516 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



fine book, but we cannot leave the subject without saying that his modified Gegen- 

 baurian view as to the origin of the paired limbs is peculiar. He considers that the 

 paired limbs arose phylogenetically from external gills, and rejects Balfour's 

 lateral fin-fold hypothesis. 



The latter part of the book is occupied by a discussion of a number of the 

 problems relating especially to the embryology of the Vertebrata. We do not think 

 the author is very happy in his discussion on recapitulation, especially in his remarks 

 on trochospheres and nauplii on p. 492. The end of the book is formed by a 

 chapter on the practical study of the embryology of the fowl ; in such a textbook we 

 consider this telescoped account superfluous. All embryological libraries contain 

 the bcoks of Lillie and Marshall, and it would have been better had this space 

 been used for other purposes. Naturally, the forms Lepidosiren and Protopterus 

 come in for a good deal of attention — we consider, however, with advantage. The 

 illustrations and printing are extremely good. 



This is a very fine piece of work, and our congratulations are offered to Prof. 

 Graham Kerr. 



J. Bronte Gatenbv. 



World Power and Evolution. By Ellsworth Huntington, Yale University. 

 [Pp. 9 + 287, with 30 illustrations.] (New Haven : Yale University Press, 

 1919. Price 10s. 6d. net.) 



This is a very interesting work, dealing with Health, Climate, and general 

 environmental conditions in the evolution of Nations and Races. The author has 

 travelled in many of the countries he talks about, and so has first-hand evidence. 

 Here is a good specimen of the author's method of attacking the problem : " The 

 human animal now rides instead of walks ; lives in stuffy houses instead of out-of- 

 doors or in caves ; wears clothes instead of exposing his body to the weather ; and 

 eats soft, cooked, concentrated food instead of that which is raw, tough, and bulky. 

 He preserves the sick and weakly instead of letting them die ; he permits an 

 economic and social system which causes the people with the greatest mental 

 power to have fewest children, while the stupid breed like rabbits. ..." He 

 also gives statistics showing that even in enlightened America, with its advanced 

 legislation, an immense amount of physical defects is found in the population. 

 He gives curves showing how business is connected with, and sensitive to, 

 national health. He brings into his discussions an extensive knowledge of 

 biological problems. In his treatment of the subject of " New Types among 

 Men," he considers that America, with its polyglot " hybrid " population, is more 

 likely to produce genius than a country with a pure population ; but he also 

 considers that, while such variability promises men of genius, it also promises an 

 equal number of exceptionally low and dangerous types. His apologia for 

 Turkish brutality does not convince. It is not the climate or stupidity that makes 

 the Turks assassinate Christians — it is pure savagery and unharnessed viciousness. 

 Some may consider that Dr. Huntington has insisted far too much on the effects 

 of environmental conditions such as climate ; we do not think the author has 

 erred far in this way, and we feel that he has proven his case very completely. 

 Of the great cities — London, Paris, Berlin, and New York— the author shows 

 that the first-named city has the smallest difference between highest and lowest 

 monthly mean temperatures, and is one of the most favourable in the world for 

 producing a healthy race. In his treatment of the United States he considers 

 that only one-half of the population lives in a highly stimu'ating climate. 



