2 Gen. Sub. 
I. GENERAL SUBJECTS. 
[ 1904 ] 
INTRODUCTION. 
Nearly 1000 works are included in this Record. 
Two works of the most general character appeared in 1904. The second 
edition of Weismann’s work on evolution (927) as well as its translation 
by Prof, and Mrs Thomson (928) we can merely mention ; its chief theme 
being that characters, taken as the sign of evolution, must be born not 
acquired. There can be no doubt that, however open to criticism the 
system of this most talented Zoologist may be, it is of much value as 
tending to expose the term heredity to the critical consideration it so 
much requires. 
Wasmann’s general work (919) is practically a new one though styled a 
second edition. From a philosophical point of view the work of the 
Revd. Father might be perhaps severely criticised, but his views so far as 
they go are frankly stated, and the work zoologically will be found very 
good, and easily intelligible. 
There are several learned works on the zoology of the ancients, Burck- 
hardt (155-158), Strunz (864). At the opposite extreme we find the 
memoirs of Spengel (851), Ziegler (971), Korschelt (482) who utter 
words of caution as to the confusion created by those who consider they 
are correcting zoological words and taxonomical expressions by changing 
their orthography. It certainly seems undesirable that we should have 
current, Kephalopoda, Cephalopoda, Zephalopoda. 
The emission of rays by living bodies is attracting some attention, 
Charpentier (180); as is also the effect of radium and other rays, on 
organisation, Schaper (792), Willcock (945) etc. 
Much attention continues to be given to the subject of unconscious 
movement. Bohn (97) after elaborate experiments concludes that the 
periodic movements of Convoluta are to be ascribed to inherited memory. 
Apparently this differs from the old terms instinct and habit, inasmuch 
as it is associated with protoplasm. Jennings’ work (446) gives the 
results of observations that have extended over a number of years. He 
considers that the reactions of the lowest organisms to stimuli are not 
entirely of the kind called tropisms, but are essentially of the same nature 
as the method of trial and error, and exhibit therefore the rudiments of 
intelligence. Forel’s (294) discussion of animal psychology is remarkably 
concise and lucid, and deserves the attention of all who do not entirely 
neglect this branch of knowledge. 
The first volume of the treatise on histology by Prenant, Bouin & 
Maillard (738) deals with cytology, and appears to be an important 
work: it is said to contain much new matter. 
■The relations of mitosis and amitosis are discussed by H. L. Osborn 
(686); and Child urges (184) that a greater importance attaches to 
amitosis than is usually conceded. 
' The “individuality” of chromosomes has been discussed and criticised by 
both Hacker (358) & Petrunkewitsch (719). Hacker is inclined to 
favour the term autonomy rather than individuality. But in discussing 
autonomy ho makes the difficulties connected with the term tolerably 
evident. He says that sperm and germ cells do not mix but only con- 
jugate, but we do not quite gather what sort of a process conjugation with- 
out mixing is believed to be. He puts in tabular form the chromosome 
morphology in the heredity of cross-breeds of three forms of Arthropods. 
Petrunkewitsch (719), who also criticises Boveri expects — and with 
great reason — valuable results from an inquiry into the cytology of par- 
thenogenesis. 
