410
��(Vou T., Ho. no. i
��oil the hracliiopoiis of llie Itritish islands, Dunng that period, Mr. Davidson has not only prepared the test of his monograph, and numerous collateral and freqnenlly very im- portant papers on the general subject, bnt has drawn with his own hand more than two thou- sand admirable and arlialic plates by which thai test has been illustrated and adoi'iied. Seldom has fortune equipped more completely n student for his life-work than id the present case, wheu more than ordinary artistic talent, a liberal education, independent means, were joined to unsurpassed devotion in the pursuit of knowledge, and impartiality in the recogni- tion of the labors of others in the same field.
The steady stream of informalioii induced by the publication of snocessive parts of the monograph has necessitated supplement after Biipplement. The present and concluding part not only contains such materia!, but a catalogue of, and index to, the British genera and species, bibliogi-aphical and stratigrapliicnl, and, more imporlsut than either for the general biologist, a summary of progress in our knowledge of the class up to the present time. This includes notices, under separate heads, of the test, the enibr^^ologj'. the affinities, the adult anatomy, habitat, and ranges in depth, of recent si>ecie3, characters of the fossil genera, and elassificalion discussed by families. Full space is allotted to the advocates of contending theories: Ko- valevski's valuable paper on the embryology is given in full abstract, with excellent flgnres; various suggested pedigi'ces are quoted; the brilliant rise, and slow bnt continuous deca- dence, of the 'worm theory," is related, with generous recognition of the sagacity of filorse in the detection of affinities to which the then imperfect knowledge of the molluscan pedigree, and his remarkable researches into the early stages of Terebratnlina and Lingula, lent a plausible, but, as it has since proved, a one- sided int«rpretation. The general conclusion is reached, that, however great the probability of continuous descent, with modification, as an explanation of the various formsof brachio[Hxis now or previously existing, the paleontologies I record presents many fads inexplicable by, or even opposed to, this theory; while of natural selection there secmstobeabsolulely no visible trace. The numlier of Brilish forms which, at the commencement of the work, numbered 13 genera, and 4d4 parti}' invalid species, has now expanded to 7+ genei'a, and 976 species and varieties, to which even now accessions continue to be made.
In taking leave of his task, so worthily per- formed and to be continued by younger lumds.
��the author, in spite of certain inlli'mities. does not relinquish his studies, but is now engaged on a mouograph of the recent species, which it is to be!io|ied he may be spai'cti to complete to his own satisfaction and the undoubted benefit of science. W. H. Dall.
���NOTES AND NEH'S
��— Thb prize of 500 francs, foundeil liy Aiigostln- Pjmmai de Candolle, lias been awnnlc^il Lo ProfeMor Planclion, professor of boiaiiy al, Moiit;ietlier, fur bis memoir on ihe Arapelidees.
— A geograpbipal society has been eslabtlshed at Bio de Janeiro, under the presidency of Viscount de Paranaguil, witti Baron Teff^ and Seflor Ilenrlques, vice-presidents; Carlos Montfro and Pereira Coriija, gecrctories.
— According to the OeKtoreicliitehe nvmalMr hrfft fur den 'trienl, the preference shown in England and her colonies for Indian leas Is causing considerable annlely among the native and European tea-estabtish- nients of China. Calcutta nlonc sent to England, tn Ihe past year, 6'.!,773,187 pounds, agahiat 5S,S3D,4T!t in 1883, and 61,5711,7^0 in 18S2; while the Australian and New Zealand markets received, in 1S84, 1,020,- 4«3 pounds, against 8E«,479 In 1883. To be sure, this Bgure shows a great ralling-olT from 1882; yet al present a preference is manifested in Australia for Indian teaB, which, like Ihoae of Ceylon, whose pro- duction probably has a simitar future, Tar surpass in quality Che average teas of China. Also the success of NatHl, III the production of tea, warrants the assumption that South Africa will soon enter the market. The total export of Foochow, the greatest l«n-depot "f China, amounted, In the last season, to 77,<t31,D!n pounds, i^inst gl,100,S7i> for Ihe same time last year. In Hankow. Canton, Shanghai, and Macao the same proportion is seen. The falllng-oS in the export of all China against the past year amounts to about ten million pounds, and may be ascribed to the reduction in quality of the Chinese tens. Row tar this decrease may have been due to Ihe French operations cannot be told.
— Another party for the scientific eiploratlon of Greenland is being organized by the aulhotilies at Copenhagen. It will be commanded by the naval lieutenant, -1. A. D. .lensen, aaslsted by Ll«ut, C. H, Kyden,
— In a recent visit to Russian Lapland. Rabol vis- ited the valleys of Pasvig and Taloni and Lalte Enara. TiiG entire couiitry is an immense forest, dotted with lakes and pools, and cut by rapid streams, The lat- ter, though very difficult of navigation, form the sols roads r^t the country. The Pasvig. tor instance, in its I'ouri'e, forms more than thirty cascades and rap- ids. Lake Enara, from which it flows, is an interior sea. iluued wiili thoiisandu of islets covered with niHgnllicent pines. The cllmti« is very rigorous; the
r is. however, quite hot, but tn Angiut unknown. Tbe country around Lake
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