518 
REVIEW. 
ZOOLOGY, A TEXT-BOOK FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 
BY 
T. D, A. CocKERELL. 
Professor of Zoology, University of Colorado. 
(Pp. xi+558. (New World, Science Series. Edited by John W. Ritchie): 
Published by the World Book Company. Yonkers-on-Hudson, New York- 
1920. Price three dollars.) 
This is an ideal work for the general student who does not intend to pursue 
his studies far, or for the amateur, who while specially interested in a particular 
branch of zoological science, also desires to acquaint himself with its general 
principles. Profess 1 Cockerell is known to all biologists as a man of extraordi- 
nary versatility and individuality ; and this individuality shows itself in his 
book, for he has found space for such interesting questions as Mendelism, ferti- 
lization, sex, nature and nurture, alcohol and heredity, variation, selection, 
Protozoa and disease, disease in relation to human evolution, eugenics, sociology 
from a biologist’s point of view, the pedigree of the horse and the elephant, the 
evolution and characters of man, and the zones of life, most of which are not dis- 
cussed in ordinary text-books. There is here plenty for the student to ponder 
over, and some of the chapters are not quite readily understood, but these are 
big questions and big questions are difficult. ‘‘ From a psychological and peda- 
gogical standpoint, it is surely an error to suppose that each idea must be lum- 
inously clear at the moment of presentation.” 
A feature of great interest is the introduction of biographical chapters closely 
connected with the chapters that follow. ‘‘ We are too apt to receive the gifts 
of science without asking whence they came...What we have to-day was not 
gained without arduous toil and persistent zeal, often in the face of many diffi- 
culties. As the pious studied the lives of the saints, so may we pause now and 
then to learn how scientific heroes have won new territory for the kingdom of 
science. Thus, if we have anything of generous response within us, we may 
return to our studies refreshed, resoiving that we also, in some measure, will 
further the good cause.” So, short sketches of Mendel, Darwin, Linnzus, Fabre, 
Pasteur, Agassiz, and Baird are presented. In a new edition it is hoped that 
men like Huxley will receive somewhat fuller treatment, and the author will 
tell us something of the father of biological science—Aristotle, and Cicero’s 
great imitator—Pliny. 
The author is never pedantic, never dull, and his chapters—of which there are 
sixty-six are unusually brief, but lucid, freshly written and to the point. ‘‘ The 
biology or zoology for the average individual who has no thought of ‘specializing 
in the department should not be too morphological, too rich in detailed facts of 
structures and classification. Experience shows that such minutie are not 
remembered, and do not leave as a residue any broad and useful conceptions. 
The working out of a single problem or small group of problems in detail is a | 
different matter, as it teaches of methods and points of view in a manner never 
to be forgotten, and may well open the way for an amateur interest which will 
remain a blessing through life.” 
Most of the illustrations are good: many novel and interesting, and in a 
new edition further light improvements could easily be made. 
For all, the book is a good introduction ; and the fact that it relates chiefly to 
New World zoology does not make it any the less interesting to us in India. Let 
us hope that it will suggest to some competent biologist the necessity of a work 
on Indian zoology written along sin:ilar lines. 
