604 



THE AMERICAN NATURALIST \Yo\. XLI 



The work can be regarded only as an introduction to the modern! 

 experimental and biometric study of evolution, since much space is- 

 devoted to elementary principles, but it is a commendable effort to bring 

 the newer work before a wide circle of readers. 



J. A. H. 



Notes. — The origin of the cow-fea has been investigated by Wight 

 (r. Dept. of Acjric, Bur. of PI. IruL, Bull. 102. 1907.) who con- 

 cludes that this legume is a native of India and the region nortliwest- 

 ward to the trans-Caspian district. Its cultivation in that region is- 

 very ancient and it also extended to ('hina at an early period. As 

 early as the beginning of the Christian era it was known in Arabia and ' 

 Asia :Minor and was cultivated in at least one of the countries of 

 soutlicrn Europe at about the same time. Its introduction into cen- 

 tral Europe occurred much later and independently. It seems to- 

 have been introduced into the West Indies in the latter half of the 

 seventeenth century and probably reached the mainland during the 

 first half of the eighteenth century. 



