The Zoologist/4th series, vol 5 (1901)/Issue 725/Notices of New Books
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.
All serious students of zoology—to whom this publication is addressed—will welcome the appearance of another volume of this excellent treatise. The present contribution is written by Dr. Benham, and was mostly completed before the author left England to take up his appointment in the University of Otago, New Zealand. The Platyhelmia represent a natural phylum often submerged by writers under the old and more inexact term "Vermes," and comprise Flatworms (Planarians), with their offshoots, the Flukes and the Tapeworms. A method pursued, as in the previous parts—already noticed in these pages—and again one of the original features, is an historical survey of each class, showing the slow and gradual accumulation of the facts and theories dealt with, and the chief zoologists who have contributed to our knowledge of the group. One of the most interesting questions raised in the volume relates to the Tapeworm, and as to how the life-cycle of these animals, now perfectly understood, conforms to, or illustrates Steenstrup's Theory of the Alternation of Generations. This is very fully discussed, and demands the careful study of those interested in the question.
It is still apparently too often forgotten that it is in such books as the one under notice, and in studies such as it enforces, that the true facts of evolution are to be found, and not by surface impressions or ingenious suggestions. Nothing seems so much in vogue as an acquiescence in the dogmas of a popular evolution designed for the instruction of the man in the street, or for those who like to acquire new ideas on trust. It is, however, probably as true as the facts of evolution itself, that in every civilized country the number of those who have acquired the knowledge to master the conception is not very large. These, however, are its high priests, and it would be well if the doctrine always came from them direct. Evolution is a revelation, but it is only made to those who diligently seek it, and the study of this Treatise on Zoology will greatly help those who care to make the quest.
The aim of this brochure is clearly stated in the Preface—"The facts dealt with in the following pages are intended to show that the doctrine of the non-inheritance of acquired characters does not always hold good." To prove this negative is somewhat difficult; to even suggest it is to-day unpopular to those who believe en masse, and receive ex cathedrâ. As the author states—"All the various forms of mutilation of animals and man practised from time immemorial have failed hitherto to furnish cases of such mutilations being transmitted by descent." Mr. Kidd does not, however, suggest that such constant mutilations may have caused congenital variation which has become hereditary.[1]
The author proposes a dynamical explanation for the presence of whorls, featherings, and crests in the hairy coats of mammals, and argues that, as a rule, they are due to the traction of the underlying muscles of the part in question, occurring in regions where opposing traction of underlying muscles is found; never occurring over the middle of a large muscle, and most uniform and strongly marked in animals with very strong muscles.
In considering the hair-slope in man, Mr. Kidd makes a distinct challenge to the followers of Weismann, which we only propose to record. It appears that, although the arrangement of hair in man corresponds to a considerable extent with that of the Anthropoid Apes, there are certain peculiarities, or an "exceptional type," in its distribution which raise the issue whether "the hair-slope in man is a strong argument against the theory of the Simian descent of Man (as far as present evidence goes), or that it furnishes a body of evidence against his (Weismann's) cardinal rule that acquired characters are never inherited."
This is a proposed quarterly publication, and is edited, in consultation with Francis Galton, by W.F.R. Weldon, Karl Pearson, and C.B. Davenport. It is an expression of the advanced study of evolution, and a recognition of the mathematical argument that may be employed in its exposition. "It is intended that 'Biometrika' shall serve as a means not only of collecting under one title biological data of a kind not systematically collected or published in any other periodical, but also of spreading a knowledge of such statistical theory as may be requisite for their scientific treatment." On these grounds alone this new publication will be welcomed; but it possesses a still higher credential, as expressed in its editorial preface, which we must quote in full:—"Evolution must depend upon substantial changes in considerable numbers, and its theory therefore belongs to that class of phenomena which statisticians have grown accustomed to refer to as mass-phenomena. A single individual may have a variation which fits it to survive, but unless that variation appears in many individuals, or unless that individual increases and multiplies without loss of the useful variation up to comparatively great numbers—shortly, until the fit type of life becomes a mass-phenomena—it cannot be an effective factor in evolution." Hence the cogency and value of the study by mathematics of large numbers. The value of this method applied to the many guesses, theories, and suggestions which the term evolution has inspired, but for which real evolutionary study is not answerable, cannot be ignored. It can be expressed in the words of Darwin: "I have no faith in anything short of actual measurement and the Rule of Three."
To many like ourselves, to whom abstruse figures are repellant, and all machinery abhorrent—and there is a fear that we are a large number—we shall scarcely follow the process, though we cannot neglect the conclusions. It will be well for all to sometimes turn from Philip the theorist to Philip the mathematician. Figures will doubtless show the bankruptcy of much apparently joint-stock theory, and we may indeed rejoice in the prospect of such a result.
The acquisition of Porto Rico by the United States has been already followed by scientific results of the greatest interest to zoologists, and we may confidently expect the same biological enterprise to be devoted to the study of the Cuban fauna. The present volume is devoted to the fishes of Porto Rico, of which 291 species are now enumerated. Of these no fewer than 263 were obtained by the 'Fish Hawk' expedition, and thirty-three of them proved to be new species. All the genera and species are fully described, and very many figured; while forty-nine coloured plates are added, which alone are a revelation to those who have never seen the gorgeous hues of, say, the fishes of a coral-reef. These figures may be accepted as true in colouration, for most of them "were painted on board the 'Fish Hawk,' the fish being placed in an aquarium as soon as caught, and the life colors gotten before they had undergone any appreciable change." This, of course, is not possible in all cases, and an almost insurmountable difficulty is experienced, as when, in the case of the Deep-water Gurnard (Peristedion gracile) we are told:—"So rapidly do such fishes as this change color when brought up from considerable depths, that we can never be sure that the colors they exhibit when we first behold them are really those which they possess in the depths which they inhabit; in fact, we may be quite sure that the colors are not the same, but whether the colors are more or less intense is difficult to determine."
The curious trivial names applied to animals are often inexplicable. A fish found from Florida Keys to Brazil is known by the appellation of "Margate-fish." According to Mr. Evermann, some of the fishermen of the Bahamas came originally from Margate, and thus gave the name of their English port to a fish which they found in the Bahamas.
This forms volume iii. of the great monographic Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalænæ, and is something more than its title implies, being not confined altogether to the species contained in the National Collection, but embracing all others known and recorded. The present volume is a bulky one, containing 690 pages, and the descriptions of 1171 species, with synoptical keys to, as well as descriptions of, genera and species. It completes the Arctiadæ, and also fully deals with the small family Agaristidæ of day-flying habits. To produce such volumes annually is no small task, and the author may be congratulated on maintaining his standard of thoroughness throughout.
There can be little doubt that a standard of nomenclature must for long appertain to these volumes. The examination and comparison of genera and species has been so extensive as to command respect, even from those whose descriptions have been treated as of a synonymical character only, the author having shown a healthy spirit of conservatism in classificatory details, and having written with the courage of his convictions.
A fresh departure seems to have been taken in the spelling of some generic and specific names, to which publicity should be given, as the course will probably occasion considerable comment. We find "valkeri" substituted for "walkeri," "vestvoodi" for "westwoodi," and other similar changes. This is a scholastic question which will probably result in divergent opinion, and need not be discussed here.
We certainly feel a spirit of gratitude as we peruse these pages of condensation and analysis; they make the study of a difficult subject a matter of surmountability, and render the classification and recognition of a large concourse of living creatures an easy undertaking for any serious student. Besides the numerous illustrations incorporated in the text, nineteen beautifully coloured plates are given in a separate form.
The inception of this volume is due to the recent meeting of the British Association at Glasgow. Twenty-five years ago, when the Association met on the banks of the Clyde, a Natural History Handbook was issued to the members, but the present volume is a notable advance on that publication. The lists have now been compiled by a large body of workers, amongst whom are many well-known names, and will be invaluable to zoologists and geologists, who so frequently visit this beautiful area. The volume also ought to, and probably will, prove an incentive to local collectors, and we may expect to find records of species "not included in the Brit. Assoc. List." This will probably prove a laborious quest, for many of the lists are compiled by men difficult to beat in this undertaking; but the last word is never said in a local list of species distributed over such a country as the Clyde Area. A splendid Bathy-orographical Map accompanies the volume.
The Indian Ducks treated in this small but handy publication "include all Teal, Geese, Swans, and Mergansers." In reading the title therefore we must make a somewhat free use of the imagination. Besides a description of each species, and an account of its distribution, there are many observations of an interesting character. Indian vernacular names are given, and in an appendix we find many hints as to the successful treatment of these birds in confinement. Although this advice is given for the domestication of these "Ducks" in India, the small publication is well worth the perusal of all aviculturists in this country.
- ↑ Thus circumcision may have had a reflex action on facial characters.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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