158 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



blank assertion. On the other hand, no evolutionist can grasp 

 the whole detail of the evolutionary campaign, but an adequate 

 conception of which often becomes possible by the thorough 

 study of some biological division. This idea of conception rather 

 than simple definition is well expressed by our author when he 

 writes : " But while Darwin has destroyed species as realities, he 

 has at the same time fully established the idea of the species." 



This book is informative and suggestive to the last degree, 

 however much the reader may dissent from some arguments 

 in the discussion of a problem, which is really the highest 

 that can engage the limits of the human intellect, or, as might 

 be said, the sensations derived through our few senses. It is 

 novel to find Nietzsche brought into court, and his "egoism" 

 described as " built up rigorously on a basis of selection." One 

 error of fact is at least put forward when it is stated that in the 

 case of Moths as well as Grasshoppers, " there is not a very great 

 difference in habits between the larva and the imago " ; and at 

 p. 194 " callima" should be written " Kallima" 



The Birds of the Isle of Man. By P. G. Balfe. David Douglas. 



As Mr. Balfe remarks in his Preface, " The fauna of an 

 island, with its sharp definition, must usually be of greater 

 interest than that of a mainland area of equal size," and a 

 standard book on the birds of Man is a very welcome and useful 

 publication. The genuine Manx birds number one hundred and 

 thirty-eight, which, with forty-five occasional visitors, brings up 

 the total to one hundred and eighty-three. Of these, seventy- 

 five are resident (breeding), eighteen regular summer migrants 

 (breeding), and forty-five regular autumn, winter, or spring 

 migrants (not breeding). Among the birds not found on Man 

 may be mentioned the Jay and the Tawny Owl. 



There is very much more in this book than the enumeration 

 and narrative of the birds. The introductory portion is very 

 full, and the peculiarities of the vertebrate fauna well described ; 

 while, besides the " Manx bird-names " appended to many species, 

 there is also a short glossary of Manx words used in the volume. 

 Another very pleasing and attractive feature is to be found in 

 the numerous photo-plates of Manx scenery; this might be 



