SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES 
RELATING TO 
ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY 
(principally invertebrata and cryptogamia), 
MICBOSCOPY, Etc. 
Including Original Communications from Fellows and Others.* 
ZOOLOGY. 
VERTEBRATA, 
a . Embryology, f 
Germinal Selection.^ — Prof. A. Weismann in tliis important essay 
seeks to remove “ the patent contradiction of the assumption that the 
general fitness of organisms, or the adaptations necessary to their ex- 
istence, are produced by accidental variations — a contradiction which 
formed a serious stumbling-block to the theory of selection.” “ Though 
still assuming that the primary variations are ‘ accidental ,’ I yet hope,” 
he says, “ to have demonstrated that an interior mechanism exists which 
compels them to go on increasing in a definite direction the moment 
selection intervenes.” In this sense definitely directed variation exists. 
The interior mechanism referred to is germinal selection, i.e. the 
selection of vital units within the germ-cells ; and the central idea of the 
essay is that “ the variations presented to personal [better individual or 
organismal ?] selection must themselves have been produced by the 
principle of the survival of the fit.” This is effected by profound 
processes of selection in the interior of the germ-plasm. 
In short, Weismann has extended to the determinants in the germ 
the conceptions of struggle, elimination, and survival. With his usual 
adherence to logic he has extended Roux’s “ struggle of parts ” and 
histonal selection to the farthest possible point. A few quotations will 
make his position clear. 
* The Society are not intended to be denoted by the editorial “ we,” and they do 
not hold themselves responsible for the views of the authors of the papers noted, 
nor for any claim to novelty or otherwise made by them. The object of this part of 
the Journal is to present a summary of the papers as actually published , and to 
describe and illustrate Instruments, Apparatus, &c., which are either new or have 
not been previously described in this country. 
f This section includes not only papers relating to Embryology properly so called, 
but also those dealing with Evolution, Development and Reproduction, and allied 
subjects. 
t ‘ On Germinal Selection,’ Chicago, 1896, 8vo, xii. and 61 pp. ; C. R. Congr. 
Internat. Zool., 1896, pp. 35-70. 
