i88i.] 
The Materialistic Origin of the Sexes . 
33 
woods, or at the aquarium and vivarium, so as to bring the 
author’s views to the test of adbual fadbs. We have not 
often met with a book of equal value for pointing out to the 
thoughtful naturalist questions for experimental decision. 
That there is here much which we cannot personally ap- 
prove of is a very secondary point. We scarcely think that 
the strictures upon Dr. Dohrn, of the Naples aquarium, are 
justifiable. The author seems to us, further, to go out of 
his way to sneer at Professor Zollner and the spiritualist 
school, with whom he, as belonging to the Iiaeckelian, or 
extreme left wing of the Evolutijnist army, he has no sym- 
pathy. There is also a somewhat gratuitous introduction of 
the Jewish question, 01 which Germany is greatly exercised. 
We hope, however, that this is not the last work of Dr. 
Schneider’s which we may have the pleasure of studying. 
V. THE MATERIALISTIC ORIGIN OF THE 
SEXES. 
By Andrew Dewar, 
Author of “ Origin of Creation.” 
ATERIALISM is yet in its infancy. Born of human 
learning, weaned in scientific research, and cradled 
in the toleration of an enlightened civilisation, its 
advent marks an epoch in the history of humanity. Should 
there be fearful shadows in its progress, where loiter grim 
doubts and gloomy forebodings, these are only consequent 
to its youth, and the necessary result of the light from a 
sun whose slanting rays only reach us. But even as the 
noonday sun chases away the shadows in its splendour, so 
we are assured that no doCtrine in these enlightened days 
will ever be accepted which does not in its maturity shine 
on the human race for true knowledge and good. 
“ All knowledge is our province ” said Bacon, and we 
would be less than men if any phenomenon in nature was 
considered inscrutable by us, the highest outcome of Nature. 
Thinking thus, one of the most curious problems is that of 
the sexes ; and the value of the dodtrine of Materialism is 
VOL. III. (third series.) d 
