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SEPTEMBER 27, 1930] NATURE 489 Eleventh International Zoological Congress. 'l.1HE Eleventh International Congress of Zoologists, to prove nothing more than the distribution of mutants which met in Padua on Sept. 3-11, under the by human agency. His title would have been more presidency of Prof. Paolo Enriques, attracted more applicable to Prof. Ghigi's account of crossings in than six hundred members, representing thirty pheasants and guinea-fowls with the formation of countries. The British delegates were Dr. F. A. alleged new species, themselves fertile but sterile when Bather and Dr. G. C. Robson (representing H.M. crossed; Ghigi finds that sterility and fertility are Government), Dr. K. Jordan, Dr. H. W. Parker, sex-linked characters, and regards hybridisation as an Lieut.-Col. J. Stephenson (Indian Government}, and important factor in evolution. Prof. A. Willey. In the Aula Magna of the Univer­ Birds also were the subject of Prof. 0. Riddle's ex­ sity, surrounded by memorials of Galileo, Morgagni, periments on the relation of metabolism to sex ; meta­ Vesalius, Falloppio, Casseri, and Vallisnieri (nor should bolism is influenced by temperatur~ more in males we here forget Linacre and Harvey), the Congress was than in females, and the amount of hromoglobin is also formally opened by H. E. Alfredo Rocco, Minister of affected ; the sexes and their corresponding metabolic Grace, Justice, and Culture, as representative of the types are both reversible. Other papers on sexual Government and as president of the Italian Committee characters were contributed by A. Arcangeli, A. for International Intellectual Co-operation. He ex­ Banta, E. Caroli, J. de Mallasz, and E. Padoa, and on pressed the deep practical interest felt by the Italian hybrids by F. Cavazza and G. Montalenti, while F. Government in zoological studies, alluded to the con­ Poche discussed the possibility of a third sex. tributions of Italians from Leonardo da Vinci to the Returning to problems of evolution, one notes Prof. present day, and mentioned the Zoological Station of Enriques' studies in Radiolaria because they show Naples and the Biological Institute of Messina as similar minute characters repeated through generically schools open to the students of the whole world. differing forms, much as the varieties of wheat are Prof. Enriques, in an eloquent address, laid particu­ paralleled in rye. Dr. Robson's researches on the lar stress on the Fascist organisation of the Congress: origin and descent of Octopoda lead him to attribute the vast concepts and ideals of zoology, he said, led much to orthogenesis. In connexion with Cephalo­ the mind up to that rarefied atmosphere in which the pods, the important paper on their nervous system spirit of Giotto hovered when, under the eyes of by E. Sereni should be mentioned. Prof. A. Sewert­ Dante, he traced the poem of the Gospel on the walls zoff announced an evolutionary principle as " the of the neighbouring chapel ; inspired by like ideals, substitution of functions ", which means the replace­ every Italian sought to be worthy of his country's past ment of an organ by a totally different organ that and to base new works on the ancient traditions ; but performs a function which is analogous or biologically such a national ideal could not develop without the equivalent to that of the suppressed organ. In the friendly co-operation of all civilised countries, and in reduction of organs, Sewertzoff claims that those parts that belief he tendered an affectionate welcome to the disappear first which are the last to be formed embryo­ zoologists of every tongue. Among those who replied logically. was the veteran Richard Hertwig, who alluded to the Other papers with a general bearing might be cited story of St. Antony of Padua preaching to the fishes, did space permit, but the practical side of zoology and to the Paduan studies of Paracelsus and Goethe. demands mention, since a whole section was devoted to " There is much talk ", he said, " of a United States silkworm culture. The address by Prof. Pigorini, of Europe : that does not satisfy zoologists ; we wish director of the Bacological Station at Padua, did to see all the States of the world united in the interests indeed deal with important embryological questions. of civilisation and of science." Among the papers here were two by Prof. Matsumura The scientific communications were presented to on the silkworms of Japan. A visit to the Station fifteen sections and to general meetings. Since they proved of exceptional interest, and the preparations numbered more than two hundred and fifty, it is of larvro by Dr. Amelia Tonon were much admired. scarcely possible to mention more than a few of those Here also may be recalled the R. Stazione di Polti­ dealing with wider questions. In an opening discourse cultura near Rovigo, where experiments are conducted on " Genetics and Evolution ", Prof. Caullery main­ on numerous breeds of gallinaceous and other birds. tained that the mutants made known by genetici_sts This last was visited during an excursion which in­ are not really new formations but combinations of cluded an inspection of Count Arrigoni's ornithological pre-existing genotypes ; that, though they may exist collection with welcome refreshment at his villa, Ca where they first appear, they would be eliminated by Oddo, and a banquet at Rovigo, where the Minister of natural selection and would not give rise to new species Agriculture spoke. Another excursion was to the distinguished by the criterion of interspecific sterility. Royal Villa at Stra, where the company of four It is difficult, he said, to regard evolution as due to hundred was entertained by Count Giusti, Mayor of successive mutations. Padua, to such effect that " grave and reverend " Biogeography and Evolution " was the theme of signiors " were seen to join in the subsequent fox-trots. Prof. G. Colosi, who, in most explanations of the On Sunday there was a delightful trip to Venice and known facts, finds difficulties (as of contradictory the islands of its lagoon. A ball in the fine rooms of the physiographic changes) that are obviated by Rosa's Casino Pedrocchi and a final dinner offered by the theory of hologenesis. This assumes a world-wide ex­ local committee in the great and ancient Sala della tension of the original life-forms, with parallel ortho­ Ragione were among other general entertainments. genesis, so that the same or similar species arose in Special invitations were extended by certain ladies of widely-separate regions; thus land-bridges or sea­ Padua to all ladies attendiog the Congress. connexions are unnecessary. Dealing with the distri­ Some of the general meetings were held in a new bution of populations, from insect epidemics to the Aula of Pathological Anatomy, formally opened by races of man, Prof. F. Bodenheimer attributed the Prof. Cagnetti, while sections met in the various chief influence to climatic conditions. On the other aulro of the new university buildings. In the Zoologi­ hand, Dr. Boettger's account of "Artbildung unter cal Institute a room was provided for exhibits by dem Einfluss des Menschen ", exemplified by the snails members, and hard by was an exhibition of books and Agriolimax loovis and Potamopyrgus crystallinus, seems apparatus. Here Koristka of Milan showed a new No. 3178, VoL. 126] © 1930 Nature Publishing Group 490 NATURE [SEPTEMBER 27, 1930 " Stand A" for monocular microscopes and " Stand co-ordinating body. These congresses would be more U " capable of taking various forms of binocular with useful if papers dealing with relatively special and either single or double objectives ; Reichert of Vienna trivial points were eliminated, especially when the re­ exhibited microscopes, microtomes, projection and sults have already been published. Attention should photographic apparatus; Zeiss of Jena had a particu­ be concentrated on general problems, towards the dis­ larly interesting show of projection apparatus ; A. C. cussion of which authorities in various branches might Zambelli of Turin showed thermostats for embryo­ contribute ; and on such forms of co-operation as logical research and microscope observation in vivo. biological surveys, studies of migration, and especially Allusion may here be made to the cinema film of action requiring government assistance. At present young orang-utans shown by Prof. G. Brandes of the Commission on Nomenclature seems to be the body Dresden, and the remarkable results displayed by that continually does really practical international Prof. Storch of Graz in his cinema studies of small work, however restricted its field may be. What the crustacea under the microscope. In the Library of the Permanent Committee of the Congress does between University, Profs. Ageno and Ducceschi had arranged whiles, not even its members seem to know. an exhibit of old books relating to biological science ; The preceding remarks are not intended to reflect in an excellent illustrated catalogue was provided. any way on the organisation of the Padua Congress, At the concluding session of the Congress reports for which high praise is due to the energy of Prof. were presented from the Commissions on Parasitology Enriques and the labours of the general secretary, and on Nomenclature. It was decided that in future Dr. Fausta Bertolini, with her lively and courteous the Congress should be held at intervals of five years. ~ta!f of students of both sexes. Padua preserves the In view of the large number of such meetings, the mt1mate and homely character of an ancient university decision is probably wise, but it is to be hoped that city, and all its inhabitants united in so warm a welcome care will be taken not· to clash with other congresses that the chief characteristic of the Congress now past in allied sciences. The International Institute of In­ was its friendly and homely character; and that, after tellectual Co-operation might be asked to act as a all, is the chief value of these international gatherings.

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