The relative sizes of 30 lobes of the brains of 63 species of cephalopods have been compared. Some of the observed differences could be related to the way of life of the animal and others to the taxonomic relationships. The octopods are separated from the decapods by their larger brachial and other suboesophageal lobes, larger inferior frontal systems and smaller optic lobes. Vampyroteulhis lies somewhat between these two main groups. The vertical lobe system is large in sepioids and loliginids, smaller in decapods from deeper water, but large in Vampyroteuthis. In octopods, it is large in the typical epibenthic forms but smaller in those from deeper water and very small in cirrates. The inferior frontal system is very large in epibenthic octopods and Benthoctopus and in cirrates, but smaller in epipelagic and bathypelagic forms. The optic lobes are larger in decapods than in octopods from comparable depths and are especially large in deep‐sea decapods. They are larger in epipelagic octopods than in the typical benthic forms. The photosensitive vesicles vary by nearly two orders of magnitude. They are very small in squids living in surface waters, larger in mesopelagic forms and enormous in some cranchiids and in Balhyteuthis. In Histioteulhis, the side with the larger eye had an optic lobe twice as big as that on the side of the smaller eye, but with only slight differences in other parts of the brain. In the octopods, the inferior frontal system was generally large, being concerned with the tactile memory system, and tends to be inversely related to the size of the optic lobe.

edited by J. E. Thorpe October 1978, x+312pp., £11.50 0.12.690650.5Living organisms respond in a rhythmic way to the regular oscillations of their environment. The perception of rates of change of physical variables such as light intensity or the exposure to total quantities of solar energy may initiate a train of physiological events which serve to meet the biological consequences of a changing environment. This adaptive function is itself achieved through rhythmic endocrine control. Although much of the evidence for cyclically repetitive behaviour patterns and their control mechanisms in animals has been obtained from terrestrial forms, information on rhythmicity of activity in fishes is accruing rapidly. This book -the proceedings of a symposium organised by the Fisheries Society of the British Isles -presents review papers contributed by sixteen experts. Four main topics were discussed at the meeting: the endocrine basis of rhythmic behaviour; physiological and behavioural rhythms; temporal aspects of community structure; and methods and instrumentation for use in the investigation of problems in these areas. This book will be of considerable value to fish physiologists, behaviourists and ecologists, freshwater and marine biologists, animal physiologists interested in biorhythms and anyone involved in the fish industry. The Plymouth Laboratory was opened in June 1888, and, since that date, considerable additions have been made to the buildings, including a library, lecture-hall, and extensive laboratory accommodation with up-to-date equipment. Additional sea-water reservoirs have also been built, and an aquarium, modernized in 1959, opened to the public. Academic Press London New York San FranciscoSince its foundation the Association has been supported by subscriptions and donations from private members, universities, learned societies, the Fishmongers' Company and other public bodies. For some time past, however, the main financial support for the work of the Plymouth Laboratory has come from Government funds, and since 1965 the Laboratory has been grant-aided through the Natural Environment Research Council.The Marine Biological Association, under the direction of its Council, undertakes research in all branches of marine science and the main results are published in this journal. Accounts of the laboratory and aquarium are to be found in Vol. 27 (p. 761), Vol. 39 (p. 391) and Vol. 43 (p. 281), and summaries of the activities and research of the Association are given annually in the Report of the Council in the November issue of the Journal.The laboratory is open throughout the year and its work is carried out by a fully qualified research staff under the supervision of the Director. The names of the members of the staff will be found on the inner page of the front cover. Accommodation is available for British and foreign scientific workers who wish to carry out independent research in all branches of marine science. Arrangements are made for courses for advanced students, and marine animals and plants are...

The amplitude and phase of tidal characteristics in the English Channel have been described both using numerical models (Grijalva, 1962; Hyacinthe & Kravtchenko, 1967) and a hydraulic model on a rotating table (Chabert d'Hières & le Provost, 1970). The aim behind the development of the numerical model described here is first to derive an accurate representation of the principal lunar semi-diurnal (M2) tide in the English Channel and then to use the currents generated by the tidal input to determine the tidal circulation patterns and residual flow through the English Channel. A test of the model must be its ability to reproduce the known clockwise eddy in Lyme Bay and the south-ward flow either side of Portland Bill. If these known tidal residuals can be reproduced then the model may help to elucidate residuals in other regions where the flow is unknown. In addition to deriving the mean tidal velocities, horizontal distributions for the mean squared and cubed values are calculated and the importance of these distributions in determining the nature of the bottom and the degree of stratification of the water column in summer is demonstrated.