-536 Recent. Literature, [June, 
anthropoid apes appear therefore to require that there should be 
a “missing link,” in the sense that physical evidences of inter- 
calary types are unpreserved. The “ survival” of the fittest, at a 
certain period in the history of life, means exactly such surviv 
as would make it improbable that many remains should be pre- 
served, and this survival only the fittest would, under the circum- 
stances, attain. Such anthropoid apes as were capable of generating 
man should have been superior to those whose remains were pre- 
oe served because they had not intelligence enough to protect their 
lives. The first considerable preservation of primitive man would 
begin when he ventured on navigation; but his remains so pre- 
served will be “ missing,” until such time as “the sea gives up 
her dead.” ; 
—— The committee of Congress which has been investigating 
the U. S. Geological Survey has not dealt kindly with Major 
Powell and his charge. There is no intrinsic reason why Congress 
Should not be favorable to the Geological Survey, but there 1s 
probably no department where it is less likely to tolerate go 
We cannot say that the survey has been entirely free from faults 
of this kind. If Major Powell is carrying any Jonahs he had bet- 
ter relieve himself of them. 
8 z 
| aY RECENT LITERATURE. 
Ni _. A Hanp-Boox or Pranr Dissection. —This long-promised 
“welcomed by laboratory workers throughout the country. It Me 
apparently an entirely original work, no statements being rier 
at second hand, and no directions for work being given which ae 
not been actually worked out by the authors. themselves. ad 
finds evidence of this original work on almost every dae oe 
_ this fact alone will commend the book to all teachers an mee 
_ every pupil who wishes to become an investigator in structure’ 
| Hand-Book of Plant Dissection. By J. C. Artuur, M.Sc., botanist to OF 
New York Agricultural Experiment Station: CHARLES R. BARNES, sont Sage ON 
of botany in Purdue University, and JoHN M. Cou.rer, Ph.D., professor Holt 
in Wabash College; editors of the Botanical Gazette, New York, Henry 
Company, 1886, pp. XXII, 256, 12 mo, with two plates, 
