Abriss der Biologie der Tiere

Abstract

THIS is a revision of Simroth's “Sketch of the Biology of Animals,” and-a very interesting little book it is. We do not think that the text corresponds particularly well with the sub-title, which might be translated “Rise and Progress of the Animal Kingdom: Relations to Organic Nature”; and in the catalogue these are the titles of two separate volumes. But that is a trivial detail. The little book before us deals mainly with the following subjects—the relations of animals to gravity and their locomotion in various media; light, colour, and luminescence; equilibration, hearing, and touch; chemical influences; the influence of heat and cold; animal electricity; and respiration. This is a lot to cover in 150 small pages, but we are bound to say that the treatment is very effective. The chapters are simply illustrative, and thus they remain interesting. Most of the illustrations are fresh.

Abriss der Biologie der Tiere.

Prof.

Heinrich

Simroth

. Vierte Auflage, durchgesehen und verbessert von Prof. Dr. Friedrich Hempelmann. Teil 1. Entstehung und Weiterbildung der Tierwelt. Beziehungen zur organischen Natur. (Sammlung Göschen Nr. 131.) Pp. 147. (Berlin und Leipzig: Walter de Gruyter und Co., 1923.) 1s.