1885.] Recent Literature. 485 
and lengthy faunal lists, especially works on deep-sea forms have 
appeared, as well as important anatomical papers. Important 
papers on the myriopods appeared in 1883, and of entomologi- 
cal literature there appeared important anatomical and morpho- 
logical as well as palzontological works and papers, besides some 
faunal works of value. We shall in another place draw attention 
to recent discoveries which have not been quoted in our entomo- 
logical notes. It is enough to take one’s breath away to be told 
that the number of new genera described in 1883 was 1079, while 
the Arachnida have yet to be heard from. 
As we have said in former years the Zodlogical Record is of 
immediate and pressing value to American students, and it is sur- 
prising that more copies are not taken by our working natu 
ralists. 
MILLSPAUGH’S AMERICAN MEDICINAL Piants.'—This is a prom- 
ising work now issuing in parts, each containing six colored 
lithographic plates, and from ten to fifteen pages of descriptive 
text. Upon each plate are shown the characteristic portions of 
some plant with dissections of the floral organs, or the fruits and 
seeds. The drawings are generally accurate and the coloring is 
good. Of course one need not look in a work like this for that 
degree of accuracy and finish which we are accustomed to see in 
the drawings by Isaac Sprague, but still they answer their pur- 
pose admirably, of enabling the student to identify the different 
medicinal plants of his flora. ; aii 
Five parts (composing Fascicle 1) of this publication have al- 
ready appeared, including thirty plates. The whole work will 
contain 180 plates, and it is the intention of the publishers to- 
complete it within two years. The low price at which it is offered 
(five dollars per fascicle) places it within reach of everyone who is 
interested in the medicinal plants of the country. It will also 
be found an interesting and valuable addition to the library of the 
botanist.— Charles E. Bessey. 
PHILOSOPHIC ZOÖLOGY BEFORE Darwin. —“ The evolution of 
ideas,” says the author in his preface, is much like that of 
“living beings.” They ordinarily arise in an humble way, and 
lie concealed among older ideas, become confounded with them, 
but slowly they become differentiated, attain a certain strength, 
transform and die, after having engendered other ideas of a similar 
kind.” The book is an extremely interesting and suggestive one 
as will be seen by the following titles of the chapters: first ideas 
on the place of animals in nature; Aristotle; the Roman period; 
: 7 ‘cinal Plants ; an illustrated and descriptive guide to the Ameri- 
eri ans waht ODAS remedies; their omg carn magyar 88 
- Boericke & Tafel, New York and igo age i pce anaes 
2 . $ alot Darwin. Par EDMOND 
? La Philosophie Zoblogique ee Tea Ba on i 
scientifique internationale. XLV. 
