Echinoderm Larvæ and their Bearing on Classification

Abstract

IN NATURE of December 22, 1921, Prof. E. W. MacBride, in consequence of Dr. F. A. Bather's review (in NATURE of December 8, 1921) of my work, “Studies of the Development and Larval Forms of Echinoderms,” has taken the opportunity of making some remarks which, at least partly, have somewhat the character of a personal attack on me. Being at that time on a scientific expedition to the Malay Archipelago, it was not until the middle of May last that I received the issue of NATURE containing that communication. In spite of Dr. Bather's chivalrous defence on my behalf, I think it desirable to send to NATURE an answer to Prof. MacBride's letter. This could not possibly be done then, however, as out there (at the Kei Islands) I had no access whatever to literature—not even to my own work. I had to wait until my return from the expedition, and therefore it is only now that I am in a position to send a reply to the statements made by Prof. MacBride a year ago.