PROBLEM OF EVOLUTION 215 



the form of an interestinc volume. Those who are anxious for 

 the advent of a son or a daughter should certainly read the book, 

 and see whether Dr. Dawson's prophecies always come true. 

 For if his theory be true, it is possible to forecast the sex of the 

 expected child, and, therefore, by instituting adequate measures 

 to determine events in accordance with our wishes. If his theory 

 will pass successfully through the crucible of experience and careful 

 analysis, it is not too much to assert that it will be a theory of 

 very great importance in relation to some affairs of human life. 



The Problem of Evolution.— ^r/cA Wasmann, S.J. Authorised 

 translation from the German. Kegan, Paid, Trench, 

 Triibner, & Co., London. (Ss. net. Pp. 26(). 



This is a book dealing with scientific problems and written by a 

 Jesuit Father. It is true that Father Wasmann claims also to be 

 a zoologist, and an authority on the parasites of ants and termites. 

 But it is clear that the theologian looms larger than the zoologist ; 

 the former stands in the background as far as possible, and this 

 is of the nature of a mountain range, the foreground being the 

 atmosphere, pervaded with a mist. The book has been written 

 with a purpose, one which is often designated by the title " The 

 reconciliation of theology and science." The book appears to be 

 a publication of a series of addresses delivered in Berlin, before 

 an audience containing a number of scientific men. At the 

 completion of the series a discussion took place. The report of 

 this discussion forms the second part of the book. 



The attitude of the author towards the doctrine of Evolution 

 is indicated very early in tlie book. When dealing with the 

 various modifications of different parasites infesting different 

 species of ants and termites he comes to the conclusion as the 

 result of his personal studies that " The principle of the theory of 

 evolution is the only one which supplies us with a natural explana- 

 tion of these phenomena, and therefore we accept it. But to 

 what extent are we to accept it ? Just as far as its application 

 is supported by actual proofs." Then the author proceeds to tell 

 us just how far, in his opinion, the evidence does extend. We 

 will indicate this extent in his own words : "In the case of the 

 species of the same genus, the genera of the same family, and 

 often for the families of the same order — even for orders of the 

 same class, the probabilities are in support of evolution." " But 

 the higher we ascend and the more closely we approach the great 



