The Zoologist/4th series, vol 2 (1898)/Issue 681/Notices of New Books
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.
This notable publication appears under sad and unique circumstances. The death of Prof. Parker, which occurred just after the last sheets were passed for press, has been widely deplored. The two authors were respectively Professors of Biology at Otago and Sydney, were separated from each other during the greater part of their collaboration "by a distance of 1200 miles, and the manuscript, proofs, and drawings have had to traverse half the circumference of the globe on their journeys between the authors on the one hand, and the publishers, printers, artist, and engravers on the other."
When we call to mind our school-day text-book, which was that of T. Rymer Jones, we can well appreciate the difference of the zoology of to-day and then, by an even cursory examination of these two portly volumes; and although 'The Zoologist' is largely representative of what is generally understood as Ethology or Bionomics, our readers must still frequently require a handy authority for the solution of many zoological problems which depend on a knowledge of Morphology, Embryology, Organic Evolution, Palæontology, Distribution, and Physiology. This text-book is certainly for the student. "In spite of its bulk, the present work is strictly adapted to the needs of the beginner"; but besides this purpose—and we all have not the youth and time to go through a new course—its value is to be estimated as a work of reference.
Our authors divide the animal kingdom into twelve "phyla" or primary subdivisions:—Protozoa, Porifera, Cœlenterata, Platyhelminthes, Nemathelminthes, Trochelminthes, Molluscoida, Echinodermata, Annulata, Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Chordata. Each phylum where necessary is again reduced to classes. As an illustration the Arthropoda are subdivided into (1) Crustacea, (2) Onychophora—Peripatus only, (3) Myriapoda, (4) Insecta, (5) Arachnida. Each group is represented by an individual, of which a complete and exhaustive examination is made, so that a series of analytical types afford a clear insight into the real inwardness of the classification. Thus Brachionus rubens is made a representative of the Rotifera, and a Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) is used to focus the structure of the Insecta; and in this way if the student is unable to obtain the identical species for examination, an allied form will easily be procurable, and will serve a similar purpose. In Aves, which form Class V.[1] of the phylum Chordata, the Common Pigeon (Columba livia var. domesticata), is chosen as the subject for demonstration. The whole class is divided into two subclasses—Archæornithes (Mesozoic birds) and Neornithes. The last form two divisions: Ratitæ—flightless Neornithes, including Emus, Cassowaries, Rheas, Ostriches, &c.—and Carinatæ, in which, "with the exception of some flightless species, the sternum has a keel," &c. The classification thus runs from the Emus, Cassowaries, Moas, Ostriches, and allied forms now extinct and in the domain of palæontology, through the Divers, Petrels, Herons, Ducks, and Geese, when we reach the Accipitres. Then follow Gallinæ, Grallæ, Gaviæ, Limicolæ, Pterocletes, Columbæ, Psittaci, and we arrive at the Owls (Striges). After these Picariæ, when the system ends with the Passeres. Whatever may be the opinion of ornithologists as to this arrangement, they will doubtless agree with the authors that—"In respect of range of structural variations, the entire class of Birds is hardly the equivalent of a single order of Reptiles. Among existing Birds the Emu and the Raven, which may be said to stand at opposite ends of the series, present nothing like the anatomical differences to be found between a common Lizard and a Chameleon, or between a Turtle and a Tortoise."
The chapters at the close of the second volume are devoted to those topics which interest all zoologists, and prove a charm to most readers. On the subject of "Distribution" excellent point is made by the comparison of the faunas of Great Britain and New Zealand. These two insular areas are not widely different in size, have each a temperate climate, a physiography of considerable resemblance, a humidity well marked, and yet possess totally dissimilar faunas. Moreover, Great Britain has a fauna almost common to the adjacent European continent; whilst that of New Zealand differs from the neighbouring Australian to a greater extent than obtains in the faunistic relationship of England and Japan. This may be trite information, but it cannot be too sufficiently emphasized.
The "Philosophy of Zoology" is treated in a temperate and judicial manner; whilst the true principles of Evolution and its methods as expressed by "Natural Selection" with its handmaid Mimicry, &c, are clearly acknowledged. But it is well observed: "The generalisations forming the subject-matter of the philosophy of zoology may, in some instances, be so clearly and directly deducible from the data concerned, that it is scarcely possible for anyone conversant with the facts to refuse credence to the generalisation. But in other cases the conclusion is a matter of probability only, and one conclusion or another may be regarded as the more probable, according to the estimate formed of the relative importance to be attached to different sets of the facts or to different aspects of the facts."
The "History of Zoology" is necessarily a compressed digest, but we are glad to see that our countryman John Ray is recognised as the first to grasp the specific generalisation, though his imperfect efforts were afterwards developed and perfected by Linnaeus.
We will conclude this notice with the last words of our authors. "Nothing is more certain than if the new 'Natural History'" (the study of living animals under natural conditions) "is to be superior to the old—more scientific, more concerned with the solution of general problems—it can only be by utilising to the full all that has been learnt in the laboratory in the departments of anatomy, physiology, and embryology."
There are certain subjects about which everyone knows a little, which possess local specialists, but which have never been treated in an universal manner. Historians are familiar with this phase of undigested information, and with this want of monographic treatment. Anthropology is a science which affords a special instance of how the accumulation, selection, and arrangement of facts can by competent and judicious authorities be made original contributions to the knowledge of our own species. The history of Fowling was a subject that could only be treated properly by an ornithologist, but was one that few ornithologists would consider came within their vocation. It was an opportunity for a "book" in its real sense; and we are glad that Mr. Macpherson essayed the task, and not a light one. This collection of facts, with their orderly arrangement and subordination to the aim of the work, is more than equal to the collection of species and their subsequent taxonomic treatment; and our author informs us that his "plan has been to read through every ornithological work that I could find in the five or six languages which are all that I can possibly translate." Besides these, books of travel must and have been consulted, and we now possess a standard work which the reader can from time to time annotate himself with those stray records which do not come to all alike; for which purpose we are thankful for wide margins, good paper, and a book that will almost open flat—though perhaps this is too much to expect in modern binding.
The introduction contains, under the title of "The Literature of Fowling," references to little-known works in English, German, French, Greek, Spanish, Italian, Norwegian, Russian, and Japanese literature; and also a dissertation on the principal implements used in the art of fowling. The systematic arrangement of the birds "is partly based upon that which my colleagues and I adopted in writing the Avian portion of the 'Royal Natural History,'" commencing with the family Corvidæ.
There seems a natural inclination on the part of most races of mankind to practise the snare of the fowler as a sport; and when commerce steps in and bribes the baser passions, the pursuit assumes a form of slaughter. Even in India the White-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) is easily caught by the natives; at Vancouver Island the Indians successfully capture Brent Geese; in Australia the Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), when in moult, can be rowed down in a boat; the Japanese are expert decoyers; Pheasants are snared all throughout the East; while Willoughby writes that the Icelanders of his day were in the habit of snaring the Great Northern Diver. It may thus be seen that a history of fowling must embrace a wide area of observation, and might be treated ethnologically as well as ornithologically; in fact, should Mr. Macpherson issue a supplement to this very interesting work, or bring out a new edition of the same, he might with advantage peruse some ethnological literature, from which he would doubtless glean fresh facts.
This publication is a standard one, and is of more than ornithological interest; it will be consulted and quoted by the everincreasing number of anthropologists who study the evolution of human crafts and customs.
Note.—We have received the following communication from the author: —
The History of Fowling.—I should be glad if you would kindly allow me to correct, through 'The Zoologist,' a slight misconception which is embodied in the above work. The description of taking the Bush Warbler (Cettia cantans) in Japan, supplied at page 129, should refer to the Chinese Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) instead of to the former species. Both are favourite cage-birds in Japan.—H.A. Macpherson.
Although the principal details of this book are of an Elephantor ivory-hunting description, its perusal will provide the zoologist with some facts and observations not only relating to the huge Proboscideans who were the principal aim of the expedition, but also as regards other animals with which the writer came in contact. There are also various conclusions scattered in its pages as to the restricted areas of Antelopes, &c, which will serve as material towards discussing some of the problems of specific separation.
Mr. Neumann started from Mombasa, and his two expeditions were confined to Eastern Equatorial Africa, a region still teeming with big game. He gives a verbal picture of the profuse animal life he met with on one of his excursions from El Bogoi. A large patch of thorn forest, fairly open, was "simply filled with Elephants standing, mostly in clumps, here and there all through it."
"Such a sight I never beheld. It reminded me of pictures in ancient books on South African hunting. In the foreground were some Grant's Gazelles and a large Grevy's Zebra; the bush seemed full of vulturine Guinea-fowls and Francolins; 'paa' (kirkii) were everywhere, and here and there one caught sight of a walleri or two making off, while small birds were in clouds. All the teeming life in this oasis was due to the life-giving moisture from the little stream." It is to be hoped that this fauna may not as rapidly share the fate of that of the more southern region.
The author considers that the neighbourhood of the small lake, called by the natives "Kisima" and situated south of Lake Rudolph, is the extreme northern limit of Gazella thomsoni and Bubalis jacksoni, and that the Lorogi Mountains "here form a distinct line of demarcation in the geographical distribution of certain species."
Among the birds common to the shores of Lake Rudolph is the Large Crested Pauw (Eupodotis kori), in connection with which Mr. Neumann records an interesting observation. The Rosy Bee-eater (Merops nubicus) has the habit of riding on the back of the Pauw. "It sits far back, on the rump of its mount, as a boy rides a donkey. The Pauw does not seem to resent this liberty, but stalks majestically along, while its brilliantly-clad little jockey keeps a look-out, sitting sideways, and now and again flies up after an insect it has espied, returning again after the chase to 'its camel'—as Juma not inaptly called it." This Bee-eater was also seen sitting on the backs of Goats, Sheep, and Antelopes, but the Pauw seemed "its favourite steed."
There are of course many habits of the Elephant to be found scattered in the details of its destruction, but one becomes satiated by the recital which in the excitement of the field is "sport," but in the pages of a book reads "slaughter." A few more excursions in this region of sportsmen with the skill and pluck of Mr. Neumann, and the Elephant must either "move on" or be practically exterminated. The author is of opinion that, in the region he hunted, the Elephant "attains his greatest dimensions both as to bodily bulk and weight of ivory," and this estimate is largely based on the records made by Selous in South Africa.
Lepidopterists will find in an appendix a list of the Rhopalocera collected during the expeditions. This has been compiled by Miss Sharpe, who describes three new species, which are amply illustrated in a coloured plate.
- ↑ In error styled Class VI. in text, vol. ii. p. 350.