5 oo SCIENCE PROGRESS 



from the vague and verbal." Readers of the book will scarcely gather this 

 impression from its pages, as they are full of loose talk. An Introduction to 

 Science should not be written lightly — to us it seems that Prof. Thomson has 

 rushed at the task and has regarded it merely as a literary exercise. 



Mendelism. By R. C. Punnett. [Pp. xiii + 176, with Portrait of Mendel, six 

 plates (five coloured) and many figures.] (Macmillan & Co., 191 1. Price 

 5-r. net.) 



In the book before us, Prof. Punnett has rewritten and much enlarged his 

 well-known essay which gave so much satisfaction when it was first published in 

 1905. The book covers more ground than Mr. Doncaster's smaller work noticed 

 in the July issue of this Journal. The account given of Mendelian doctrine by 

 Mr. Punnett seems to us to be less simple and direct in statement than Mr. 

 Doncaster's whenever the two overlap. It is interesting that Mr. Punnett some- 

 times uses common language in place of the technical terms used by Mr. 

 Doncaster and that sometimes the reverse is the case— from which we draw the 

 conclusion that the subject generally might well be translated almost entirely 

 back from the Greek into straightforward English, at all events in books meant 

 for popular consumption. If Mendelian studies are of the extreme value devotees 

 would have us believe, it is all the more necessary that it should be made possible 

 for ordinary mortals to understand what is written on the subject and that they 

 should be able to read without the headache caused by the perpetual effort 

 involved in giving meaning to the unfamiliar terms that are used. 



The magnificent result achieved by Prof. Biffen under the guidance of 

 Mendelian principles, in raising a strain of wheat which is not only "hard" and 

 "rust-proof" but also gives heavy crops under English conditions, is sufficient in 

 itself to recommend the subject as one of practical importance. The infinitely 

 difficult task now before us is to raise a white race that can withstand the coming 

 onset of the coloured peoples. 



If Messrs. Doncaster and Punnett could combine forces (perhaps calling in 

 Mr. Whetham's aid) and produce a work that ordinary intelligent folk could read, 

 in which the vital importance of the issues dealt with by Mendelism was duly set 

 forth and emphasised, they would be rendering enormous service to the public. 

 The future of our race is clearly the stake to be played for. 



Perhaps one impression that remains after reading the book maybe mentioned 

 — it is that modesty is apparently a word not yet included in the Mendelian 

 vocabulary. The cock-sureness with which conclusions are formulated is very 

 striking — so striking that it may raise doubt in the minds of those outside the 

 ring : the charitable interpretation is, of course, that it is but a sign of juvenile 

 enthusiasm. 



A Treatise on Practical Light. By R. S. Clay, B.A., D.Sc. [Pp. 519.] 

 (Macmillan & Co. Price ioj-. bd. net.) 



THIS is an extended edition of the work previously published by the author 

 entitled Practical Exercises in Light. It now contains over 500 pages and more 

 than 400 diagrams and certainly presents an exceptionally complete record of 

 experiments on optics. The author explains that his intention has been to give 

 special attention to problems of practical and industrial importance. Nevertheless, 

 the title sounds a little singular. 



