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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
the present work will prove for all purposes of examination sufficiently 
modern and adequately advanced. At least we think so ourselves. The 
author commences by a series of remarks on protoplasm, general morphology, 
histology — of the muscular, nervous, and connective tissues — tectology, re- 
production and distribution which is given both as to space and time. Of 
these several chapters we have not much to say. They appear generally 
good, but the remarks are excessively brief, and in one or two cases are by 
no means what we should have anticipated. This may be said especially of 
the author’s observations on the subject of muscular tissue. We observe, too, 
with some pain, that the author does not seem to have accurately understood 
Mr. Darwin’s remarks on the subject of natural selection. At least it seems 
so to us. For example, Dr. Macalister says : “ But while explaining the 
method, natural selection does not explain the cause. In artificial selection 
-the cause is the presidence and direction of human intellect. In natural 
selection there is a necessity for predicating the existence of a presidence 
similar in kind, but grander in degree, as the changes effected by it are 
greater than those that artificial selection can accomplish.” We certainly 
fail to see the reason alleged, and we should much like to hear the author’s 
■ opinion more fully on this point. 
In regard to those portions of the work which deal with the purely zoolo- 
gical parts of the subject we have only praise to offer. We think the author 
has endeavoured to state points that will be useful to the reader, to the ex- 
clusion of new matter which refers to but single points, and which has not 
yet been clearly established. We note, too, that in almost every instance 
where a new fact is stated, the author’s name which is most directly asso- 
ciated with it is given in parentheses. 
It may be stated, as points objectionable in the work, firstly, that the author 
is accustomed to giving a great series of new words which he thinks — but 
we do not — serviceable from being an abbreviated mode of obtaining infor- 
mation ; secondly, that the work is lamentably badly illustrated, the total 
jnumber of woodcuts being about forty in number. 
COLLECTING NATURAL HISTORY OBJECTS.* 
A VERY valuable series of papers, which originally appeared in 11 Science 
Gossip,” is here reprinted with their authors’ names attached, and the 
whole has been issued under the editorship of Mr. J. E. Taylor, who con- 
tributes the first chapter on the subject of Geological Specimens. We may 
cay at the outset that the work is eminently a practical one, and we doubt 
not will have a very large sale among all dilettanti naturalists. It is gene- 
Tally clear and to the point, while wherever illustration is required it is 
given. It is remarkable, too, that in a book which is written by a great 
number of naturalists, the general plan has been followed by all ; and this 
* “Notes on Collecting and Preserving Natural History Objects.” 
Edited by J. E. Taylor, Ph.D., F.L.S., F.G.S. London : Hardwicke & 
Rogue, 192, Piccadilly. 1876. 
