acquaintance with the subject, which made him the first choice as successor to Prof. Baird in the office of Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. His own work, too, has been supplemented by that of the late Commissioner, and of Dr. Jordan, Dr. Bean, Capt. Collins, Mr. Earll, and Mr. Stearns. The classification followed is the system elaborated and advocated by Dr. Gill.
The Story of Creation: A Plain Account of Evolution. By Edward Clodd. Illustrated. London and New York: Longmans, Green & Co. Pp. 2-12. Price, $1.75.
The purpose of this book is to give a view of the doctrine of evolution throughout the realm of Nature, and of the kind of evidence which supports it. The book is divided into two parts—descriptive and explanatory. In the former, the relations of matter and power in the universe, and the chief features of the solar system are touched upon, while the past life-history of the earth and an account of the present life forms are given more at length. In the explanatory part, much the same order is followed. Beginning with the universe, the accepted theory of its becoming and growth is stated; then follows a discussion of the origin of life, after which the question of the origin of species is taken up, and the proofs of the derivation of species are given. Finally, the author enters the field of social evolution, and shows the application of the doctrine to psychology, society, language, art, science, morals, and theology. He insists on a distinction between morals and theology, but does not Join issue in the vexed question of the relations of science and religion. The style of the text is popular and picturesque, and the volume is abundantly illustrated.
The Geological Evidences of Evolution. By Prof. Angelo Heilprin. Illustrated. Philadelphia: The Author. Pp. 99.
In this brief sketch, which is extended from a discourse delivered at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Prof. Heilprin presents a popular view of some of the evidences in support of organic transmutation afforded by geology and paleontology. He shows first that in geologic time "there has been a steady advance in the type of structural organization from first to last—not a necessary elimination of forms of low degree, but an overbalancing of these by forms of a more complicated or higher grade of structure." He then traces back the history of several groups of animals, showing that by gradual modification they are derived from ancestral forms which are connected also with other and very dissimilar modern groups. In the greater part of this discussion, data drawn from the vertebrate animals are used, but the author adds, in closing, a few cases drawn from the mollusks, which present equally striking proofs of modification. The book is exceedingly well adapted to promote a general intelligent belief in the doctrine of evolution.
In Nesting Time. By Olive Thorne Miller. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co, Pp. 275. Price, $1.25.
This volume belongs to a class which is happily becoming more common than formerly, namely, accounts of observations of nature. The habits and actions of birds, both free and in confinement, form the subject of the book, and the modest introductory note claims for the sketches only that they are genuine studies from life, not that the facts are all new to science. The glimpses at bird-life which the author gives have a freshness and sprightliness that make them intensely fascinating reading, while they have also an instructive value due to their revelations of bird habits and character.
A treatise on The Fundamental Principles of Chemistry has been written by Prof. Robert Galloway of London (Longmans), which differs widely from the common textbooks on chemistry. The author holds that the ordinary chemical works intended for beginners follow too much the cyclopædic plan of great reference books, and he quotes Prof. J. P. Cooke as saying of such works: "To the great mass of learners the study of these text-books is uninteresting and profitless, for before the student is made familiar through long laboratory practice with the materials and processes described, such a book is little more to him than a catalogue of names, to which he attaches no significance." The present volume is more like Prof. Cooke's "New Chemistry" than any
