REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES. 231 
A New Tueory or THE OrtciIn or Spectes.* — We have here 
an essay illustrative of the general principle, that confidence in 
the discussion of great problems of modern science is in inverse 
ratio to aknowledge of details. The author has undertaken as his 
first work to handle the most difficult of scientific problems, com- 
mencing at the top instead of the bottom of the scale of work 
which the student must pursue in order to reach conclusions which 
rest on a solid basis. The result is naturally a production scien- 
tifically worthless. His theory, that each new specific form is pro- 
duced from the matrix of a preéxistent species by supernatural 
creative power, is only a form of the old belief in distinct creations, 
and is not a developmental theory in any sense. He produces no 
evidence in support of it; in fact, he does not appear to know 
what scientific evidence is. This further appears in the inconsis- 
tency of his belief in the development of species by descent. In 
evidence of this he cites the arguments adduced by some well 
known European authors, with reference to the succession from 
less to more perfect, exhibited by classification and paleontology. 
With the works of American scientists he appears to have little or 
no acquaintance. Occasionally, novel and erroneous statements 
are made ; e. g., ‘¢ The Icthyosaur is between the predaceous fishes 
and the crocodile!” ‘In this era the fierce Saurians make their 
appearance in the Megalichthys hibbertii!” Trilobites are defined 
as “a three lobed animal, in general figure something like the 
wood-louse.” The Mosasaurus “ a huge reptile twenty-five feet 
long” is referred to the Eocene formation (!) and is said to be 
‘Sintermediate between the monitor and the Iguana.” A slight 
knowledge of American palzontology would have prevented such 
blunders. The early part of the paper is occupied by arguments 
of the popular sort against descent by generation. He hays espec- 
ial stress on the size of the human brain as compared with that of 
the apes, forgetting that the canary’s brain is relatively still larger 
than that of man. 
The author expresses himself clearly and distinctly, and we hope 
that his pen may in future find abundant occupation in relating his 
studies into the structure, embryology, and other details of biol- 
ogy, which are essential to the discovery of the laws of creation. 
In this we prophesy for him success. As it is, he is now evidently 
ge eee 
* A New Theory of the Origin of Species. By B. G. Ferris, New Haven, Conn. 
Chas. C. Chatfield & Co. 
