I 880.] Recent Mollusca during the year 1879. 427 
order, the diagnoses of all the genera and higher divisions of the 
Mollusca, both recent and fossil, and the descriptions and figures 
of all the recent species, together with the main features of their 
anatomy and physiology, their embryology and development, 
their relation to man and other animals, and their geological and 
geographical distribution.” “ Each part will be complete in itself, 
Part 1 will contain the Cephalopoda; the Muricidz will follow.” 
“Only 250 copies will be published.” It is but fair to say that 
the parts of this gigantic undertaking, which have so far appeared, 
comprise the results of a surprising amount of industry. 
Anatomy and Development.—Perhaps the most important papers 
which have appeared in this department during the year, are those 
of Prof. W. K. Brooks in the “Scientific Results of the Session 
of 1878, Chesapeake Zodlogical Laboratory ;” 8vo, 170 pages, 
13 plates, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University, 1879. 
Of the two papers referred to, the first on “ The Development 
of Lingula and the systematic position of the Brachiopoda,” is the 
most extended (35--112 pp., 6 pl.) and important. The first por- 
tion is devoted toa description of the features of the embryos of 
Lingula (Glottidia) pyramidata Stm., with a review of previous 
investigations on the same subject. The second part reviews the 
“ Bearing of the development of Lingula upon the systematic 
position of the Brachiopoda.” The several very diverse views of 
different authors are discussed in the light of the new facts pre- 
viously set forth, and especially that theory held and expounded 
with so much energy and wit by Prof. E. S. Morse, that the 
Brachiopods were (1) Annelids or (2) “ Vermes.” 
The important contributions to our knowledge of the early 
stages of Brachiopods, made by Prof. Morse in the past, entitle 
any views of his to respectful consideration, such as is here 
accorded to them, but with the result of dismissing the first (which 
indeed had never been accepted in literal fashion by any naturalist 
of standing except Prof. Morse) very briefly, and for the second, 
concluding that “the Brachiopods then are ‘ Vermes ’ in the same 
Sense that the Echinoderms, Mollusca, Tunicates and Vertebrates 
are ” (l. c. p. 102), and reiterating views expressed in 1876, to the 
effect that, “as soon as-we recognize that the Lamellibranchs 
are not to be regarded as typical Mollusca, and that all of the lat- 
ter are to be traced back to a ‘ Veliger,’ all difficulty seems to 
disappear, and it becomes plain, not only that Mollusca and Mol- 
