570 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



numerically, compared with other great European museums, 

 containing only about 24,000 examples, referable to 3538 

 species, and is poor in exotic forms. 



121. Wallace on Darwinism. 



[Darwinism : an Exposition of the Theory of Natural Selection, with 

 some of its Applications. By Alfred Russel Wallace. London : 1889. 

 1 vol. 8vo. 494 pp.] 



It is quite time that a new and popular exposition of the 

 theory of Natural Selection, '' from the standpoint reached 

 after thirty years of discussion,'' should be drawn up, and na 

 one could have been suggested to perform this task so well 

 as our excellent fellow-worker Mr. Wallace, himself the co- 

 discoverer with Darwin of that immortal theory. We have 

 read through this well-arranged and well-written treatise 

 with great pleasure, and are sure that, although it is not 

 specially connected with ornithology, most other members 

 of the B. O. U. have done, or will do, the same. In our 

 opinion the author has well succeeded in his endeavour "to 

 enable any intelligent reader to obtain a clear conception of 

 Darwin's work, and to understand something of the power 

 and range of his great principle." 



We may venture, however, to call Mr. Wallace's attention 

 to two small (ornithological) points, which require a few 

 words of correction in the next edition. The species of 

 the genus Cinclus (see p. IIG) should not be said to fre- 

 quent " eocclusively " the mountain-streams of the northern 

 hemisphere. Three well-marked members of this group are 

 found only in the highlands of South America, namely, 

 C. leuconotus in Colombia, C leucocephalus in Peru, and 

 C. schulzi in the Argentine Republic. 



It is also quite true that (as stated, p. 154) the great mass 

 of Parrots never breed in captivity. But it is very singular 

 and worthy of notice that some of the small Australian species 

 {Melojjsiltacus undulatus, Ewphema pulchella) are, on the 

 other hand, ready and constant breeders in our aviaries — 

 " Natura non habet regulam." 



Mr. Wallace has devoted some space to the criticism of 



