 

 for students in the college or university who have had some 

 training in elementary biology. A study of this text accom- 

 panied by suitable practical work in the laboratory will lead 

 naturally to the study of comparative morphology and physiol- 

 ogy. This work is in the broadest sense a natural history of the 

 frog, whose systematic position, relationships, habits, food, ene- 

 mies, parasites, breeding periods, hibernation, powers of regen- 

 eration, movements, and so on are described. Then follow chap- 

 ters on the external characters, internal structures, development, 

 and general histology. Each of the principal organ systems of 

 the body is then taken up in detail with an account of the func- 

 tions of each part accompanying the description of the structure. 

 The two concluding chapters deal with instincts and tropisms, 

 and include a brief discussion of the frog's intelligence. The 

 figures and diagrams, which are carefully chosen and well printed, 

 are mainly from standard works, although a few are original. 

 Such a detailed knowledge of the biology of a single animal will 

 meet the needs of the college student who is preparing for the 

 study of medicine, and will form a convenient reference book for 

 teachers of biology in secondary schools. w. r. c. 



11. A Course in Vertebrate Zoology. A Guide to the Dissec- 

 tion and Comparative Study of Vertebrate Animals ; by Henry 

 Sherring Pratt. Pp. x + 299. New York and Boston, 1906 

 (Ginn & Company). — The plan of the book follows closely the 

 lines adopted by the author in his Invertebrate Zoology, which 

 was published several years ago and has proven a convenient 



