A POSTHUMOUS WORK

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 112, 17 November 1928, Page 21

A POSTHUMOUS WORK

DR. THOMSON'S BKACHIOPODS "Braehiopod Morphology and Genera (Recent and Tertiary)." By Dr. J., Allan Thomson. (New Zealand Board of Science and Art, Manual No. 7.) AVellington: The Government Printer. It is greatly to be regretted, states "Nature" in reviewing this work, that owing to the death of the author the present volume must be tho last of a scries of publications whcih were the outcome of many years' research on tertiary and recent brachiopoda, more especially those of Australia and New Zealand. The volume includes a detailed description of the morphology of the brachiopoda, as well as a complete list of all known tertiary and recent species, with notes on their distribution. In addition there are careful diagnoses of all the genera, illustrated by numerous diagrams showing tho various stages of- loop-development. A new classification is proposed for the brachiopoda, which the author divides into two new sub-classes, gastrocaulia and pygocaulia, the former -to include the primitive, horny forms, and the latter the more highly evolved calcareous, hinged forms. These divisions are based very largely on the embryonic development of the brachiopoda. Beecher's classification into four orders is slightly emended; the atremata and ueotromafa aro placed in the gastrocaulia, and the protrcmata and tclotrcmata, together with a new order, paleotremata, aro placed in the pygocaulia. The tclotrcmata aro said to be derived from 'the gastrocaulia through the paleotremata and the' protrcmata, the former order including primitive, calcareous forms kicking articulation. Beccher, on the other hand, claimed that tho protrcmata were derived from the neotremata, and that tho tclotrcmata were derived from tho atremata. Further corroboration from the study of living brachiopoda is required before this classification can be generally adopted. Tho volume contains a list of papers dealing with the brachiopoda of different regions, aiid it should prove a useful book of. reference, not only to the specialist, but also to the student of zoology. Considering the somewhat high price of'the book, it is regrettable that the two plates have been printed back to back, and that their reproduction is not more distinct, concludes the review. Barhct,' where the celebrated Horse Fair has just-been held, has at least one literary distinction, for it was hero that Charles Lamb ' was put in tlie stocks for "brawling" during Divine service.