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cmbryolocjy in the early 1900s, when T. H. Morgan wrote his book on the
development of the frog egg. The data in this monograph have been restricted
to Rana pipiens in order to avoid species differences, and are mainly restricted
to the literature published after 1949. since Brachet in 1950 reviewed the literature
up to that time.
This monograph gives a comprehensive survey of the various data collected
on the physiological, biochemical and biophysical aspects of the development
of the frog egg. Methods used and results obtained have been discussed critically,
and many problems have been pointed out to the reader. It shows on the
one hand the enormous progress this field of science has made during the last
decade, but on the other hand how little is known of the leading principles in
development.
Although this monograph is particularly meant for specialists working in this
field, and can therefore have such a specialized character, we feel that the
development of the morphological structure to which the physiological, biochem-
ical and biophysical processes are spatially bound, has received too little
attention in this work. Only the synthesis of form and function can bring us to
an understanding of the fundamental problems of development.
P. D. NIEUWKOOP
"THE EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE STURGEONS
(ACIPENSER STELLATUS. A. GuLDENSTADTI COLCHICUS AND
HUSO HUSO) IN CONNECTION WITH PROBLEMS
OF BREEDING." (Title translated from Russian)
1954
by T. A. Detlaf and A. S. Hinsburg Edited by S. G. Kryzhanovskil
216 pp. with 51 figs in the text, 14 pis Published by the Acad, of Sciences
and 18 tabs of the USSR, Moscow, on behalf of
the A.N. Severtsof Inst, of Animal
Morphol.
The large scale upon which waterworks are made in Russia opens great
possibilities for fish-culture, but raises at the same time a number of difficult
questions which have to be solved without delay. The canalization of the Don,
Volga and Kura has cut off many fish species, including the sturgeons, from
their spawning-grounds. It has become very urgent to develop breeding
methods, e.g. for sturgeons. A better knowledge of the development of the
sturgeons therefore formed a general requirement.
The first chapter of this Russian monograph gives a short description of the
taxonomy and biology of the sturgeons based upon data from the literature.
The second chapter gives literature data on the development and maturation
of eggs and sperm. In the third chapter the development of the three sturgeon
species mentioned in the title has been described extensively. This part of the
book has more or less the character of a normal table with a series of plates
of 36 successive stages. The fourth chapter treats the rate of development at
different temperatures. The fifth chapter gives data on external conditions
necessary for a normal development. Here also the deviations are described
which may appear after changes in the external conditions. Finally the last
chapter gives an analysis of the causes leading to death of the eggs or to a
failure of fertilization.
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