HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



83 



NEW BOOKS.* 



TN the volume which heads our list, we have the 

 -*- result of careful, philosophical, and conscien- 

 tious thought. Mr. Leifchild has, we think, 

 attempted too much, for the subject is of such a 

 ramifying nature that any work treating of it must 

 necessarily appear diffuse. The author has here 

 grappled with all the leading questions in natural 

 science whose deductions appear to be, or actually 

 are, at variance with revealed religion. He does so in 

 a manner that proves he is at least well acquainted 

 with them,— a qualification that is not always pos- 

 sessed by writers who take his side. Although we 

 differ toto ccelo from many of his conclusions, we 

 are happy to afford our testimony to the original 

 thoughts which sparkle in his pages, and to the 

 excellent and attractive English in which they are 

 couched. Like him, we feel that natural science, 

 rightly viewed, is not antagonistic to true religion, 

 whatever it may be to some human dogmas which 

 have associated themselvesparasitically with it. But 

 we do not take the extreme view of the material- 

 istic tendencies of the modern pliilosophy that Mr. 

 Leifchild does. We think that, occasionally, in 

 combating them, he falls into the common error of 

 fighting with giants of his own creation 1 His 

 chapters on Darwinism are well worked out, and 

 will be read with pleasure even by the most confirmed 

 Darwinian. There we have associated the views of 

 Darwin, Wallace, Spencer, Mivart, Huxley, Beaie, 

 and others who have taken sides on this important 

 subject. Still, we tkiuk Mr. Leifchild has not 

 thoroughly understood the Darwinian theory as to 

 the formation of species, ior lie repeats the stock 

 opposition argument about "connecting links" not 

 being forthcoming from the ^geological deposits ; 

 whereas the true naturalist is aware that, compared 

 with the existing fauna and flora, all the fossil 

 species are more or less of this nature, both geuer- 

 ically and specifically. We agree thoroughly with 

 the author that " Evolution demands an Evolver," 

 but we demur to purely scientific questions being 

 treated on theological, instead of on scientific grounds. 

 To whatever conclusions our researches may lead, 

 we are bound honestly to follow them if they be but 

 true ! We have no right to dictate beforehand the 

 only paths along which scientific thought may 

 travel. Having spoken thus candidly of a book 



* " The Higher Ministry of Nature viewed in the Light of 

 Modern Science." By John R. Leif3hild, M.A. London : 

 Stodder & Houghton, 18/2. 



" Science and Humanity." By Dr. Porter, President of 

 Yale College. London: Stodder & Houghton. 18/2. 



" Worms," a series of Lectures on Practical Helmintho- 

 ogy. By Dr. Spencer Cobbold, F.R.S. London: J. & A. 

 Churchill. 1972. 



" Elementary Treatise on Natural Philosophy." By Pro- 

 fessor Everett. London: Blackie & Son. I872. 



which cannot fail to impress the reader as the 

 product of no ordinary mind, we leave it to make 

 its undoubted mark. 



Of Dr. Porter's address, here published, we can 

 say little, and that little not altogether favourable. 

 After a careful reading through, we have not felt 

 impressed by any part, except that devoted to 

 a strong, almost violent, tirade against Herbert 

 Spencer's philosophy, wliich he tells us " will soon 

 cease to be the wonder of the hour." Of Spencer 

 he pityingly adds, that "he will suffer a more 

 complete neglect than he will fairly deserve." Our 

 acquaintance with Spencer's writings leads us to 

 conclude that Dr. Porter has not yet risen to the 

 stage of fairly comprehending them. Addresses like 

 these must injure the cause advocated far more 

 than anything else. 



It is gratifying to get on the ground of pure 

 scientific research, as we do when we come to 

 Dr. Spencer Cobbold's work on Practical Helmin- 

 thology. That gentleman has elevated a study both 

 repulsive and disgusting, into one at once attractive, 

 philanthropically useful, and important. The book 

 before us is the result of a course of lectures 

 delivered on worms at the Medical College of the 

 Middlesex Hospital, and deals pretty fully with all 

 those forms of internal parasitism which ordinarily 

 come under the notice of the physician, together 

 with a list of cases illustrating the symptoms, 

 diagnosis, and treatment of internal parasitic 

 diseases. 



The last book on our list is not connected with 

 the sciences to which the pages of Science- 

 Gossip are devoted, but we can recommend it, 

 especially for the number and value of its illustra 

 tions. It is a translation, with additions, by 

 Professor Everett, of Deschanel's work. 



SKETCHES IN THE WEST OF IRELAND. 

 By G. H. K. 



Introductory Remarks. 



TRELAND is only a few hours' sail from either 

 -*- England or Scotland, but it seems to be a 

 greater terra incognita to the inhabitants of Great 

 Britain than Europe, Asia, Africa, America, or even 

 Australia; yet in this island there are places 

 worthy of being visited and explored ; and in these 

 sketches it is proposed to call attention to some of 

 them. 



To the natives of the sister isle, one of the most 

 unknown parts of Ireland is the barony of Burren, 

 county Clare, lying on the Atlantic Ocean, and 

 bounded on the north by Gal way Bay (fig. 58). 

 In this area there is a peculiar botany ; the rocks 

 also are remarkable, while the county teems with 

 megalithic and other ancient structures. 



