the author is so far constrained, from motives of prudence in dealing with scientific names to the uninitiated as to use "backboned animals" for vertebrates, and the term "suck-giving" for mammalian, why does he take away the layman's breath by proposing the term hexicology, when we are only just getting used to the much better term environment?

But notwithstanding the formidable name at the head of the chapter, the essay itself is quite interesting, and serves to introduce us to the more valuable and interesting one on the pedigree and origin of the cat. In this essay all that has been learned of the cat's structure and development, and of cats and carnivora in general, is brought to bear upon the question of the origin of the species, and family, and order. In answer to these questions, the author, adopting the results of French and American palæontologists, states his belief that the cat has originated from the cheetah, and the Felidæ in general from some Viverrine animal, while the carnivora may have descended from Arctocyon, the oldest Tertiary mammal, and contrary to the views of some, our author derives the carnivora from the insectivora, rather than the marsupials. As to the method of evolution, Mivart stands out from most other English evolutionists as a believer in sudden or saltatory evolution as well as slow, gradual development of species, his views in a general way agreeing with those of several American writers on this subject. This last chapter is certainly an able and interesting discussion, and the entire volume is the work of an expert comparative anatomist, and of a strong, able, facile writer.

THOMAS' FIFTH REPORT ON THE INJURIOUS INSECTS OF ILLINOIS.1 -In its typographical appearance, as well as general usefulness to the farmer or gardener, and interest to the entomologist, this report appears to us to be somewhat in advance of its predecessors. The longest article is on the army worm, and is a critical discussion of known facts regarding its natural history, some points of which still remain to be cleared up. Professor Thomas suggests as the result of his meteorological studies in connection. with this insect and the chinch bug, that two favorable seasons are necessary to develop these insects in injurious numbers. The time is coming when by a study of climatic changes, we shall be able to predict, with some degree of certainty, the coming of injurious insects. This has already been in part worked out as regards the Rocky Mountain locust, and in this connection the suggestions and facts in the chapter of the present report on "the relation of meteorological conditions to insect development" is timely and valuable. Enough is now known of the periodicity in life of the more injurious insects to indicate that the Hessian

Tenth Report of the State Entomologist on the Noxious aud Beneficial Insects of the State of Illinois. Fifth Annual Report by CYRUS THOMAS, Ph.D., State Entomologist. Springfield, 1881. 8vo, pp. 244.

fly is most abundant in rather wet and moderately warm seasons; while warmth appears to be the chief element in developing the Aphides or plant lice, some species being more favored by a humid atmosphere, while others develop more rapidly in a dry season. "The cut-worms are developed more abundantly in such seasons as increase the army-worms, which in their normal habits are but cutworms, massing in armies and migrating being really an abnormal condition in their history. Observation shows, as heretofore stated, that, as a general rule, those species which occasionally develop in such vast numbers require for this purpose two consecutive seasons, though the character of the seasons for the different species differ somewhat. That is to say, those which bring out one species are not the ones which bring out another. As examples of the correctness of this statement I have only to refer to the migratory locusts, the chinch bug, as heretofore shown, the Hessian fly, the army-worm, etc. The locust and the chinch bug require the same kind of seasons, that is, two successive dry years, the latter warm as. well as dry; consequently, when two such seasons prevail generally over the Northwest, both species are apt to appear, as was the case in 1874. But the case is different with the army-worm. This requires a dry summer and fall, and I am inclined to believe also a dry winter, followed by a cool and rather damp and cloudy spring. The two most noted years of its appearance in this State were 1861 and 1875, each of which followed a preceding dry year, but in neither case was the year in which it appeared warm, 1861 being one of average temperature, and 1875 rather cold. The latter, which is the only one for which we have the records of the different seasons, was more than usually damp in the spring and summer." Some meteorological tables are given in illustration.

These chapters are followed by a descriptive catalogue of larva; that of the caterpillars of butterflies being compiled by Miss Nettie Middleton, that of the Sphingidæ, Ægerida and Bombycida by Mr. John Marten, while a chapter giving original notes on caterpillars is contributed by M. D. W. Coquillet. The Report closes with a reprint of Bulletin 4 of the U. S. Entomological Commission on the Hessian fly, by A. S. Packard, Jr.

WALCOTT ON THE ORGANIZATION OF TRILOBITES.-In this essay Mr. Walcott brings together the results of much patient labor in preparing sections and studying them with a view to settle the vexed question as to the nature of the limbs of the trilobite. The results are as follows: No antennæ have been discovered; but "four pairs of manducatory jaws, formed by the basal joints of the four anterior pairs of appendages," which “have a general structure similar to the cephalic legs of Limulus and Eurypterus."

1 The Trilobite: New and old evidence relating to its organization. By C. D. WALCOTT. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, Vol. VIII, No. 10. Cambridge, March, 1881.

Mr. Walcott also feels "justified in stating that there is a series of jointed legs extending from the cephalic shield beneath the thorax and pygidium to the posterior segment of the latter; that, as far as known, they were ambulatory, and formed of six or seven joints; that to the basal joint there was attached an epipodite and branchia; and that, from the proof we now have, there is little doubt but that the appendages beneath the pygidium did not vary essentially from those of the thoracic region. They may have terminated in a slender filament, or filaments, as but three joints have been seen in any one appendage." We congratulate the author on the success of his long-continued efforts and well-directed labors; he has fully demonstrated that Trilobites have slender jointed limbs on the general plan of those of Limulus, and not phyllopodous ones; while he has also shown that the branchia were also attached to certain of these limbs, though we may not be satisfied with his interpretation of the nature of these gills, and wait for further light on this extremely difficult point. His restoration of a Trilobite will be useful, although it does not seem entirely natural, but yet may express the results of Mr. Walcott's work thus far. He has settled, however, in an admirable way, the general nature of the appendages of the Trilobite, and is entitled to the thanks of palæontologists.

RECENT BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS.-Herpetologische Bemerkungen vorzugsweise üher Stüke des Naturhistorischen Museums in Bremen. Von Dr. J. G. Fischer, in Hamburg. Mit 3 Tafeln u. Abbildungen. 8vo, pp. 16, 4 plates, boards. Bremen, 1881. From the author.

Musée Teyler. Catalogue Systematique de la Collection Palaéontologique. Par T. C. Winkler. Quatrième Supplément. Roy. 8vo, pp. 38. Haarlem, 1881. From

the author.

La Revue Scientifique, de la France et de L'étranger. Revue des Cours Scientifiques (3e Serie) Directeurs: MM. Antoine Breguet et Charles Richet. Paris, Octobre 29, 1881. From the directors.

Notice sur les Poissons Tertiaires de Céreste (Basses-Alpes). Par M. H. E. Sauv. age. 8vo, pp. 22, 4 plates. Extrait du Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France. 3e serie, t. VIII, seance du 21 Juin, 1880. Paris, 1881. From the author. Value of Degrees Baumé given by different authors. ler and F. G. Wiechman. 1881. From the authors.

Compiled by C. F. Chand

South America-Brazil. Bolivia. Madeira and Mamore Railroad. By Dr. Isaac T. Coates. 1881. From the author.

Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 8vo, pp. 16. Washington, Government Printing Office, 1881. From the museum.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 8vo, pp. 48. Philadelphia, 1881. From the society.

The Honey Ants of the Garden of the Gods, and the Occident Ants of the American plains. By Henry C. McCook, D.D. 8vo, pp. 180, 13 plates, bound. Philadelphia, 1881. From the author.

On certain Cretaceous Fossils from Arkansas and Colorado. By C. A. White. 8vo, pp. 6, 1 plate. Ext. from Proc. Nat. Mus., 1881. Washington 1881. From the author.

Extra Census Bulletin. The areas of the United States, the several States and Territories, and their counties. By Henry Gannett, E. M. 4to, pp. 20, map. Government Printing Office, Washington, 1881. From the author.

Illustrations of a Law of Evolution of Thought. By Joseph LeConte. 8vo, pp. 20. 1881. From the author,

The Kames of Maine. By George H. Stone. 8vo, pp. 38, map. 1880. From the author.

Medical Electricity. By S. V. Clevenger, M.D. 8vo, pp. 16, cuts. Reprint from the Chicago Medical Journal and Examiner, Nov. 1881. Chicago, 1881. From the author.

.0.

GENERAL NOTES.

BOTANY.1

MIMICRY IN FUNGI.-" Instances of mimicry are not rare amongst fungi. They are more frequently attractive than protective mimicries. They may be of vegetable, of animal, or of excrementitious substances, either as regards external appearance, or as regards odor. The main object of these mimicries is the attraction of insects, the advantages of which to plants are: (1), either fertilization of hymenomycetous spores by co-specific spermatia from other individuals, or by the transportation of spores from the hymenium of one fungus to that of another, or perhaps increased germinative energy to the spores is obtained by the admixture of other co-specific spores without the element of sexuality; (2), the diffusion of the fungus spores by insects as well as by the larger animals."-Grevillea.

SIMBLUM RUBESCENS GERARD, IN IOWA.-Two years ago W. R. Gerard described and figured a new species of fungus in the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. It was discovered on Long Island, and was found to be a species of Simblum, a genus of the Phalloidei, the Stink-horn family. No species of Simblum had previously been known to exist outside of the tropics, S. periphragmoides occurring in the Mauritius islands, S. gracile in Ceylon, S. flavescens in Java, S. pilidiatum and S. sphærocephalum in South America. Such being the distribution of the known species, it must be regarded as remarkable that one should be found in North America, and Mr. Gerard was justified in questioning whether his specimens might not have grown from spores or mycelium brought in ballast from the tropics, especially as we understand they were found at no great distance from "ballast dumpings."

This question is settled, however, by its discovery in Central Iowa in October of the past year. A dozen or more plants were found in a field by C. L. Spencer, a student in the Agricultural College. Good specimens were secured and placed in alcohol for study in the laboratory. In only one particular do the Iowa specimens disagree with the description given by Mr. Gerard. To our plant Schlechtendal's remark as to the odor of an allied species does apply very forcibly, for it certainly does "stink fürchterlich." Edited by PROF. C. E. BESSEY, Ames, Iowa.

THE ASPARAGUS STEM FOR LABORATORY STUDY.-This plant affords as interesting and instructive an example of the stem of Monocotyledons as the now generally used pumpkin stem does of the Dicotyledons. It is so common that every botanical laboratory can be supplied with it, and its early appearance, and longcontinued growth make it possible to secure fresh specimens during many months of the year. The new shoots, such as are sold in the markets, if placed in alcohol afford good material for study, although we have found it a better plan to make all the sections we wanted of fresh stems and then to preserve these sections in alcohol. Thus some cross and longitudinal sections of the very young stems we made early last year are still in most excellent condition for study. Not the least interesting feature of the asparagus stem is its provision for increasing its diameter by the subsequent formation of fibro-vascular bundles in a sub-cortical meristem zone. This will afford material for much careful study on the part of students in the laboratory.

THE ABUNDANCE OF FRESH-WATER ALGÆ. The excessively wet autumn in Central Iowa caused an unusual growth of freshwater Algæ. Every pond and ditch was filled with Spirogyra, Zygnema, Vaucheria, etc, until the first of November. Usually our waters are nearly barren of these growths so late in the season, but this year the continued wet weather, instead of the usual drouth, favored their development. The same causes doubtless produced the unusually large amount of autumn blooming of our spring flowers which was noticeable at the same time.

THE SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE THALLOPHYTES.-If we except England and America, where a, morbid conservatism seems to prevail, there has been a great deal of activity recently among botanists with reference to a better arrangement of the plants lying in the great region below the mosses, and to which Endlicher gave the name of the Thallophyta. Thus Cohn, in 1872, published in Hedwigia, an outline of a classification, in which the old groups Algæ, Fungi and Lichenes were no longer maintained in their integrity. Shortly afterwards (in 1873) Fischer proposed an arrangement which bears a striking similarity to Sachs'. These two are briefly given in our "Botany for High Schools and Colleges," and need not be repeated here. Sachs' now famous arrangement was published in the fourth edition of his Lehrbuch, which appeared in 1874. This has been somewhat modified by various authors, notably by Professor A. W. Bennett, who, in 1880, proposed to restore the groups (classes) Algæ and Fungi, subdividing them, however, into sub-classes by making use of Sachs' structural characters. This was republished in the NATURALIST for January, 1881.

De Bary, in January of the present year, published in the Botanische Zeitung a scheme of a systematic arrangement of the