HEVIEWS. 



Forms of Animal Life. By George Rolleston,D.M., F.R.S., 

 Linacre Professor of Anatomy and Physiology in the 

 University of Oxford. (Macmillan & Co.) 



The book which Professor RoUeston has produced is re- 

 markable in many ways, and has special points of excellence 

 which raise it very far above any general work on compara- 

 tive anatomy, published in this country for many long years. 



AVe would first of all draw attention to the great care and 

 pains which have been bestowed on his work by the author. 

 No one knows so well, as one who has personally watched 

 the progress of this book, the infinite trouble which Dr, 

 Rolleston has taken to assure himself of the trustworthiness 

 of every statement made therein. Many long and careful 

 dissections have been made, solely for the purposes of the 

 book, so that the author might state with confidence, and of 

 his own knowledge, what he does say. Again, the biblio- 

 graphical research Avhich he has made is extended far beyond 

 what are the usual limits in such matters, and the student 

 will find the reference to authorities for a host of observa- 

 tions and doctrines, the origin of which he will have pre- 

 viously ignored, besides quotations from the latest and most 

 important contributions to the science. When we consider 

 the amount of time which has been given to this work, and 

 remember also the energy and care with which Dr. Rolleston 

 carries on his teaching at the museum of Oxford, we feel 

 that the less unselfish men of science owe a debt of gratitude 

 to one who so far foregoes the pleasure of working in the 

 field of original exploration, and gives himself so fully to 

 the noble work of teaching. Men who have worked in the 

 museum at Oxford know well the great power which the 

 Linacre professor there exerts; how he has drawn many 

 unemployed minds into the current of work, and by his 

 examj)le of untiring energy encouraged all as a great teacher 

 can. His book will extend his sphere of influence beyond 



