330 Bibliographical Notices. 



Here are materials for complete works on physiology and psycho- 

 logy. The wliole of these subjects are disposed of in nine pages ! 

 Really scientific men may fairly ask what manner of use this kind 

 of instruction serves. 



Quite apart from these graver sins of compression, for which, as 

 we have said, the author is not altogether responsible, there are 

 certain minor blemishes which it is our duty to point out. In the 

 first place, we are of opinion that the plan of giving quotations from 

 other works without indicating their origin is most objectionable. 

 The only effect which this can produce upon the mind of the student 

 is that the author has either failed in power of expression, or that 

 he is giving the actual woi'ds of some writer whom he regards as an 

 authority. The latter is uo doubt the true state of the case ; but 

 the reader is iu manj' instances left quite in the dark as to the source 

 of Mr, Thomson's inspiration — he is only allowed to infer that the 

 words are not the author's by being suddenly plunged into a sen- 

 tence between inverted commas. This occurs many times throughout 

 the work. Thus, for all the student can gather, the passages 

 quoted on p. 52 might be from Poulton or from any other author ; 

 the quotation referring to Joule on p. 131 has apparently dropped 

 in promiscuously from some source known to the author but care- 

 fully hidden from his readers. Examples of this defect might be 

 multiplied did space permit. 



Then, again, the style occasionally lapses from the scientific to 

 the metaphysical, to the everlasting confusion of the student. 

 Under the heading ""Vitality" (Chap. VIII.) and the subheading 

 " The Task of Physiology " (p. 126) we read as follows : — 



" Thus the star-like crystals of a snowflake, the diamond drops of dew, 

 the overshadowing mountains, would all be imaged in our minds as 

 living, though of more lowly life than the lichens of the bare hill-tops, 

 the grass of tlie plains, or man himself." 



Again, on p. 142, under the subheading " Oiigin of Life " : — 



" Matter in motion is accompanied by consciousness in ourselves. We 

 infer a similar consciousness in creatures like ourselves. As the move- 

 ments and the matter differ from those that occur within our body, so 

 will the accompanying consciousness. The simplest state of afl'airs or 

 'body' we can imagine is that of a gas such as hydrogen. But such a 

 simple state of matter may have its accompanying consciousness, as dif- 

 ferent from oui'S as is the structure of our bodies from that of a hydrogen 

 molecule. This is of course also an assumption, but it is one that har- 

 monizes with the facts of experience." 



We question the advisability of introducing fragments of German 

 metaphysics into an elementary manual intended for students 

 attending a University Extension course on animal life. Many 

 other mystical passages have been noted during our perusal of the 

 book, but it is unnecessary to quote any further illustrations. 



In matters of fact the anlhor is, on the whole, fairly accurate, 

 and there are but few statements to which exception can be taken. 

 Among the errors we have noticed may be pointed out the state- 



