REVIEWS 68 1 



making obvious of something potentially present in the species but not usually 

 noticed. 



The same line of criticism applies to another set of conclusions dealing with 

 the similar modification of "all the microbes subjected to particular orders of 

 alterations of environment " (p. 45), but lack of space forbids entering into a more 

 detailed discussion of all the points raised,' and the particular ones chosen are 

 some of the fundamental arguments put forward. 



In spite of these criticisms and of the regrettable tone of the preface and 

 Appendix II. there is a great deal to stimulate thought and interest in the volume. 

 It can be read with profit by the biologist, who, in some cases, may perhaps 

 deserve its strictures, and by the practising medical man, whose lack of time 

 renders it hard for him to keep abreast of the theoretical aspects of modern 

 pathology and bacteriology and their inter-relation with biological problems. 



C. H. O'D. 



The Portal of Evolution; being a Glance through the Open Portal of 

 Evolution at some of the Mysteries of Nature. By a Fellow of the 

 Geological and Zoological Societies. [Pp. xvi + 295, with 4 tables.] 

 (London : Heath Cranton Limited, 1918. Price 16s. net.) 



The author's aim in writing the present volume is indeed high, for he tells us 

 in his apologetic introduction that " I wish it to be thoroughly understood that the 

 object of this treatise is not to weaken any one's faith in their own religion, but 

 rather to turn their own, and every other religion, to a better use." He is 

 strongly convinced of the seriousness of his undertaking, which he looks upon in 

 the nature of a revelation. " It is a striking illustration of the way God controls 

 the actions of one and all of us to make them of use to the community as a whole, 

 that at the same time, as at the bottom of the tree of scientific knowledge, my 

 humble self has been elected as the insignificant means to elucidate in the crudest 

 manner possible some of the mighty links that assist us to connect divine and 

 human nature together by the extraordinary revelation my hypothesis contributes 

 to the connection of the Creator and the created in the mystery of His trinity." 



The unknown author, an Australian, is read fairly widely in scientific literature, 

 and his sincerity and earnestness are obvious throughout, as is also his effort to 

 deal with the subject in a broad and tolerant manner. In spite of this, however, 

 we must confess that -we have been utterly unable to make out what it is all about. 

 This we have to admit after trying to read the book in the same serious spirit in 

 which it is written. The book was read and then laid aside for some .weeks and 

 then read again, but in spite of this it simply appears to be a welter of science, 

 metaphysics, philosophy, but mostly religion, faith, and words from which we 

 could extract no coherence. It may be that there are some to whom these 

 " revelations " will bring light, but we must record their failure to do so to ourselves. 



C. H. O'D. 



A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. By Leonard 

 Stejneger and Thomas Barbour. [Pp. iv + 125.] (Cambridge, 

 U.S.A. : Harvard University Press, 1917. Price 10s. 6d.) 



It is difficult to appraise the value of a check list until it has been used a good 

 deal, but there is no doubt that such a book dealing with North American forms 

 has long been needed. The wants of the students of herpetology will be met 

 by this volume, as are those of the ornithologist by the check list of the American 



