? of Gross- and Self- Fertilization. 125 



Mr. Darwin, in the title of his new work, refers only 

 illy to adaptations for cross-fertilization, — a subject 

 which has given origin to a copious literature since he opened 

 it anew in his book on the Fertilization of Orchids, in 1862. A 

 new edition of this latter book is on the eve of publication in 

 England, and we believe that this author's scattered papers on 

 cross-fertilization, as secured by various contrivances, are about 

 to be collected, revised, and issued in a book form. In the 

 volume now before us, Mr. Darwin deals with the effects of 

 cross- and self-fertilization, recounts at length the experiments 

 he has devised and carried on, collects and criticises the results, 

 glances at the means of fertilization, and the habits of insects in 

 relation to it, and ends with some theoretical considerations or 

 inferences suggested by or deduced from the facts which have 

 been brought to light 



If writing for the popular press, we should be bound to say 

 that this book is not light reading. Three-fourths of its pages 

 and of the chapters are devoted to the details of the experiments 

 and the sifting and various presentation of the results; and the 

 remainder, although abounding in curious facts and acute sug- 

 gestions, is vet of a solid character. The bearings of various 

 points upon what is called "Darwinism" are merely touched or 

 I, here and there, in a manner more likely to engage the 

 attention of the tfaougl • " f the general reader. 



That cross-fertilization is largely but not exclusively aimed 

 at in the vegetable kingdom, is abundantly evident. As Mr. 

 Darwin declares, "it i- numerable 



flowers are adapted for cross-fertilization, as that the teeth and 

 talons of a carnivorous I &>' catching prey, or 



that the plumes, wings, and hooks of a seed are adapted for its 

 a tion." That the crossing is beneficial, and consequently 

 the want of it injurious, is a teleological inference from the 

 prevalence of the arrangements which promote or secure it, — 

 an inference the value of which increases with the nu 

 variety, and the effectiveness of the arrangements for which 

 no other explanation is forthcoming. That the good 

 jn a re-invigoration of progeny, or the evil of close 

 in a deterioration of vio-or, was the suggestion first m-Ae [so 

 far as we know), or first made prominent, by Knight, from 

 whom Darwin adopted it. However it be as to animals, there 

 * The Effects of Cross- and Self-Fertiliz* 



*cTn£Z'. It ml:' et °- L0ndM 



