BOOK NOTICES 189 



in all these Professor Thomson places in our hands the results of 

 the most apposite experiments, and inquires into their significance 

 from the Darwinian standpoint. He insists on Darwin's breadth of 

 view, for example, as regards the "struggle for existence," maintaining 

 that the phrase, as originally used, had a wider application than 

 some recent exponents of Darwinism are willing to allow. It 

 connotes more than the "assumed competition for survival between 

 individuals of the same species," and occurs "wherever living 

 creatures press up against limiting conditions." Of great interest 

 are the author's efforts to show the importance of a full understanding 

 of the principles of organic evolution to the well-being of mankind, 

 and in especial to show how necessary it is that some mode of 

 rational selection should be adopted in human society now that 

 humanitarianism and the complex of inter-dependent labour have 

 nullified the winnowing effects of natural selection. 



It is unnecessary to add that a work from Professor Thomson's 

 hand is delightfully written, and contains much stimulating suggestion. 

 The type is clear, and the text is free from misprints, the only error 

 detected occurring in Professor Cossar Ewart's name on p. 147. 

 A bibliography containing representative books on Darwinism is 

 appended, but, while there is an extended list of contents, it is 

 regrettable that an index, which would have facilitated reference to 

 the numerous and frequently striking results of researches brought 

 together in this volume, has not also been added. J. R. 



THE VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF CHESHIRE AND LIVERPOOL BAY. 

 Edited by T. A. Coward, F.Z.S. With illustrations by Thomas 

 Baddeley. In two volumes. London: Witherby & Co., 1910. 

 265. net. 



From its comprehensiveness and the excellent manner in which 

 its varied subjects are treated this book is entitled to a place in the 

 foremost rank of works of its kind. That such works devoted to 

 the western counties of England are so remarkably few adds to its 

 value and acceptability, as does also the fact that the volumes are 

 results of the labours of well-known naturalists. Messrs. Coward 

 and Oldham contribute an exhaustive and interesting account of 

 the Mammals and Birds, which runs to 459 pages, and forms the 

 bulk of Vol. I. ; the remaining pages, xxxii in number, are devoted 

 to introductory matter, and include an account of the physical 

 features of the area viewed from the zoological standpoint. That 

 Cheshire is rich in members of the great and attractive classes of 

 animals named is manifest from the fact that no less than 46 species 

 of mammals and 231 of birds, excluding doubtful records, are 

 members of its fauna. 



Volume II. treats of the Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fishes, and 

 includes sections giving much information relating to the sea-area 

 and its vertebrate life. Concerning the Reptiles Messrs. Coward 



