Umwelt und Innenwelt der Tiere

THIS is one of the most interesting summaries of biological work that has appeared recently. Written by one who has had a large share in physiological research, it deals in an intimate manner with the comparative physiology of reflexes among the lower animals and with the adaptation of structure and function to varying habits in the case of allied genera. The influence of Sherrington's work is very obvious, and is suitably acknowledged, but whereas “the integrative action of the nervous system” is a profound study of the higher animals, the present work oattempts the same analysis of action in various lower types, and then synthesises conduct in the light of the reactions so displayed. The anatomical knowledge required for this purpose is not great, and the technical physiological difficulties of terminology, though more formidable, are not insuperable. When these are acquired, the analytic skill of the writer in delineating the inwardness of animal movement becomes a source of real pleasure.Umwelt und Innenwelt der Tiere.By Dr. J. von Uexküll. Pp. 259. (Berlin: J. Springer, 1909.) Price 7 marks.