662 Recent Literature. _ [September, 
in their origin. Since the Japanese had fierce wars with the 
Ainos it would be past believing that they—bitter enemies as they 
were of the Ainos—would refrain from any feeling of delicacy in 
fastening every possible stigma, in reporting every possible crime 
about them. 
The Ainos were looked upon as debased, as having an animal 
origin; what more probable than that every hideous feature of 
their life be recorded and perpetuated? 
This important evidence being wanting, Mr. Siebold tries to 
make out that the Japanese were cannibals. Does he do this on 
the strength of their own historians or Chinese chroniclers? No, 
but on the testimony of Marco Polo! He who found in Japan 
temples roofed and paved with massive gold, who saw quantities 
of precious stones, who describes an invasion and storming of a 
city, the garrison put to death, all excepting eight, who by the 
efficacy of a charm introduced between the skin and the flesh of 
the right arm which rendered them proof against sharp swords, 
either to being killed or even wounded, and so they had to be 
beaten to death with wooden clubs! 
account of Marco Polo. This extraordinary writer says, “ that 
these people on capturing an enemy that was not ransomed, 
invited to their house all their relations and friends, and putting 
the prisoner to death, dress and eat the body in a convivial man- 
ner,’ etc., etc, 
With these few criticisms, Mr. Siebold’s work must be looked 
pon as a most excellent contribution to a knowledge of the 
archeology of Japan.—Z&. S. Morse. 
Barrour’s COMPARATIVE Emsryotocy.—Only within a year oF 
two, owing to the rapid advances made in our knowledge of the 
embryology of the invertebrate animals, could this book have | 
been prepared. It comprises a body of facts and, in the main, 
probably sound generalizations, which afford the student the only 
starting point for studies of this sort. The author has brought to 
his task much experience in the embryology both of vertebrates 
and invertebrates, and this knowledge, with wide reading an4 
good critical powers, have rendered the book a reliable, standard 
authority. As such it is most useful and timely. = 
_ The first volume is confined to the many-celled invertebrate _ 
animals, beginning with the sponges and ending with the Echigo- 
14 Treatise on Com ive E. s ur, F.R.S. in 
two volumes, Vol. 1. iia MEANT & Co 1880. Ge: oo ae Xx1I. $4-5° 
