No. 388.] REVIEWS OF RECENT LITERATURE. 337 
of as having had a polyphyletic origin, in part (Papillella) from the 
Spirastrosa, though chiefly from the Euastrosa (Suberites derived from 
Tethyorrhaphis). Since von Lendenfeld regards (p. 210) Tethyor- 
rhaphis as the “ Grundform aller Clavulina,” he evidently does not 
take very seriously the idea (p. 206) that the Euastrosa and Spiras- 
trosa have been independently evolved from different Tetractinellid 
families — though in the paragraph referred to he apparently coun- 
tenances this belief. 
Of von Lendenfeld’s ten families, all but the Latrunculide and 
Dendropside are represented in the Adriatic. Of his twenty-six 
genera, fifteen, represented by thirty species, are here found. Seven 
new species (Asteropus incrustans, Stelligera nux, Placospongia gracffei, 
Vioa topsentit, Vioa ramosa, Suberites gracilis, Astromimus luteus) are 
described, and of the twenty-three already described species, seven 
for the first time have been found in the Adriatic. 
In the descriptive part of the work-will be found details of interest 
concerning the histology and skeleton, together with observations in 
many cases on the appearance and behavior of the living sponge. 
H. V. WILson. 
Revised Classification of the Unionidæ. — Students of the Union- 
idæ will welcome the revision in the arrangement of the species of 
this group, which Mr. C. T. Simpson has introduced in Mr. C. F. 
Baker’s report + on the Mollusca of the “ Chicago area.” Anatomical 
features — other than those of the shell simply — are made the basis 
for the revision, the structure of the marsupia, for example, being 
employed as a diagnostic character. The genus Margaritana is 
rejected, Unio and Anodonta are broken up, the old genera A/asmo- 
donta, Strophitus, Quadrula, Obliquaria, Plagiola, and Lampsilis are 
revived, and a new genus, Anodontoides, is erected, to provide for the 
new and more natural grouping of the species. The shell of each of 
the fifty forms is described at length, and in most instances the 
external anatomy of the animal is also given. The local distribution 
is tabulated, and the geographical and geological range of each spe- 
cies is reported. Excavations about the city have revealed as fossils 
many of the species now reported as living in this area. Measure- 
ments are given, and data upon variation, habitat, and breeding are 
quite extensive. It is to be regretted that the introductory discussion 
of the group is not phrased in the terms of modern morphology, that 
1 Baker, F.C. The Mollusca of the Chicago Area, Pt. I, The Pelecypoda, Budi. 
No. Lil, Nat. Hist. Surv. Chicago Acad. Sci. (1898). 130 pp., 27 plates. 
