EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.
The 'Zoological Record' for 1897 appeared last December. This invaluable vade mecum to all working zoologists is again a bulky volume, and bears witness to the vitality of our science. Only the record of Cœlenterata is held over, owing to the Recorder having left England at too early a period to have thoroughly completed his work. Mr. J.A. Thomson's record of "General Subjects" is again—apart from specialization—one of the most valuable annual contributions to Biology. It contains 784 titles, and is a guide to a year's philosophy of animal life. Perhaps the number of contributions gives at least the standard of activity during 1897. In Mammalia, Mr. Lydekker records 343 separate communications; in Aves, Dr. Bowdler Sharpe enumerates 567 distinct titles; Mr. Boulenger gives 242 referring to Reptilia and Batrachia, and 259 for Pisces. Tunicata has a small record; in Mollusca, Mr. Sykes gives 527 references, and in Brachiopoda 41. Passing the smaller work done in Bryozoa, we come to Crustacea, where Mr. A.W. Brown enumerates 208 contributions, 151 in Arachnida, and 65 in Myriopoda and Prototracheata. Insecta again heads the list with 1205 articles, as given by the Editor, Dr. D. Sharp. For Echinoderma (1896 and 1897), Mr. Bather enumerates 358 titles; in Vermes, Miss Buchanan gives 267. Prof. R. von Lendenfeld is able to contribute 42 for Spongiæ, and Mr. Brown 171 for Protozoa. As usual, a formidable list of names proposed for new genera and subgenera complete another volume of a well-thumbed series.
In the Proc. of the United States Nat. Mus. vol. xxi. No. 1163, Mr. Frederick W. True has contributed a paper "On the Nomenclature of the Whalebone Whales of the Tenth Edition of Linnæus's 'Systema Naturæ.'" Seven European species of Whalebone Whales are now currently recognized; Linnæus described four species. Of these, Balæna boops is here considered as a synonym of B. physalus. The complete list of European Whalebone Whales is given as follows:—
- 1. Balæna mysticetus, Linnæus.
The Bowhead, or Arctic Right Whale. - 2. Balæna glacialis, Bonnaterre.
The Black Whale, or Nordcaper.
