[August, 
486 } Analyses of Books. 
features, colour, physique, health, nutrition, &c. The term 
superiority “ must be understood to include all these . . . • and 
it does not follow that this kind of superiority must in all cases 
coincide with superiority in the general sense of the term y 
which we imply superior mental and moral qualities. We have, 
then, the difficult task of comparing two values, M and F, each 
made up of ten or more variables, for most of which we have no 
definite standard. Hence, in bringing Mr. Starkweather s theory 
to the test of observation, there is room for doubt and even mis- 
interpretation. This we much regret, since it stands in the way 
of that full examination and fair decision to which it is entitled. 
It may, however, be suggested, that the author has lefuted 
himself. If we understand him aright he considers that the sex 
of the offspring must depend on the relative state of the parents 
at the moment of conception. He urges that “ the theory advo- 
cated in this work is applicable to the lower organisms equally 
with man If it could not be thus applied it would be 
worthless as a complete theory.” Yet on page 26 we find him 
writing — “ It has recently been discovered, by repeated experi- 
ments, that the sex of butterflies depends upon the surrounding 
conditions of the larva rather than upon the anatomical struaure, 
as has heretofore been universally supposed. The sex of almost 
everything else in nature is determined at the time of conception, 
or very early in the embryonic state ; and why should these crea- 
tures form an exception to the rule ? Caterpillars that were fed 
abundantly for a time before entering the chrysalis state came 
out female butterflies in the proportion of ten to one, while those 
which were deprived of food altogether came out with a like pre- 
dominance of the male sex. M. Gentry confirmed this faa in 
his experiments with moths.” Here, therefore, Mr. Star 
weather’s view is plainly inapplicable, and, according to his own 
admission, is hence “ worthless as a complete theory ” ! We 
should feel disposed to suggest that the author would, for the 
present, do well to confine himself to the vertebrates. 
The attempt to ascertain what “life is like” by a comparison 
with electricity opens up regions of speculation far too wide or 
present discussion, even if the state of human knowledge would 
admit of their useful consideration. The author, speaking of the 
generative aCt, says “ Like other eleCtrical phenomena it is 
practically instantaneous : is this nothing more than a coinci- 
dence ? Have not these forces a common origin ?” It is surely 
unsafe, on such a slender basis, to identify life, or one of its 
manifestations, with electricity. T u 
A strange contention is here borrowed from a Dr. J. L. Jacx- 
son, of New York, that— “ It lies within the power of the indi- 
vidual to modify his physical organisation so that it may be ver) 
different from what it has been What can thus happen in 
physical conditions can to an equal extent happen in mental con- 
ditions. The dull man can become bright, the excitable man 
