Biologie Animale

SYSTEMA HELMINTHUM

Auteur inconnu

The vast literature on the systematics of the digenetic trematodes of vertebrates up to the year 1955 is brought together and classified in the first volume of this monumental work by Professor Yamaguti, a two-part volume totalling over 1, 500 pages. This is the first of a series of three volumes dealing respectively with the digenetic trematodes, the cestodes and the nematodes of vertebrates, under the common title Systema Helminthum. Helminthologists will be profoundly grateful to him for undertaking and completing this enormous task which will also command their admiration. The first part, of 979 pages, contains the main text. The second contains the bibliography, illustrations and index; it also lists all the genera of digenetic trematodes under their respective families and subfamilies and indicates the group or groups of hosts to which they belong, i.e., mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes. In Part 1 the system followed is primarily a host grouping, beginning with the trematodes of fishes, and within each group there are descriptions and keys to families, subfamilies and genera. The species of each genus are listed with remarks on host-range, life cycles and distribution. The link-up between Part 1 and the illustrations in Part 2 is by reference to the plate number and figure, which is in most cases a picture of a genotype. 8 new families are included in the descriptions; there are also 168 new subfamilies, 22 new tribes and 24 new genera. . In a work of this kind some features are bound to be criticized. There will be differences of opinion about the scheme of classification. The separation of the illustrations from their corresponding descriptions is rather inconvenient though doubtless saving in space and expense. The illustrations, 1, 302 of them, are in some cases o verreduced and lacking in clarity; there are no scales of magnification. The grouping of the parasites under hosts also has its disadvantages but good reasons are given for it and it will be appreciated by the field worker. These " defects " are of small account however when aligned with the incomparable usefulness embodied in this notable work. Volume II, which deals with the cestodes of vertebrates, follows the same pattern as in Volume I, but the information is confined to a single book of 860 pages. In this there are 7 new families, 4 new subfamilies and 30 new genera. There are 70 plates of illustrations which cover 584 species. It is subject to the same kind of criticism as Volume I, but here again we are presented with a much-needed reference work of great value and importance. J. J. C. Buckley-.