Feb, 2, 1871 | 
NATURE 
273 

cess of Natural Selection from those simple forms which 
propagate by cell-multiplication or spontaneous fission. 


Fic. 5.—An Annelid dividing spontaneously. 
(A new head having been formed tow cae hinder end of the body of the 
pareut. 
We have not space to enumerate all our author’s argu- 
ments, for which we must refer our readers to the volume | explosion took place : the effect was curious. 
itself, wherein even those who differ from his conclusions 
will find a mine of physiological information and ingenious 
speculation. Nor can we do more than allude to the 
theological portion of the work, wherein he ably defends 
the doctrine of Evolution against both the odzum theo- 
logicum and the odium anti‘heologicum. 
The present state of the argument we take to be this :— 
The theory of Natural Selection, in the hands of Mr. 
Darwin and Mr. Wallace, afforded a simple, a beautiful, 
and a valid solution of the origin of a large number of tne 
organic phenomena by which we are surrounded ; by 
many disciples of Mr. Darwin it has been assumed, per- 
haps too rashly, as adequate to account for the entire 
evolution of all the existing forms of animal and vegetable 
life from one or a few primordial germs. To this idea, so 
seductive in its very simplicity, a number of more or less 
cogent objections have now been urged. It is possible 
that on still closer examination, these objections will be 
found to break down; but in the meantime we must sus- 
pend our judgment; and in order to save defeat, the 
next move must be made by the advocates of Natural 
Selection, a prima facie case against them having at all 
events been made out. Mr. Mivart has no counter 
theory to propose, beyond a belief that there exists in 
all organic life an innate power analogous to intelligence, 
which controls their actions as reason does those of men. 
Should the inquiries which are now being energetically 
pursued on every side result in our acquiring more accurate 
knowledge of such a force, it will be safe to predict that 
to it will then be ascribed a more easy and natural solu- 
tion of many phenomena which we are now forced to 
attribute to Natural Selection. 
ALFRED W, BENNETT 


NOTES 
THE Royal Commission on Scientific Instruction and the Ad- 
vancement of Science is about to resume its sittings, and meet- 
ings will be held at 6, Old Palace Yard, Westminster, on Thurs- 
day, February 9; Friday, February 10; Monday, February 13 ; 
Tuesday, February 14, at 11.30 A.M. 
In the recent changes which have taken place in the Royal 
Mint by the deaths of Professors Graham and Miller, Dr. Sten- 
house, F.R.S., lost his position as Non-resident Assayer to the 
establishment. Several of our leading chemists, including Sir Ben- 
jamin Brodie, and Professors Williamson, Frankland, and Odling 
thought that this was an opportunity for recognising the services 
which Dr. Stenhouse had rendered to chemisiry by his numerous 
researches, and they requested Dr. Lyon Playfair, M.P., to bring 
his claims before the Premier. We have now the gratification 
to announce that the representation has been successful, and that 
Her Majesty has directed that a pension on the Civil List of 100/. 
should be given to Dr. Stenhouse ‘‘ in consideration of his scien- 
tific attainments.” 
THE shelling of Paris has been disastrous to M. Desnoyers, the 
librarian of the Museum, who lost his son by it. The celebrated 
Abbé Moigno, editor of Zes Mondes, was slightly hurt by the 
breaking of a glass, from an explosive shell. The private 
apartment of M. Milne-Edwards was visited by a shell which has 
done much harm to the valuable furniture. Another shell 
penetrated into the Gallery of Zoology and caused much damage 
to the glass-work ; and again another into the Gallery of 
Mineralogy, in the very place where M. Daubrée performs his 
experiments on artificial meteors ; but happily it had exhausted its 
force, and did but little harm. Many instances of this description 
have occurred, where shells were sent to their utmost range, 
and did not explode under such circumstances. The reverse 
has however been observed, for one shell falling in the Seine 
with great force, the water offered resistance like a solid body, and 
A shell fell in the’ 
