443 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
Use of the term Homology. — A valuable paper on this subject .appears in 
the A/mals of Natural History for August by Mr. St. George Mivart, F.R.S. 
It would be idle to abstract it, for the conclusions it embodies would 
occupy the whole of our zoological space. We may, however, direct special 
attention to it. The author objects to Mr. Lankester’s proposal to do away 
with the term Homology, and he gives very good reasons for his belief, 
and offers fair tribute of praise to Professor Owen. 
The Origin of the Tasmanians. — Geologically considered, Mr. Bonwick 
states that this people have now become almost extinct, an old woman being 
the only survivor of the race. They were related in manners and in general 
physique to the neighbouring Australians, but were allied by black skin and 
woolly hair to the distant Africans, while they were assimilated by resem- 
blance of language, customs, and habits of thought, to many races scattered 
over vast areas. The author seeks to explain this relation by constructing 
an ideal southern continent, whence all the dark-coloured races surround- 
ing the Indian Ocean, and extending into the Pacific and southern oceans, 
may have radiated. He regards the Tasmanian as probably older than the 
Australian. Dr. Hooker, whose authority had frequently been quoted in the 
paper, pointed out the similarity and differences that obtain between the 
floras of Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, South Africa, &c. It has re- 
cently been found that the flora of the Howe Islands is very unlike that of 
Australia, although so near to the coast. He protested, however, against the 
inference that the line of migration followed by plants is necessarily the 
same as that pursued by the higher animals. The president alluded to 
the great difference between the Australian and Tasmanian, especially in 
the character of the hair ; and he regarded it as physically impossible that 
the Tasmanian could have come from Australia. lie suggested that an in- 
terrupted communication bv a chain of islands may have extended from New 
Caledonia to Tasmania, similar to that which now connects New Caledonia 
with New Guinea; and that by this means a low negrito type may have 
spread eastward over this area. 
Marine Mollusca of the Gulf of Suez. — A Report by Mr. M‘Andrew, F.R.S., 
was read at the British Association by the Rev. S. Tristram. It was en- 
titled, “On the Marine Mollusca of the Gulf of Suez, in February and March, 
1800.” The total number of species of Mollusca obtained by Mr. M‘Andrew 
in the Gulf amounted to some 818, of which 619 had been identified or 
described, the remaining 109 being still undetermined. In the list of named 
species were 355 not previously recorded as inhabiting the Red Sea, and of 
these, 53, including 3 genera, were new to science. Most of the undeter- 
mined species also would probably prove to be new to science, and all of 
them additions to the Red Sea fauna. The extraordinary dissimilarity be- 
tween the fauna of the Red Sea and of the Mediterranean, which had been 
frequently remarked, and which appeared to be confirmed by further re- 
searches on both sides of the isthmus, showed, the writer said, that a barrier 
between the seas must have existed from very remote time; and this was 
not inconsistent with Professor IsseTs statement, that an examination of the 
geological conditions of the isthmus led to the conclusion that the two seas 
were united during the Eocine and Myocine periods. 
