might very probably be raised at will, and if they really are good eating, the experiment would be well worth trying."

-ERWIN F. SMITH.

Desert Vegetation.-Perhaps the most interesting part of Rev. George Henslow's recent book, The Origin of Plant Structures, are the two chapters on desert plants. The first of these chapters is devoted to a consideration of the origin of the morphological peculiarities of desert plants; the second to the histological peculiarities of such plants. A large amount of data are brought together, rather hastily it would appear, going to show that the peculiarities of desert plants are the direct outcome of the conditions under which they grow, in other words, that these peculiar modifications, such as reduction of leaf surface, increase of succulency, acquisition of spines, development of water storage tissues, sinking of the stomata below the level of the surface, excessive development of cuticle, of wax, or of hairiness, change from annual to biennial or perennial, increased length of roots, etc., are all brought about by the direct action of environment on the plant. "Natural selection," in the author's own words, "plays no part in the origin of species." These two chapters are well worth the perusal of all who are interested in the study of the flora of our western mountains and arid plains, and the whole book will serve to provoke thought. Other chapters deal with origin of structural peculiarities of alpine and arctic plants; maritime and saline plants; phanerogamous aquatic plants, etc. The book is a companion volume to the author's Origin of Floral Structures through Insects and other Agencies.-ERWIN F. SMITH.

A Second Rafinesque.-Die Pestkrankheiten (Infectionskrankheiten) der Kulturgewächse; Nach streng bakteriologischer Methode untersucht und in völliger Uebereinstimmung mit Robert Kochs Entdeckungen geschildert von Prof. Dr. Ernst Hallier, is one of the querest books it was ever the lot of the writer to read. It was published at Stuttgart in 1895 by Erwin Nägale, and contains 144 8 vo. pages and 7 fairly well executed plates. Concerning this book it may be said that its author is either an undiscovered great genius or else a very crazy man. About one-third of the book is given up to caustic abuse of Anton de Bary and his students, relative to which it may be said that Dr. de Bary's reputation is safe not only in the hands of his friends but also in the hands of all who love clear thinking and honest work; and all this without defending any of the errors into which he may have fallen. Another third of the book or thereabouts is devoted to the description of old and well known species of Peronosporaceæ,

little that is really new being added, but most facts being correctly stated. The names of many of the species, however, are changed for reasons which would not be recognized as good even by the most ultra radical. For example Cystopus candidus is changed to C. capsella E. H. because the fungus is said to grow mostly on Capsella and every fungus should be named as far as possible from the host it infests. In like manner Cystopus cubicus becomes C. compositarum E. H.; Phytophthora infestans, P. solani E. H.; Peronospora sparsa, P. rosa E. H., etc. In the same way the author puts his initials after many old genera e. g., Phytophthora and Peronospora, or substitutes other names, e. g. Zoospora E. H. for Plasmopara, because he concieves the name to have been originally employed in a different sense from that in which it is now used or in which he employs it. The other idea running through the book and occupying at least a third of it is that bacteria originate from plastids developed inside of the cells of fungi, and that we shall never make any progress in the study of animal and plant diseases due to bacteria until we determine from just what fungi they originate. The potato rot, for example, is due to bacteria developed from the broken down mycelium of the fungus Phytophthora infestans.

"If now one keeps for a long time in observation under the microscope such an escaped mass of plasma [from the mycelium or conidia of Phytophthora] one beholds, just as in the cases already mentioned by us, the freeing of the plastids, their change into micrococcus, and the elongation, division, etc. of these." (P. 82). In Peronospora ficarice also "the origin of the microorganisms is unquestionable, but until now I have not been able to follow them further. These organisms are visible in a fresh section in the interior of the leaf tissue of the host.” (P. 134.) The converse of this proposition is also true i. e. that under certain conditions bacteria change back again into the original fungus, the growth of certain yeast cells into mycelium being cited as a case in in point. "If these [bacteria] arise from definite fungi by the finally free development of the plastids, it must also come to pass that the micrococcus, which is the first product of the freed plastids, will again give rise to the higher fungous form from which it originated. Of this the first well known and precise example is the history of the development of the beer yeast." (P. 105.). The author who is a graduate of one of the German Universities, formerly held a chair of botany in one of them, and has been writing books similar to this one for the last 30 years claims to have seen the change from fungous plastids inside of mycelia or spores into genuine free swimming bacteria, rods and cocci. This change is difficult to bring about artifically, requiring long watch

ing at the microscope and the partial exclusion of air from the preparation. Figures are given of these plastids and of the bacteria. All of which reminds us of the proof of miraculous healing by holy water at certain wells, viz., "the well is with us to this day." The author complains that nobody reads his books, but this cannot be charged against the writer who has patiently waded through the whole of this one, to very little profit, however, it must be confessed. The absurdities, however, are not so numerous as in the author's Phytopathology, published in 1868. Therein may be found, full fledged or in embryo, most of the queer notions here set forth and also many others.

ERWIN F. SMITH.

ZOOLOGY.

The Cruise of the Princess Alice.-The zoological material obtained by the Prince of Monaco during the past summer cruise of his yacht, the Princess Alice, is abundant and valuable. The fortunate capture of a sperm whale in the vicinity of the yacht, off the coast of Terceira Island, resulted in the acquisition of some rare specimens of the animal kingdom which otherwise might never have been known. From the Prince's narrative of the voyage we learn that the cachalot was the "catch" of some Portugese whalers with whom the Prince arranged to secure what portions of the animal he wished, especially the brain. Unfortunately some days elapsed before the skull was penetrated, and then the brain was found to be in too advanced a stage of decomposition to be of use for preservation. Meantime a large number a parasites were collected from the stomach, the digestive organs, the blubber and the skin of the animal, and the contents of the stomach secured for examination. While in the act of death the whale ejected several large cephalopods which it had only just swallowed, as was evident from their perfect preservation. These were also obtained by the Prince for his collection. Amongst them were three large specimens, each over one meter in length, of a species probably new, of the little-known genus Histioteuthis; also the bodies of two other immense cephalopods so different from all hitherto known that it is impossible to place them in any genus or even family of this order. M. Jonbain proposes for them the name Lepidoteuthis grimaldii. female, of which the body, or visceral sac after prolonged immersion in formol and alcohol, still measures 90 cm. in length, from which it is

One of these specimens is a

estimated that the length of the complete animal would exceed 2 meters. The surface of the sac is covered with large, solid rhomboidal scales, like those of a pine cone. The fin is very powerful, forms one-half of the length of the body and is not furnished with scales.

When the stomach of the whale was opened it was found to contain over a hundred kilogrammes of partially digested debris of cephalopods, all of them of enormous size. The crown and tentacles of a Cucioteuthis were identified. This genus has hitherto been known only by few fragments. The muscular arms, though shrunken and contracted by the preserving fluid, are as thick as those of a man, were covered with great suckers, each armed with a sharp claw, as powerful as those of the larger carnivora. More than one hundred of these suckers remain adhering to the arms.

Another cephalopod found in the stomach of the whale is provided with a large fin, in the skin of which are enclosed certain photogenic organs. The form of the body suggests a new species, but as the head is wanting, it cannot be positively identified.

These cephalopods are all powerful swimmers, and very muscular. They appear to belong to the fauna of the deep intermediate waters, an almost unknown region. They never come to the surface, no do they lie on the bottom of the sea. Their great agility prevents their capture

in nets, hence it would seem that the only way to obtain these interesting gigantic creatures is to kill the giant who feeds upom them and rescue the fragments from his huge maw.

Accordingly, for the next season's cruise, the Princess Alice is to have, in addition to her present fittings, those of a sperm whaler, or else to have as a compainion a special whaling tender.

The further working up of the material in hand is being pushed forward with energy, and interesting results are anticipated. (Nature, Jan., 1896.)

Australian Spiders.-Among the new Arachnida reported from New South Wales are three species of Nephila; N. fletcherii, N. edwardsii and ventricosa. These are described and figured by Mr. W. J. Rainbow in the Proceeds. of the Linn. Soc. N. South Wales. The author includes in his paper some interesting observations on the habits of Nephile and their supposed bird-snaring propensities. Representatives of this genus abound in tropical and subtropical regions. Their webs are composed of two kinds of silk; one yellow, exceedingly viscid and elastic, the other white, dry and somewhat brittle. The latter is used for the framework of the web, the guys and radii, and the former

for the concentric rings. These snares are at varying heights, sometimes within reach, again 10 to 12 feet from the ground, but always in a position exposed to the rays of the sun. The diameter is also variable, from 3 feet upwards. One seen by Gräffe in the Fiji Islands (probably a Nephila) constructs a web 30 feet in diameter.

These snares are strong enough to entrap small birds. In the author's opinion the web is not set for such game, and the spider does not feed on her ornithological victim. In the cases where she has been observed with her fangs in the body of the ensnared bird it is probable that it is for the purpose of hastening the death of the bird in order to prevent its injuring the web in its struggles to escape.

Spiders of the genus Nephila are easily tamed. Although exceedingly voracious, they can nevertheless exist for many days without either food or water. They pair in autumn. The sexes inhabit the same web for a considerable time, the female in the center and the male on the upper edge of the web. His efforts to ingratiate himself in the favor of his mate are not always successful. It not infrequently happens that he has to retire from her presence minus two or three legs. “Ultimately says the author, he succeeds in attaching himself in the requisite position, and performing the necessary act of fecundation." (Proceeds. Linn. Soc. N. South Wales, [2] Vol. X, Pt. 2, 1895.)

Autodax iecanus.-According to Mr. Van Denburg, Autodax iecanus, a black Salmander first found in Shasta Co., California, is a nocturnal forager. It usually walks slowly along, moving one foot at a time, but is capable of rapid motion when necessary. At such a time it aids the action of the legs by a sinuous motion of the whole body and tail. In addition to being prehensile, the tail is put to a third use. When caught the animal will often remain motionless, but if touched will raise the tail and strike it forcibly against the surface upon which it rests, and accompanying this action with a quick motion of the hind legs, will jump from four to six inches, rising as high as two or three inches. Mr. Van Denburg finds that the species has a wide distribution in California. (Proceeds. Calif. Acad. Sci., Vol. V, 1895.)

Reptiles and Batrachians of Mesilla Valley, New Mexico. -The following list may be worth publishing as a contribution to the more exact knowledge of the distribution of animals in New Mexico. It may be relied upon as correct, as all the species have been identified by Dr. L. Stejneger, and the specimens are to be found in the U. S. National Museum. The valley about Las Cruces, where most of the species were obtained, is 3800 ft. above sea-level, its extreme sides rise