67Z SCIENCE PROGRESS 



foundings of growing insects are treated at some length, and Prof. Carpenter 

 describes many life-histories of great interest, and emphasises the remarkable 

 adaptive modifications that are found in relation to diflerences of environment. 

 The final chapter is devoted to a discussion of some of the problems of meta- 

 morphosis. The book is not an advanced and highly technical exposition of 

 its subject ; nevertheless, it is not so elementary that the biologist can aflord 

 to neglect it. It is thoroughly up to date, and incorporates the results of much 

 recent research in its pages. The more inquisitive general observer of animal 

 life will learn from Prof. Carpenter the significance of the factors underlying 

 metamorphosis, while the entomological student will learn to view the facts, 

 that he has so often observed, in their true perspective as parts of a continuous 

 whole. It may be added that the book is well printed, clearly illustrated, and 

 issued at a remarkably low price. A. D. Imms. 



Origin and Evolution of the Human Race. By Albert Churchward, M.D.. 

 M.R.C.P. [Pp. XV + 511.] (London • George Allen and Unwin. Price 

 455. net.) 

 Dr. Churchward's extraordinary volume appropriates the distinction of 

 proclaiming man's birthplace (in the same terms as, but with no acknowledg- 

 ment to, Charles Darwin), of setting up an unprecedented classification of the 

 human species, demolishing Professors Sollas' and Schimper's calculations 

 concerning the Great Ice Age, exploding all the prevailing notions concerning 

 Piltdown Man, and, in brief, giving " irrefutable " answer to most of the major 

 and minor questions of Anthropology and Ethnology. 



Despite the author's assurance that " his work gives the key to the world, 

 which hitherto has been lost," his data insufficiently demonstrate the unique 

 claims advanced. The attempted explanation of man's distribution by 

 imaginary land connections is too gross to demand refutation ; Egypt as the 

 " source of culture " has been put forward elsewhere, in a scientific form, by 

 Professors Elliot Smith and Perry. 



It may be frankly stated of Dr. Churchward's book that throughout he 

 has stoutly maintained his individuality and independence of thought and 

 theory. No respecter of persons, he is equally caustic whether proclaiming 

 his " gnosis," revealing " agglutinated " languages, condemning national 

 politics, or putting private persons " right." 



The spelling is not always careful ; amongst other errors, " Reisner " 

 persistently becomes " Meisner," and " Sumerians," " Sumarians." The 

 essential criticism of the work, however, does not lie in its grammatical errors, 

 its wandering literary style, and the wounded spirit it portrays ; but in its neg- 

 lect of what is valid in our present knowledge. Little advance toward truthful 

 conceptions can be achieved by categorical contradiction and vituperation. 



The tedium of the diatribe is relieved somewhat by copious illustration 

 with drawings and photographs — the sources of which are not always stated. 

 What there is in the work of noble metal is so debased by extraneous dross, 

 that the specie our author has to offer seems little likely to find currency, 

 either in popular approval or scientific acceptance. Raymond A. Dart. 



The Direction of Human Evolution. By Edwin Grant Conklin, Professor 

 of Biology in Princeton University. [Pp. xiii + 247.] (London : 

 Oxford University Press. Price 12s. 6d. net.) 

 The earlier part of the work is entirely valuable as a terse, popular statement, 

 conservative in type, of man's evolutionary history. One might have expected 

 the recent work in his own country of Guyer and Smith — and perhaps, too, 

 the less generally known genealogies published by Redfield — would have 

 entailed some modification of the author's uncompromising adherence to 

 Weissmannism . 



As against his hypothesis that " increasing size of brain . . . leads to 



